The renowned Biltmore Estate endures considerable harm in specific areas following Helene's destructive path across North Carolina.
The estate, which houses the renowned Biltmore Mansion, the biggest privately owned residence in the USA, is still evaluating the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. This process might take some time, as stated by the estate on Thursday.
The grand 250-room house, along with the estate's vineyard, conservatory, and hotels, apparently suffered minimal to no damage from the storm, according to the Biltmore. However, the entrance and the farm portions of the estate experienced severe flooding and structural damage to several buildings. Unfortunately, a few animals perished during the storm, but the majority have survived and been accounted for.
The estate's forested areas, which comprise a significant portion of the property, have seen extensive wind damage to both the grounds and some structures. Workforce has been relentlessly clearing roads to initiate repairs.
When does the Biltmore schedule to reopen?
The exact date for the estate's reopening to guests is unclear, but initial assessments suggest a closure until at least October 15. The Biltmore will provide updates relating to operations past this date as they become available.
Buncombe County, where the Biltmore Estate is situated, has inexplicably become the focal point for fatalities and destruction caused by Helene. As of Friday, at least 72 casualties have been reported in Buncombe County, and over 78,000 homes and businesses there still lack power, almost a week after Helene's destructive onslaught.
The power substation serving Biltmore Village, a popular attraction situated outside the estate, experienced catastrophic damage and will require months of repairs, as stated by Duke Energy on Friday.
"The water level is almost at the peak of that substation," Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton explained. "Repairing that substation alone is projected to take three or four months. We will not ask our customers to endure such a long outage, so we brought in a 200,000-pound mobile substation."
The mobile substation is anticipated to be operational by Sunday. "We are digging new spots for wiring to ensure it is underground and safe," Norton added.
Around 105,000 residential and commercial properties in Western North Carolina will experience enduring power outages post-Helene, as crucial infrastructure was destroyed, Norton predicted.
Regarding the Biltmore Village substation that requires months of repairs, Norton mentioned that crews would attempt to "construct it again on higher ground beyond the floodwall surrounding it."
In light of the damage, travelers may need to postpone their plans to visit the Biltmore Estate until at least October 15, as indicated by the estate's announcement. The severe weather conditions also caused Buncombe County to become a focus of news reports, with over 72 fatalities and over 78,000 homes and businesses still lacking power.
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