Local rafting companies trying to recover from Helene

ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – Early on Sept. 27th, Matt Moses did his best to salvage what he could of the U.S.A. Raft Adventure Resort, but none of his efforts made a difference because the Nolichucky River was rising to record levels.

Floodwaters washed cabins away, and neighboring houses floated down the river into the resort’s campground. After everything was said and done, Matt Moses, the resort’s managing partner, said that the damage would cost a fortune to repair and replace.

“Just at this property alone, we’re at millions combined between my two campgrounds and cabin rentals and storage units and such; we’re looking at tens of millions,” Moses said.

Just down the Nolichucky River, Blue Ridge Paddling also saw significant impacts.

There used to be a barn full of rafting gear, but floodwaters washed it away. Mason Schmidt, co-owner of Blue Ridge Paddling, said the business is still finding pieces.

“Every day, whether it’s search and rescue teams, folks, or other agencies, they’re texting us and finding items well downstream and massive debris piles. And most of them are nonusable anymore,” said Schmidt.

Both businesses are still in the early stages of recovery.

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