ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Helene left a lasting mark on western North Carolina, reshaping both the physical landscape and the future of Asheville. For the Asheville Police Department the storm brought unprecedented challenges, testing its ability to respond in the face of extreme devastation.

What You Need To Know

  • The Asheville Police Department received assistance from 55 agencies after Helene

  • Today the department is facing crimes, such as looting, in areas working to rebuild

  • Police Chief Mike Lamb is an Asheville native, who's been a member of APD for 26 years

  • Lamb says while dealing with short staff, the incoming officers from back-to-back academy classes are showing record high numbers

Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb has spent months helping the city recover, all while reflecting on the lessons learned from the disaster.

"One thing that officers really struggled with was the sense of helplessness whenever they would see someone washed away, going down the rivers and not being able to go in after them to rescue them," he said."One thing that officers really struggled with was the sense of helplessness whenever they would see someone washed away, going down the rivers and not being able to go in after them to rescue them," he said.

The storm's impact was not only physical but also emotional. Officers worked to assist those in need, even as they faced the uncertainty of their own families' safety.

"We had several officers who were here at work making sure our community was safe, yet at the same time, they didn’t know if their homes or families were OK," Lamb recalled.

One of the biggest challenges was the lack of communication. With little to no cell reception, officers had to quickly adapt their response strategies.

"One of our detectives made a human chain of communications — essentially a phone tree of people — to get information back to where rescue boats were in order to coordinate efforts and save people clinging for their lives in the water," Lamb explained.

Despite these obstacles, the response effort was collaborative. APD received assistance from 55 different agencies, each playing a crucial role in rescue and recovery.

"It wasn’t just one agency at the top," Lamb said. "We are so thankful for the assistance we got. Agencies helped us with calls for service, guarding barricades and securing medical facilities."

However, the arrival of Helene also led to a surge in crime, further straining law enforcement resources.

"That weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, we had a homicide where somebody was shot in the head, and then we had two people stabbed that same day," Lamb recounted.

Now, as Asheville looks to the future, Lamb is confident that the department is better prepared for any crisis.

"I believe that other agencies will look to Asheville whenever they experience a natural disaster," he said. "We are more than happy as a city to provide any type of assistance or guidance to help them manage any incident they’re dealing with."

While the scars of Helene remain, Asheville's resilience and the dedication of its first responders serve as a testament to the city's ability to withstand even the most devastating storms

As Asheville continues its recovery, the city’s police force is still grappling with a severe staffing shortage. According to Lamb, the department is operating with historically low numbers.

"Our patrol staff is lower than it’s ever been," Lamb stated.

The department’s staffing crisis can be traced back to 2020, when conversations about defunding the police by 50% led to a wave of resignations. Sergeants, lieutenants and experienced patrol officers left the force, forcing APD to reallocate resources. Specialized units and school resource officers had to return to regular patrol duties.

"In 2020, whenever we had our resignations, we had to disband our downtown district," Lamb explained. "We needed to reallocate those officers because the most important thing we need to do as a police department is answer 911 calls for service.""In 2020, whenever we had our resignations, we had to disband our downtown district," Lamb explained. "We needed to reallocate those officers because the most important thing we need to do as a police department is answer 911 calls for service."

However, with a renewed focus on recruitment, Lamb says the department is making progress.

"Thankfully, our current academy is three times larger than any other we’ve had over the last five years," he said. "And our next academy is looking to be large as well. So, we’re getting there, but currently, officers are having to work twice as hard."

The response to Hurricane Helene gave officers invaluable real-world experience in handling emergency situations. As businesses in devastated areas work to rebuild, they have become more vulnerable to crimes such as looting.

"We’re really putting a focus on providing officer coverage in those areas to make sure we can keep that from happening and enhance security within the flood recovery zones," Lamb said.

As APD rebuilds, Lamb is excited about the return of the traffic safety unit.

"For the last two years, we’ve set new records in traffic collisions and fatalities," he noted. "It’s important to have that unit back because they are specially trained in investigating those types of accidents, as well as using radar and changing driving behavior through traffic enforcement."

While Asheville’s landscape has been forever altered by Helene, the community is focused on moving forward. Lamb emphasized that both officers and the city as a whole need support.

"Asheville is open for business," he said. "We need the tourism to come back."