“We don’t want you here.”

ASHEVILLE – As peak mountain foliage season approaches, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper told the Citizen Times that tourists are in western North Carolina because of the fallout from historic, devastating floods that have been reported to have claimed 97 lives in the state have, were undesirable and destroyed the region’s infrastructure.

Cooper said he only wants people to come to the region who are committed to the relief effort.

“Whenever you come to Western North Carolina, you get emergency notifications that we don’t want you here unless you directly assist with the response,” Cooper told Citizen Times on Oct. 3, 2017.

“That’s why we continue to ask people not to come. And that’s difficult for a region that’s about to enter its peak tourist season. But I’ve spoken to people at the Chamber of Commerce, they understand that meeting people is important.” “Our needs and saving lives come first,” he continued.

More: An Asheville man says he was trapped under a bridge on the rising French Broad River during Helene

Visit North Carolina, the state’s official destination marketing organization, has continued to issue a travel advisory to anyone planning to visit the region, usually known for its strong tourism industry, as the leaves change color in the fall. The message currently is: do not travel to the region as cities and towns continue to struggle with power and water outages.

“State and local officials strongly advise all motorists to avoid travel to western North Carolina as challenges and risks from river flooding, landslides, slope failures, road closures and downed trees continue,” the statement updated Oct. 3 said by Visit North Carolina. “Power and cell phone outages are also widespread, as are shortages of water, food and gas.”

Cooper said the goal is to further expand rescue and recovery efforts, which are hampered and burdened by the additional resources and road space required to entertain tourists.

“We want to keep these roads open for commercial vehicles, for emergency personnel, for medical personnel, for supplies, for fuel – all these forms of transportation that are ten times more than you would normally need on roads just to transport people’s basic needs.” I don’t have it now,” Cooper said.

More: The Foundy stores in the River Arts District have been closed indefinitely following Tropical Storm Helene

Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have also released information about the resources currently provided by the industry. The authority issued an update on the status of the local tourism industry.

“People have always been drawn to Asheville and the mountains of western North Carolina. We know that many people across the country care about our community and want to support it. It’s not just about what happens now, but also about planning for the coming months and years.” The BCTDA and Explore Asheville said in a statement to Citizen Times on Oct. 3.

“Right now, the focus is on caring for residents and workers in the area and caring for the many first responders who answered the call from across the country – helping those affected and managing the economic and emotional burden,” it said in the statement.

The City of Asheville and a number of other cities across WNC are facing crises following flooding from Tropical Storm Helene. Most parts of the city have run out of water and water is not expected to return for several weeks. Cell service remains spotty, if not unreliable. Entire areas of the city, such as the River Arts District – a popular tourist area near French Broad – remain in ruins.

During the storm, VisitNC worked to combat visitor displacement across the region and fielded 7,300 calls on the issue, according to the release. Many regional attractions are currently closed. The entire Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is closed. The Biltmore is closed. The WNC Nature Center is closed. The Omni Grove Park Inn is closed.

Although leaf season was expected to be brisk and attract thousands to the area, boosting local business, this fall is likely to be painful as businesses try to recover.

“Traditionally, fall is our busiest time of year, both visually in the Blue Ridge Mountains and for our economic vitality, laying the foundation for recovery in the days and months ahead,” the BCTDA statement concluded.

The organization encouraged those who want to support the area to donate to the Salvation Army of Asheville, MANNA FoodBank or United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County.

The BCTDA and Explore Asheville also provided information about applying for disaster relief unemployment and applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency business loans. Here’s what you should know:

Information for tourism employees, companies

NC Work Injury Unemployment (DUA): If your employment in the tourism industry was impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, you may be eligible for disaster assistance from the State of North Carolina.
Home Disaster Loans: Loans made to homeowners or renters to repair or replace real property and personal property, including automobiles, damaged by disasters.
Business Loans for Physical Disasters: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including real estate, supplies, supplies, machinery and equipment. Companies of all sizes as well as private, non-profit organizations are eligible to participate.
Economic Injury and Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans are available to help small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture operations and nonprofit organizations of all sizes meet their financial obligations during a disaster recovery period.

USA Today reporter Chris Kenning contributed to this story.

This story has been updated to add video.

Will Hofmann is a growth and development reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Do you have a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to Citizen Timit.

“We don’t want you here.”

ByJasper

Information for tourism employees, companies

By Jasper

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