Low ground, the river and the hard seasons of recent years
The village sits near the Swannanoa River and close to its confluence with the French Broad, on low ground that flooded badly in the remnants of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Flooding mostly harms ground floors, but storms like that also bring heavy wind, flying debris and fallen limbs, which damage roofs too.
After a major storm, a roof often needs a fresh look even if nothing seems wrong inside, because lifted shingles, cracked tiles and loose flashing can hide in plain sight. Buildings that sat empty or closed for repairs are also at risk, since a small roof leak goes unseen for weeks. Regular inspection is cheap insurance against surprise.
