Tropical Storm Helene’s destructive rampage through parts of western North Carolina inundated a remote mountain town where two mining operations are extracting a remarkably high-quality quartz used in semiconductors, photovoltaic cells and other technology.
Nestled at 2,600 feet in the Appalachian mountains, the town of Spruce Pine and its roughly 2,600 residents are now coping with the aftermath of the flood waters that submerged much of the downtown area. Businesses from DT’s Blue Ridge Java and the Live Oak Gastropub to the Toe River Arts Gallery now face a rebuilding challenge and an uncertain future.
“Tropical Storm Helene has devastated our beloved downtown, with many local businesses suffering significant damage,” the Downtown Spruce Pine group reports on its website that also seeks donations.
A town official could not be reached Monday.
