The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has formally adopted the Helene Recovery Plan, a comprehensive five-year strategy developed in partnership with the County’s six municipalities. With the City of Asheville, Town of Biltmore Forest, Town of Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, Town of Weaverville and Town of Woodfin, the Helene Recovery Plan will guide recovery, resilience, and growth across the county in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

Based on the input from more than 2,600 community members, the plan establishes a roadmap of 114 projects to address flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage, and other significant impacts.

The plan’s key recovery areas include:

• Housing repair and replacement

• Infrastructure restoration (roads, bridges, utilities)

• Natural and cultural resource recovery

• Disaster preparedness and resilience

• Economic revitalization and social services

Key Projects

“I’ve been the mayor here for over 10 years - this is my city,” said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “We’ve come so far in our recovery. This plan not only gets us back to the amazing city that we were before, but it outlines how our community can expect us to build on that, and that makes me especially proud.”   

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned since the storm, it’s that we’re stronger together,” said Biltmore Forest Town Manager Jonathan Kanipe. “This plan is another demonstration of the cohesion that’s been critical to our community’s wellbeing since September of 2024.”  

“Adopting the Helene Recovery Plan marks a pivotal moment for our region,” said Black Mountain Town Manager Josh Harrold. “We know that we are all interconnected, so it’s imperative we rebuild stronger, smarter, and more holistic.”

“Montreat may be small in size, but we are strong in community,” said Montreat Town Manager Savannah Parrish. “These investments will help safeguard our natural environment, protect our homes and roads, and ensure that our town remains safe and accessible in future storms.”

“Weaverville is proud to be a part of the Helene Recovery Plan,” said Weaverville Town Manager Scottie Harris. “This coordinated effort gives our town the tools and support needed to restore infrastructure, strengthen emergency communications, and improve resilience for our residents. By working closely with Buncombe County and our neighboring municipalities, we are ensuring that Weaverville not only recovers from past impacts but is better prepared for the future.”

• Town of Woodfin: 17 distinct projects internal to the town advancing affordable housing, river-front resilience, green infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and multi-modal connectivity.

Woodfin Town Manager Shannon Tuch said: “A key lesson for us has been that resilience is built through our connections with one another. Our 17 projects focus on bringing that strength to the Woodfin community through building relationships and deepening our partnerships.”

• Buncombe County: Steep-slope stabilization, floodplain buy-out programs, restoration of community parks, and conservation easement acquisitions to protect streams and watersheds. 

“This recovery plan is more than an emergency response,” said Board Chair Amanda Edwards. “It’s an investment in long-term resilience, equitable recovery, and future-proofing the community. It also aligns with the County’s recently adopted five-year Strategic Plan and reflects a shared vision for growth, health, environmental stewardship, and safety of a community that has demonstrated incredible resolve.”

Next Steps

Over the coming months, the County and municipal partners will:

• Finalize funding strategies leveraging federal (e.g., Federal Emergency Management Agency), grants, and state disaster-relief programs

• Prioritize project sequencing and contracting to maximize speed and efficiency

• Continue community engagement and transparency via community meetings, web dashboards, and legislative updates

• Monitor progress and adjust in response to evolving needs

To read the plan and learn more, go to www.buncombenc.gov/helene.