 | Asheville business & community directory |
|
This is an archived page that may contain outdated or incorrect information. Please visit www.Asheville.com for the latest news, events, and more.
What a difference a day makes � after dreadful, torrential rains left floodwaters estimated at over six feet lapping at the front gate entrance to the Biltmore Estate and covering much of Biltmore Village on Wednesday afternoon (September 8, 2004), Thursday�s bright sunny skies and pleasant breezes ushered in workers who spent their day removing the mud and debris left behind as the waters receded. In top photo on right, the high water flood mark can be seen on the formal brick entrance to the Biltmore Estate. The high water mark reached slightly over six feet at the entrance of the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore Estate is open � floodwaters never threatened any structures on the massive property, that is, anything beyond the gift shop at Biltmore Village entrance, which received some damage. The house itself, located miles away from Biltmore Village and tucked safely out of harm�s way, was never in danger, nor was the Inn on Biltmore Estate, the Winery, or Deerpark Restaurant. The Estate remained opened throughout the flood as guests used a secondary entrance to the property. The Estate�s main Biltmore Village entrance opened again on Thursday afternoon (September 9). In the second photo on the right, a Biltmore Estate worker shows the high water flood mark on the inside of the entrance to the Biltmore Estate.
Street cleaners were hard at work clearing away mud from the floodwaters that swept through the area via the Swannanoa River, and business owners were clearing their parking lots, checking water and electrical service, and looking for damaged inventory as they anticipated reopening at the earliest possible date. While business re-openings are spotty � and restaurants will have to wait until the Regional Water Authority makes the necessary repairs to the main water lines at the North Fork Reservoir before they can re-open � many Biltmore Village shops are preparing to open their doors once again.
Water service to south Asheville, south Buncombe County, and Henderson County has remained fully operational. The Mills River Plant, part of the Regional Water Authority, provides service to customers in these areas. Feature story on 1916 flood Click Here. Flood water levels from both floods were nearly identical. However, there has been no loss of life reported from the 2004 flood. Additional photos of Biltmore Village and the Swannanoa River taken on Thursday afternoon, September 9, can be found below.
Photos of Biltmore Village and the French Broad River at the highest flood stage taken on Wednesday, September 8, can be found below.
|
Biltmore Avenue through Biltmore Village, flooded and impassable on Wednesday afternoon, was open on Thursday morning, with traffic flowing through the charming and popular district, almost as if nothing had ever happened. 
Asheville�s Regional Water Authority estimated having water service fully restored by mid-afternoon on Friday (September 10). Water service to north, east, west, and central Asheville was disrupted on Wednesday afternoon as the result of main water lines at the North Fork Reservoir being washed out by floodwaters and trees falling on those lines. 
