ASHEVILLE - The river had receded from its peak in the River Arts District, exposing the devastation to businesses caused by Tropical Storm Helene. On Sept. 30, Larry Hopkins, owner of Ananda West, diligently mopped up the hair salon's mud-caked floor at 37 Paynes Way,

For many business owners in Asheville's River Arts District, the destruction is total due to the record floods.

Asheville's River Arts District, one of the liveliest arts hubs in North Carolina, was flooded during Hurricane Helene's devastating sweep of the southeastern United States. According to FEMA, water from the bloated French Broad River rushed into the gathering of businesses and artists' studios on Friday,