When the Water Stopped: Helene’s 53-Day Siege on Asheville

About this episode

David Melton recounts the 53-day water crisis in Asheville following Hurricane Helene's impact.

When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, Water Resources Director David Melton watched his reservoir fill eight feet overnight and knew they were in trouble. Within hours, all three main transmission lines were gone, leaving 200,000 people without water for what would become a 53-day crisis. In this raw, unfiltered account, David shares the impossible decisions that kept a city alive – including the moment he told his staff, “The zombie apocalypse is here.” Visit the show notes here. Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @theoutfallpodcast for behind-the-scenes content and episode updates. Join our community discussions on Facebook at The Outfall Podcast where we connect with listeners.

People in this episode

Guest: David Melton

Topics covered

• water crisis
• Hurricane Helene
• city management
• emergency response
• public utilities

Keywords

• water crisis
• Hurricane Helene
• Asheville
• David Melton
• emergency management
• public water supply

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Asheville

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