Hurricane Helene FAQ

What Happened to WNC? Western North Carolina experienced extreme rain, flooding, and winds during the last week of September. Some areas experienced more than 29 inches of rain within 72 hours. This led to flooding in the low-lying areas of the region and damaged roadways disrupting transportation and utilities while creating life-threatening conditions for people throughout our mountains.

How long will it take for the region to recover? No one can say when the towns will be restored, but we do know the recovery efforts have been remarkable and the improvements are making a difference every day. Governor Roy Cooper has activated More than 400 National Guard Personnel. On Oct 2 Biden ordered the Pentagon to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty troops to assist with aid efforts after Hurricane Helene.

Is it as bad as the news is showing? Yes, it is in certain areas. Other areas were spared. However, power, water, and the Internet are not widely available. The situation changes hourly.

My family and friends were staying with Carolina Mornings during this event. Can you help connect us with them? If you haven’t heard from someone who has been in this area, we would encourage you to contact the authorities. You can do so by filling out the form here or calling 828-252-1110.

I’m concerned about traveling to the area. Will I receive a refund for my reservation? For guests arriving between now and the end of October who have purchased Travel Insurance, we have processed your cancellations.

For those who did not purchase Travel Insurance, we are offering to relocate you stay or provide a full refund. 

For guests arriving after November, we hope to be back to normal operations.

I booked a stay with you through a different website (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.). Does this change anything? No! Like any reservation, we will be contacting you based on your arrival date. Your booking site may have different cancellation policies compared to Carolina Mornings direct bookings - rest assured we will honor the most advantageous cancellation policies available to you.

How do you determine if a home is guest-ready after Hurricane Helene? After the storm, we conduct a thorough assessment of each property. This includes:

What happens if my rental is deemed unsafe or uninhabitable? If we determine that your rental home is unsafe or not ready for guests, we will inform you as soon as possible.

If you purchased travel insurance, you are eligible for a cash refund through the insurance provider. If you did not purchase insurance, you can reschedule your stay or receive a refund in the form of a gift certificate.

What if I have travel insurance? If you purchased Travel Insurance, please contact the insurance provider directly for details on how to file a claim.

How will I know if my home is ready for check-in? For any stays coming in during the month of October, we will contact you with an update on the status of your rental. Once the home passes our safety and readiness inspection, you will receive confirmation that the property is cleared for check-in.

Can I cancel my stay if the home is guest-ready but I don’t feel comfortable traveling? If the property is deemed safe and guest-ready after October but you choose to cancel, our standard cancellation policy will apply. You may still be eligible for a refund in the form of a gift certificate, depending on the timing of your cancellation.

How soon can I expect to know if my home is ready? We hope that our infrastructure will be improving and that we can honor your reservation. Based on reservation dates we are systematically contacting our guests with upcoming reservations. Please understand that we are currently short-staffed due to lack of power and internet. We are doing everything possible with our limited resources to reach out to everyone. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.

We invite you to donate! Several reputable charities are collecting donations and would appreciate your support, including:

In addition to these charities, there are dozens of donation centers in the outlying areas accepting food, clothes, and other necessities for displaced Carolinians.

Come back to the area! Tourism is a large part of Western North Carolina’s economy. One of the best ways for the area to recover is for visitors to return once it is safe.