Before and after photos show the River Arts District

Before the hurricane hit, the neighborhood thrived with restaurants, breweries and visitors flocking to its colorful streets. Now, those very streets bear the scars of the storm’s fury, transformed into a haunting scene of devastation. This before-and-after photo captures the profound impact of the hurricane, revealing the radical transformation of this cultural center.

Previous coverage: River Arts District business left in shambles: ‘We definitely underestimated everything’

Helene, a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall, brought winds and torrential rain, causing the French Broad River to overflow its banks. Floods swept through the district, inundating studios, galleries, cafes and breweries.