MARSHALL, N.C. – Sandra Hensley-Sprinkle, 68, has lived her entire life in Marshall, a small town perched alongside the French Broad River just north of Asheville, North Carolina.

When she was a child, Marshall thrived with bustling department stores. However, as time passed, the economy declined, leading to many abandoned buildings. Recently, the town has experienced a resurgence, revitalized through a wave of art, music, and new restaurants. The old, run-down jail has been transformed into a charming boutique hotel and dining spot.

On Monday, she descended the steep hill from her home to a downtown that felt the full force of Hurricane Helene: streets inundated with thick mud, wrecked debris, twisted train tracks, and overturned vehicles.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this,” she remarked.

With a population close to 800 as of 2022, this historic town was hit hard by the flooding from Hurricane Helene, which submerged and ruined many buildings. One of the casualties was a railroad depot from the 1890s, cherished by residents for hosting community events and weekly music performances.

The floods also wreaked havoc on a water treatment plant across the river, leaving most of the town without power or phone services. Mayor Aaron Haynie informed local outlets that there have been “some” deaths reported.

Longtime locals indicated that this was the worst flood in at least a hundred years. Some witnessed people scrambling onto the roofs of buildings as semi-trailers floated downstream. A video captured an entire house being swept away by the raging waters.

Despite the destruction, the mayor and business owners remain determined to rebuild.

“It’s a tragedy,” remarked Keaton Griffin while he cleared mud and debris into a wheelbarrow.

Residents of Marshall, like others in Western North Carolina, have been scrambling to find essentials without electricity or phone services, even as National Guard helicopters flew overhead.

Across the Southeast, Hurricane Helene has claimed over 100 lives and left around 1.6 million customers without power by Monday evening.

At a nearby grocery store on Monday, individuals exchanged advice on purchasing necessities, but many faced challenges as stores were either closed or unable to process credit card transactions. The dollar store saw long lines as people searched for snacks and chips, while others waited patiently in their cars for limited gas – provided they could access cash from a functioning ATM.

Resident Annie Griffey, 73, mentioned that her cousin found a creative way to arrange for the delivery of water and perishable food through an unconventional method – using private helicopter drops at the local cemetery.

“I swear, that’s true,” she said. “My cousin knows how to get things done.”

As the river levels began to recede on Monday, cleanup teams were busy clearing away thick mud and salvaging belongings from homes that had been soaked by the floods. Heavy machinery was on the once-bustling downtown streets that had been devastated by the storm.

Chad Adamowski, dressed in rubber boots and tattoos, worked tirelessly to shovel out mud from his colorful tattoo studio, which also serves as a music venue.

Though an Airstream trailer in the back was miraculously untouched, he was focused on rescuing memorabilia from his bands and unique collectibles. He pointed to a mounted buffalo head nearly six feet high on the wall, still damp from the flood waters, as a demonstration of how high the water had risen.

Chad Adamowski, who launched his store in Marshall around 14 years ago and is a local resident, mentioned that the community’s revival gained momentum over the last five years as individuals started acquiring vacant properties to establish shops and restaurants—this trend intensified during the pandemic.

“Many people began arriving and opening their own businesses. Before long, we developed a vibrant community,” he shared.

Currently, the old high school has been transformed into artist studios and an event venue, while the city’s previous glove factory is now housing mixed-use apartments.

Moreover, the town has been featured as a filming location, including for the 2022 Amazon series “The Peripheral.”

Although it’s uncertain whether the recent flood will hinder this progress, Adamowski and other business owners are committed to rebuilding. He invested all his finances into his business, the Natural Canvas Tattoo, and into the community.

If the Buffalo head could remain intact, so could he.

He discussed with a friend about playing some music to uplift the spirits during the cleanup. For now, though, he had more urgent tasks. He needed to remove the drywall before mold could set in.

“It’s a race against time,” he remarked.