When the Water Stopped: Helene’s 53-Day Siege on Asheville episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 2, 2025 · 17 MIN

When the Water Stopped: Helene’s 53-Day Siege on Asheville

from The Outfall Podcast · host The Outfall

When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, Water Resources Director David Melton watched his reservoir fill eight feet overnight and knew they were in trouble. Within hours, all three main transmission lines were gone, leaving 200,000 people without water for what would become a 53-day crisis. In this raw, unfiltered account, David shares the impossible decisions that kept a city alive – including the moment he told his staff, “The zombie apocalypse is here.” Visit the show notes here.    Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @theoutfallpodcast for behind-the-scenes content and episode updates. Join our community discussions on Facebook at The Outfall Podcast where we connect with listeners.

When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, Water Resources Director David Melton watched his reservoir fill eight feet overnight and knew they were in trouble. Within hours, all three main transmission lines were gone, leaving 200,000 people without water for what would become a 53-day crisis. In this raw, unfiltered account, David shares the impossible decisions that kept a city alive – including the moment he told his staff, “The zombie apocalypse is here.” Visit the show notes here.    Stay Connected: Follow us on Instagram @theoutfallpodcast for behind-the-scenes content and episode updates. Join our community discussions on Facebook at The Outfall Podcast where we connect with listeners.

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When the Water Stopped: Helene’s 53-Day Siege on Asheville

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This episode was published on September 2, 2025.

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When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, Water Resources Director David Melton watched his reservoir fill eight feet overnight and knew they were in trouble. Within hours, all three main transmission lines were gone, leaving 200,000...

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