^{The Cherokee casinos in North Carolina been taking donations and setting up tents to serve food in some of the most devastated communities in the area. (Image: Facebook/Hometown Hardware)}

In the aftermath of one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the United States in the last century, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has become a staging area for efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

According to the casino’s Facebook page (and Instagram account) the resort has been holding teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since Sunday, Sept. 29, two days after the hurricane initially made landfall in Florida. 

Harrah’s Cherokee Surrounded by Regional Devastation

In a post on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the casino outlined how the arrival of FEMA had transformed the property.

“FEMA Search & Rescue teams from Maryland, Ohio and Arizona have been stationed at our property since Sunday, Sept. 29, with an additional team from Massachusetts staying in close proximity offsite and two others in route from California and Nebraska,” the post read. “It’s amazing to see our ballrooms turned into command centers and our parking lot into staging areas for relief teams and vehicles. We appreciate these individuals and their support to WNC!” 

While Helene caused overwhelming destruction to parts of the region, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos – located in Cherokee and Murphy, both in North Carolina – were spared the brunt of the impact and were not forced to close during or after the storm.

However, the North Carolina Department of Transportation early last week, declared all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed, and only essential vehicles should be traveling in that part of the state where both Cherokee casinos are located. 

At the time, more than 600 people in North Carolina were still unaccounted for.

“Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos was extremely fortunate and was spared from major damages,” read a post from September 30. “Both of our properties are operational with water, power and internet. We urge travelers to continue to be mindful of the disastrous stage of our surrounding areas and follow the advisement of local officials, emergency management and DOT guidelines.”

Harrah’s Cherokee also noted that they were allowing guests to cancel reservations without penalty through at least Oct. 4. To accommodate emergency service teams, the casino reserved one of its hotel towers specifically for their use, moving all guests to a second tower. 

The casino has also organized donations and other forms of relief. Harrah’s Cherokee donated $20,000 to United Way of Haywood County, according to a post on Saturday, and was asking guests for donations as well. The casino has also organized donations of food and clothing, according to its Facebook page. 

Relief Efforts Ongoing as Helene Death Toll Rises

Recovery efforts continue in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and other states that suffered extraordinary damage due to Helene and the resultant floods from the hurricane. As of Monday evening, the death toll from the storm stands at 230, though that number is likely to rise significantly, as many areas remain difficult or impossible to assess due to flooding and road closures. 

Nearly 120,000 customers in North Carolina remain without power as of Monday evening, according to numbers provided by PowerOutage.us. Over 60,000 customers are without power in Georgia, along with 23,000 in South Carolina.

Even when power and other necessities are restored, and the immediate recovery needs are met, there will be lasting implications for the regions hardest hit by Helene. 

For western North Carolina, the impact to the tourism industry – including the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino – is a major concern. According to a 2023 estimate, the region brings in nearly $7.7 billion on visitor spending each year. 

The inability to travel has largely halted that industry during a busy season, as millions of tourists visit the mountains in the area annually to see the leaves change. The popular Biltmore Estate expects to be closed until at least Oct. 15, several major campgrounds remain closed, and the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, with no reopening day announced.