Public Project
Hurricane Helene
521
Also by Katie Linsky Shaw —
Sign-up for
For more access
For more access
Hurricane Helene
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Focus:
Photographer, Photojournalist, Street Art, Writer, Creative, Photography, Portraiture, Lifestyle, Photo Shoots, Feature Writer, Feature Journalist, Lifestyle Journalism, Print Journalism, Feature Stories, Portrait Photography
School:
Memphis State University - BFA in Art Education
University of Memphis - MA in Journalism
1 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Along the shores of Swannanoa River in Asheville, NC, two months after Hurricane Helene and historic flooding
2 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Table 25 - a booth inside Asaka Japanese Cuisine in Asheville, NC - still stands after floodwaters from nearby Swannanoa River reached record levels during Hurricane Helene and destroyed the business. Asaka sits in Biltmore Village located in the middle of Asheville and near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate. The area was devastated during the storm when waters rose to rooflines. Many of the businesses still look like this, three months after the Sept. 27 weather event.
3 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
A produce bag from nearby Aldi Grocery Store in Asheville, NC, is wrapped around a tree after floodwaters from Hurricane Helene destroyed the area. All along the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers in Asheville, plastic strips cover trees and bushes left there by flooding and high winds. Cleanup in Western North Carolina will be long with many areas still untouched after the September storm.
4 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
After Hurricane Helene destroyed Western North Carolina, the area went without rain for almost a month which caused the mud to dry and dust to fill the air. In the small town of Swannanoa, where the river destroyed part of a road, cars driving over it produced a dust cloud that gave the area and an eerie, yellow tint.
5 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
The Marquee Asheville - a large warehouse in the River Arts District that housed local artist vendor booths - was destroyed when floodwaters from nearby French Broad River reached historic levels.
6 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Leslie Ryan of Asheville walks into the vacation rental home she owns and manages with her husband Sean. The house is located on Bearwallow Mountain outside of Asheville and was a popular choice for tourists before Hurricane Helene destroyed it. During the storm, a landslide from a nearby mountain took out two bedrooms. Luckily, no one was staying there at the time. The Ryans received little help from their insurance company who considered the landslide as flooding.
7 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Workers clean out the inside of Scorch Fitness in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC. The business was one of many destroyed when floodwaters from the French Broad River took over the area during Hurricane Helene Sept. 27. On the door, you can still read individual achievements of Scorch members.
8 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Outside the Aldi supermarket in Asheville, NC, produce is caked in mud from floodwaters that destroyed the building during Hurricane Helene. The store is located on Swannanoa River Road opposite the Swannana River which reached historic flood levels during the September storm.
9 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Swannanoa River runs through the center of Asheville with businesses and homes on either side. Waters rose to a record 26.1 feet washing away homes and emptying businesses, leaving a trail of thick, mud in its wake. A walk along the river in the business district of Biltmore Village is like strolling through a graveyard of discarded, everyday items. Here, a door is wrapped around a tree while a pillowcase with a questionable saying rests on limbs.
10 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
The inside of Ashewell Medical Group, located in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC, was destroyed when floodwaters from the French Broad River reached the strip of businesses along Depot Street.
11 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
A teddy bear is caught in a tree along Swannanoa River Road in the center of Asheville, NC, after floodwaters and Hurricane Helene winds destroyed the area.
12 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
A billboard overlooking Carrier Park encouraging tourists to "Explore Asheville," is packed with flood debris from nearby Swannanoa River. The billboard faces the historic car track in Asheville, NC, that was currently being used as a velodrome for cyclists. Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene dumped sand and debris across the track.
13 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
A bridge over the Swannanoa River in the middle of Asheville, NC
14 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Ponkho Bermejo, one of the directors at the Asheville-based non-profit BeLoved, stands alongside a dark road in the area of Swannanoa that was hard-hit during Hurricane Helene. BeLoved volunteers were going door to door asking residents if they needed heaters or other supplies. The residents, whose houses were destroyed during the flood, are living in temporary campers.
15 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
A man identified as Sean stands in front of the campers he lives in with his father and mother in Swannanoa, NC. Their house was swept away when floodwaters from the nearby Swannanoa River destroyed the area Sept. 27 during Hurricane Helene.
16 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Amy Cantrell, one of the directors for the local, non-profit BeLoved in Asheville, NC, passes out supplies like heaters and propane to residents in Swannanoa east of Asheville that was affected by Hurricane Helene. Many of the residents lost homes and businesses and are currently in temporary housing.
17 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Volunteers with the local non-profit BeLoved in Asheville, NC, knock on doors in Swannanoa, NC, to see if any supplies like heaters and propane are needed. The area was devastated when floodwaters from nearby Swannanoa River reached record levels destroyed homes and businesses during Hurricane Helene.
18 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Ponkho Bermejo and Amy Cantrell, directors of the non-profit BeLoved in Asheville, NC, meet with residents inside the Ridgeview Manufactured Home Community to pass out supplies and check on rebuilding efforts. The community backs up to the Swannanoa River. Many of the homes located near the shores were destroyed. Families are living in temporary housing like campers while repairs are being made.
19 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Michael Burgin stands outside his house in the Beacon Village neighborhood of Swannanoa, NC, that flooded to the roof during Hurricane Helene. Burgin's family escaped through the small window behind him. Once on the roof, they used an axe to cut a hole and rescue their dogs that were sitting in three inches of water in the attic.
20 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Miah Reis stands in the doorway of her Beacon Village home in Swannanoa, NC, that flooded to the roof during Hurricane Helene. Reis was working as a 911 operator during the storm and was not at home when it flooded. Inside, volunteers strip down old brick and damaged wood to begin repairs.
21 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Michael Burgin of Swannanoa, NC, leads BeLoved Asheville director and volunteer Amy Cantrell inside his Beacon Village home that flooded to the roof during Hurricane Helene.
22 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Directors with BeLoved Asheville, a non-profit based in Western North Carolina, meet with residents of Beacon Village in Swannanoa, NC, to discuss how they can assist. Beacon Village was one of the hardest hit areas from flooding during Hurricane Helene with waters reaching the roof lines.
23 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Ponkho Bermejo, one of the directors with the non-profit BeLoved Asheville, talks with Michael Burgin inside his flood-damaged home in the Beacon Village neighborhood of Swannanoa, NC. Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene reached the roof lines of houses on Burgin's street. BeLoved was in the neighborhood to inspect houses and see how they assist in rebuilding efforts.
24 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Michelle Hensley hugs a friend at Regeneration Station - a large warehouse that housed vendors selling antique and refurbished items in Asheville, NC - a week after Hurricane Helene destroyed the area. Regeneration Station and all of its contents were damaged and caked in thick mud when floodwaters from nearby Swannanoa River overtook the bright green building. Hensley, who had several mid-century furniture booths inside, arrived to see if anything was salvageable.
25 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Michelle Hensley sorts through flood-damaged items inside the Regeneration Station - a large warehouse in Asheville, NC, that housed vendors selling antique and refurbished items. The building was destroyed when floodwaters from nearby Swannanoa River overtook the warehouse during Hurricane Helene. Hensley, who had several mid-century furniture booths inside, was able to find a few salvageable items including a lamp, a print, and some glasses that somehow made it through unbroken.
26 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Construction crews dump rocks to fill an area of road that was washed away from floodwaters during Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. This road leads up Bearwallow Mountain to a popular hiking area.
27 of 27
© 2025 Katie Linsky Shaw
Floodwaters during Hurricane Helene destroyed roads throughout Western North Carolina including this one east of Asheville at Bearwallow Mountain.
Close