owns The Original Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian and Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian in North and South Asheville, Jettie Rae’s Oyster House and Gan Shan West. He said it was crucial for the city that restaurants reopened soon after Helene.

There was a sense of relief in the city, though some residents said they were still afraid to drink the water.

Nearly eight weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged areas of western North Carolina, drinkable water is once again flowing from the taps in Asheville.

Hurricane Helene damaged water lines at the North Forth Reservoir, Asheville's water source, forcing residents to rely on bottled water for close to 55 days.

Asheville, North Carolina, residents now have safe drinking water after a boil notice was lifted Monday, more than seven weeks after Tropical Storm Helene struck on September 27. Helene hit western North Carolina as a tropical storm,