Marshall, NC, Bounces Back After Hurricane Helene: A River Town’s Triumph

Nine months after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, the small river town of Marshall, nestled 30 minutes north of Asheville, is breathing new life. The French Broad River, which surged nearly 25 feet during the storm, left homes and businesses buried in mud and debris. Yet, the town’s spirit remains unbroken, with businesses reopening their doors to visitors since May.

Connie Molland, co-founder of Flow Gallery, recalls the heartbreak of seeing her gallery’s handcrafted art—30% of it lost to the flood—covered in a thick layer of sludge. "It was like the river decided to redecorate, and its taste was awful," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. Meanwhile, Joel Friedman, owner of Zuma’s Coffee, climbed through shattered windows to find his shop gutted, tables and equipment swept away like leaves in the wind.

But Marshall’s story isn’t just one of loss. It’s about resilience and the strangers who became heroes. Volunteers from across the country arrived with shovels, wheelbarrows, and grit, ready to dig out the town’s future. "They showed up like a cavalry, minus the horses but with better tools," Friedman said. Molland echoed the sentiment, noting how the community’s hope was fueled by these acts of kindness.

Flow Gallery welcomed visitors again in March, while Zuma’s Coffee has been serving locals for six weeks. "Every day feels like a small victory, like we’re thumbing our nose at Helene," Friedman said. Though some businesses are still rebuilding, Marshall’s main street is buzzing with cautious optimism, inviting travelers to witness a town rising from the mud.