The Memorial Day weekend brought unexpected weather variations across Western North Carolina, with some areas receiving extensive rainfall while others remained relatively dry. In the mountainous regions of eastern and northern Henderson County, rain was persistent, significantly impacting communities like Gerton and Bat Cave. Despite being only 15 miles apart, downtown Hendersonville experienced minimal rain. According to Henderson County spokesperson Mike Morgan, the Hickory Nut area saw between 7 to 10 inches of rain overnight.
“It’s like the rain just kind of got over top of them and just sort of stopped for a little while,” Morgan commented, having spent much of Tuesday morning in Gerton, observing the efforts of crews working on recovery. “You go down the road and it hardly rained.”
The recent downpour has stirred memories of Hurricane Helene for many residents, as the same locations that suffered previously are once again affected. Damage included washed-out driveways, collapsed small bridges, and roads that appeared intact but were hollow underneath.
“I think residents are maybe a little on edge, which I can understand,” Morgan noted. “If you live in an area that went through Helene and then you’re getting a whole lot of rain again, I think we’ve seen a lot of people with kind of a PTSD-type reaction to what’s happening.”
Addressing misinformation circulating online, Morgan emphasized that the recent weather event was not on the scale of Helene. He advised residents to rely on local fire departments, emergency management, and credible media for accurate updates.
Road Damage and Closures
Throughout the night, Gerton Fire and Rescue responded to several emergencies. By early Tuesday, the department posted on Facebook, urging locals to remain indoors. “Many of the roads in our area are flooded or damaged from these storms,” the post read.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has closed U.S. 74A, known as Charlotte Highway, due to a collapsed culvert near the Buncombe-Henderson county line. Repairs are ongoing, with reopening anticipated by noon Wednesday. Additional damage on the Henderson County side of the highway is being addressed. Several secondary roads are also closed, with a detour available via Cane Creek Road, U.S. 25 South, Interstate 26 East, and U.S. 64 East.
Damage primarily affects roads and driveways, including areas with temporary bridges and roads established after Helene. The full extent of the destruction is still under assessment, encompassing potential impacts on homes and structures. Teams comprising NCDOT workers, volunteer firefighters, local contractors, and community members are collaborating to restore access for residents. For real-time traffic updates, visit drivenc.gov.
“Hats off to North Carolina DOT, to all the volunteer fire departments, law enforcement, emergency management and local contractors and folks that just showed up,” Morgan said, acknowledging the community’s resilience. “Yet again, our community is stepping up and helping each other out in the midst of a bad storm.”
In Edneyville, a call suggesting the need for a water rescue was made overnight, but upon response, all individuals were found safe.
What Comes Next
Damage assessments continue throughout the county, and Morgan advises residents to remain vigilant as more rain is expected. The French Broad River near Fletcher is under a flood advisory until 2 a.m. Wednesday, with water levels at 10.9 feet as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, posing a risk of flooding low-lying farmland from Etowah to Avery Creek.
“If you come to a road closed sign, turn around,” Morgan advised, “And if you have the ability — hunker down and stay home.”
