How does a community cope when the bridge out of town washes away? Bat Cave shows the way
BAT CAVE - Off the edge of Lake Lure Highway, where Broad River flows through, Chelsea Hughes straps her 1-year-old son Luke to her back. The Bat Cave resident is in good spirits as her friend carries the boy's car seat. They climb down the rocks on the side of the highway and walk to the river.
There, they carefully maneuver across a makeshift pedestrian bridge, built after Tropical Storm Helene destroyed U.S. 64 in Bat Cave, which once connected the community to more populated towns.
"We have one car on this side of the bridge," Hughes told the Citizen-Times. "Then we go across the river to the other side of the bridge where there's another car. We're doing a little hike and a little shopping today."
The makeshift bridge was built by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Kannapolis Fire crews. They cross it with ease while NCDOT crews work on repairing the massively destroyed bridge next to them.
"When we get back, we'll carry everything," Hughes said. "And probably won't leave for a few days because it's just a lot to leave for a few hours."
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How the Bat Cave bridge collapsed
Over the Broad River off U.S. 74 Alt. onto U.S. 64, the bridge had a segment destroyed near Bat Cave Old Cider Mill and Applesolutely Gift Shop. Several cottages along the river appeared wiped out from the flooding.
The mountain community of Bat Cave sits in the lower elevation of Henderson County along the Broad River.
Built in 1958, NCDOT said the collapse of the bridge was due in part to debris coming down the river and catching on the columns for the last 60 years. Because the water levels were so high, a lot of debris from the storm started catching on the bridge itself. This forced the water around the bridge instead of under it.
"We have a bridge we're trying to save and shore up," NCDOT resident engineer, Michael Patton said. "Eventually, this entire thing will need to be replaced because it's compromised. We're going to make it safe. What we're doing is we're building up very carefully underneath it."
Crews have made progress, hoping to make travel safe again for residents within the next two weeks.
Bat Cave neighbors making a way
Chelsea Atkins and her neighbors and friends were wheelbarrowing clothing across the makeshift bridge while NCDOT crews worked Thursday afternoon. She and her husband are living in a camper nearby, but still come back over to assist neighbors.
"They've been down here and not able to do their laundry," Atkins said. "We just have some socks, some underwear and warm clothes since it's been pretty cold. If you haven't showered in a week, I just thought to bring some blankets and clean clothes. Going back and forth all day, your feet get really wet."
She's lived in Bat Cave for seven years and said Tropical Storm Helene did a number on her home along the Broad River on Lake Lure Highway. The flooding started in their basement, and eventually rose to the first floor. A tree fell through the side of her home.
"I used to be picky about letting people in my house if it wasn't clean," Atkins said. "Now, I'm like come see the disaster. I am in good spirits, because I've seen the work that people here have done to just help each other out. I've felt the sense of community even across the river from those neighbors."
Chelsea Hughes said the first few days after Tropical Storm Helene hit, community members realized they didn't have anybody coming to save them but themselves.
"It was just us and volunteers down at the fire department," Atkins said. "But even now, people have been driving by and dropping off and delivering stuff. I have diapers and everything I would need."
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for IndyStar assisting The Citizen-Times, Asheville with Hurricane Helene coverage. Contact her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.