Buncombe County Commissioner Adopts Helene Recovery Plan
At its meeting this week, the Buncombe County Commission formally adopted a comprehensive five-year strategy developed in partnership with the County’s municipalities. The Helene Recovery Plan will guide recovery, resilience, and growth across the county after Hurricane Helen.
The plan includes input from over 2,600 community members and establishes a roadmap for 114 projects to address flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage, and other significant impacts. The key focus areas of the plan are housing repair and replacement, infrastructure restoration, natural and cultural resource recovery, disaster preparedness, and economic revitalization.
Key Projects
City of Asheville: One of the largest municipal partners, contributing projects focused on resilient infrastructure and urban flood mitigation.
“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.”
Town of Biltmore Forest: Projects aimed at wildfire prevention, stream bank stabilization and preserving and renewing the tree canopy.
“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.”
Town of Black Mountain: Emphasis on resilient parks systems, affordable housing repair, and economic revitalization of small business corridors.
“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.”
Town of Montreat: Projects addressing hillside stabilization, wildfire risk reduction, and improvements to stormwater management.
“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.”
Town of Weaverville: Focused on emergency communications upgrades, multi-modal roadway resilience, and public facility restoration.
“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.”
