Five employees and the manager of the resort’s equestrian center ensured all horses were safe.

When Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina in September, it devastated Asheville and many other communities in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, leaving a record-breaking path of destruction in its wake. Biltmore Estate.

In the eye of the storm, six unlikely heroes emerged: five Biltmore Estate employees and the estate’s Director of Equestrian Activities, who successfully housed all 54 of Biltmore’s horses, keeping them safe and fed.

Before the storm arrived, Cassie Hague, Caroline Wright, Cierra Guerrigues, Mango Lukenda and Annie Crandell had volunteered to stay in the main barn on the assumption that the horses would be safe for just one night. Elizabeth McLean, the site’s Equestrian Activities Director, was sheltering in a different location on the sprawling 8,000-acre property.

By three a.m. the team knew they had to get creative to ensure everyone survived, especially after losing access to any means of escape due to fallen trees and the loss of running water supply.

“The river road was under 30 feet of water and there were probably 50 trees on the back road,” Wright said. Asheville Citizen Times. “We were isolated here. We had enough water for Friday, but we did a lot of brainstorming on Friday night.”

The team eventually managed to fill the troughs with rainwater to increase their supply, before having to carry buckets full of water from a nearby stream. Unbeknownst to the crew of workers, McLean was advancing towards his workers, climbing over trees and bushes to save them.

On the fourth morning of isolation, McLean arrived at the main stables and was greeted with an incredible sight: five of the workers and all of the horses were alive and safe.

“I was so happy,” Wright said Citizen Times Seeing McLean. “We all hugged each other so hard. They were the best hugs we’ve had in a long time.”

A spokesperson for the Biltmore Estate tells Southern Living“Elizabeth was proud of her team’s ability to work quickly and creatively to ensure the horses and everyone got through the storm safely.”

As many families continue to rebuild their lives after the catastrophic storm, West North Carolina is already welcoming visitors back Just in time for the holidays – included Biltmore Estate.

“Visitors returning to Biltmore and the Asheville area will help our economy during this recovery period,” Biltmore spokesperson said Southern Living. “Christmas at Biltmore can be experienced on the same grand scale our guests are accustomed to; This year, despite the storm, we did not reduce our decor. “We look forward to sharing this especially meaningful holiday season with our community and visitors to the Asheville area.”

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