Park City family reunites as son flees Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Asheville

Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Asheville. Photo: Zachary Dick

PARK CITY, Utah — Zachary Dick, whose parents are Park City residents, recounted his escape from Hurricane Helene, which recently devastated much of the western region of North Carolina, leaving cities and towns in ruins. Dick, who has been living in Asheville for the past five years, was caught off guard by the storm’s severity, as many in the area did not anticipate the hurricane to hit with such force.

In a recent interview, Dick described how quickly supplies ran out in the city. “Nobody expected Asheville to run out of gas, water and food as quickly as it did, or for cell reception and internet to go down,” he said. “The first couple of days were a little easier; I waited in line for hours just to get groceries, but it wasn’t long before we were running out of essentials, including water.”

The situation worsened rapidly, leading Dick to make the difficult decision to leave Asheville with the help of his roommate’s mother, who picked them up and drove them to Charlotte. Fortunately, the journey out was relatively smooth, thanks to a mostly clear route on Highway 74, but many others in the region faced more challenging conditions. “Most of the ways out are blocked, but there are some routes you can take with minimal challenges. We were lucky, but I know others weren’t.”

Dick’s house, located just outside downtown Asheville, suffered only minor flooding, but many of his neighbors were not so fortunate. “A lot of the houses in my neighborhood had trees in their living rooms. Friends of mine lost their entire homes, and parts of Asheville, like the River Arts District and Biltmore Village, are completely underwater.”

What stood out to Dick was not only the devastation in Asheville but also the damage in surrounding towns. “Driving to Charlotte, I saw towns like Flat Rock and Marshall completely gone. It’s hard to digest. This is going to take billions of dollars to repair,” he said, adding that seeing the widespread destruction across western North Carolina was particularly shocking.

While most of his friends and neighbors have managed to stay safe, communication has been sporadic due to the lack of cell service in the area. Some residents are staying behind to help, while others have left, fearing a scarcity of resources. “There are a lot of good people trying to make sure their loved ones have water and shelter.”

Looking ahead, Dick isn’t sure when — or if — he’ll return to Asheville permanently. “I feel extremely lucky, but I think I’ll need to relocate and put my life back together somewhere else. Maybe here in Park City,” he said, adding that he may return briefly to gather his belongings once gasoline is more available.

Despite the hardships, Dick is focusing on the positive aspects of his situation. He emphasized the importance of support for the victims of the hurricane and encouraged donations to relief organizations like the American Red Cross and disasterresistance.gov, which can help those affected by the disaster.

Reflecting on the experience, Dick expressed gratitude for his safety and the support of his family. “It’s a lot to process, but I’m thankful to be here in Park City with my loved ones. It’s going to take time to fully grasp everything, but I’m definitely getting some much-needed rest now.”

As Asheville and the surrounding areas begin to rebuild, the road to recovery remains uncertain. Still, with the support of organizations and community members like Dick, the region will start to heal.

Other organizations helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts are Black Mountain/Swannanoa GoFund Me, Hearts with Hands, Manna Food Bank, and the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.