CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper made a stop to Chimney Rock on Monday to assess the damage and relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. He was joined by state and local officials as they walked pass a row of destroyed businesses and shops.
Cooper spoke about the resilience of Chimney Rock residents, and of all those areas hit hard by Helene, as many start thinking about how to rebuild. Several homes washed away in the floods and village leaders said many of the houses and businesses have so much damage they will have to be completely torn down.
“The river merged with the street so there was no more road," Mayor Pro Tem April Schick said. "It was all river and the one building knocked down into another building to another building."
There’s a lot of work ahead before Chimney Rock is back up and running, power is restored, and roads are cleared.
“I no way expected this level of damage,” Schick said. “I’m just worried for all of the business owners and how are they going to survive until we reopen. I don’t know how people are going to pay their bills until [then].”
All of this is heartbreaking to those who call Chimney Rock home.
Cooper said he visited Chimney Rock just a few weeks ago for the Labor Day weekend with his wife. Weeks later, the mountain village is unrecognizable.
Cooper said there are coordinated efforts on the state and federal level to provide assistance to impacted areas.
“The first challenge is making sure everybody is accounted for, dealing with loss of life, dealing with food, water, shelter medical necessities,” Cooper said. “While all this is going on there is already assessment of damages happening.”
Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, and Rutherford County Emergency Services said there are still 46 people listed as missing.
Cooper said there are many crews on the ground.
“There are thousands and thousands of people working, and the rumors of people not helping or trying to block help are absolutely false,” Cooper said. “They are wrong and demoralizing to the people who are working so hard to bring these areas back.”
Cooper also spoke about how this is an unprecedented disaster, happening in an area that is challenging to repair and rebuild due to some of the remote areas crews must get to. He added it is important to take the lessons from Helene and rebuild stronger, and in the right way.
People who call Chimney Rock home spoke to WCNC Charlotte with tears in their eyes, as they spoke about the village they love. Many are trying to come to term with the idea that Chimney Rock will never be the same. However, they are standing together, and although it will take time, they said they will be back.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.