Ross Cash, the women’s golf coach at UNC Asheville, is currently unable to make his normal drive from his home in Jonesborough, Tennessee, to Asheville, North Carolina due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The historic flooding caused by the hurricane has devastated Asheville and other areas in the lower Appalachia region, wiping out towns, livelihoods, and causing significant damage that will take years to recover from.
The UNC Asheville women’s golf team, along with Cash, is facing the challenge of moving forward after their entire facility, an indoor annex located along the French Broad River, was completely submerged under water. Cash estimates that the team has over $150,000 worth of equipment, clothing, and other items in the facility, all of which may have been ruined by the flood. Until they can assess the full extent of the devastation, they will have to wait and see what can be salvaged.
After returning from a golf tournament in Vail, Colorado, the team was forced to fly into Knoxville, Tennessee instead of Asheville due to the hurricane. Cash and the team had to make the dangerous drive down Interstate 40 as Helene was approaching, with concerns about mudslides in The Gorge area. Fortunately, they made it home safely before the flood waters washed away portions of the Interstate they had traveled on.
Communication in Asheville was severely disrupted by the storm, with cell service out and limited connectivity. Cash had to ensure the safety of his players, who eventually managed to contact their coach from a fire station with service. While the players were safe, Asheville itself was in disarray, with many roads and bridges washed out, isolating the town.
Cash’s top priority was getting his players to safety, eventually finding a way to transport them to Charlotte, away from the devastation in Asheville. As for himself, he is currently waiting it out in Jonesborough, with uncertainty about when he can return to campus and what condition it will be in when he gets back. The indoor facility that Cash had built over time may not be easily replaced.
Despite the challenges and uncertainty, Cash remains focused on the safety and well-being of his players. Communication is slowly improving, and the team is grateful to be safe. The plan is to reopen campus on October 9, but the extent of the damage to the infrastructure in Asheville remains unclear. Cash is hopeful that they will be able to rebuild and move forward from this devastating natural disaster.
