The Hampton Inn, adjacent to Interstate 40, Exit 105, has been filled to capacity each night since power was restored after the passage of Hurricane Helene.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, local hotels are fully booked, providing shelter for frontline workers and displaced families, while struggling to meet the ongoing demand for emergency accommodations.
Mitch Kerce, general manager at Hampton Inn, said the Bush Drive location is housing railroad workers, insurance adjusters, Duke Energy workers, doctors and nurses from UNC Health Blue Ridge, and workers with the American Red Cross.
Kerce said the main focus for the Hampton Inn location has been groups working hard to restore necessary services to the community.
The Hampton Inn, adjacent to Interstate 40, Exit 105, has been filled to capacity each night since power was restored after the passage of Hurricane Helene.
LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
“Some of Duke Power (workers) pulled out a week ago. They got most of this region restored and they moved on to other areas,” Kerce said. The remaining Duke Energy crew will be housed at the hotel for three weeks.
Nicole Neubauer, director of sales at Hampton Inn, was seen sorting through room inventory.
According to Neubauer, the hotel was out of power and water for four to five days. At the first sign of power, Neubauer said, the phone started ringing nonstop.
“It was power that came back on first, two days later water, and three days after that was internet and phone. Once the phone service came back on, we got 100 calls per hour,” Kerce said.
Hotels have been offering special rates as some first responders and linemen are scheduled to be there for weeks at a time. At Hampton Inn, Kerce said the hotel is offering laundry services free of charge.
Burke County hotels have been full with linemen and other utility workers aiding in the recovery from Hurricane Helene.
LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
According to Kerce and Neubauer, the location right off Interstate 40 has also relaxed cancellation policies and has not charged for reservation changes. In addition, Hampton Inn is offering continental breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
“We really haven’t had a lot of displaced people at all. FEMA has a program, and we are not on that list,” Kerce said.
According to Kerce, there aren’t many area hotels on FEMA’s emergency lodging list.
“We don’t normally get disasters like this, so there aren’t a lot of western North Carolina hotels set up for that,” Neubauer said.
The Hampton Inn has 83 rooms, and the hotel is at full capacity. Kerce and the staff believe the hotel will start to clear out mid-November.
According to Kerce, Hampton Inn is still getting calls from businesses that need multiple rooms for employees.
“They all need more,” Kerce said, referring to the high demand for hotel rooms.
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Program
Individuals and families that have home damage, are unable to return home, or have housing needs not met by insurance, shelters, or rental assistance may qualify for FEMA’s TSA program.
FEMA will pay the cost to stay in certain lodging providers for a limited period. Costs covered are the room, pet fees, and taxes.
Utility trucks have been a common sight in the parking lot of Morganton’s Sleep Inn since Hurricane Helene hit the county.
LISA PRICE photos / THE PAPER
The South Sterling Street hotel, Sleep Inn, is on FEMA’s emergency lodging list. Marjie Patton, general manager at Sleep Inn, said there are currently 13 TSA families housed at the hotel.
“Some people have totally lost their homes,” Patton said.
The remaining rooms, Patton said, are occupied by first responders and linemen.
“We’ve been booked every day,” Patton said. “We’ve got a crew coming in today for 14 nights.”
Sleep Inn has 63 rooms, but fewer than 60 are in use. The others are out of order.
Patton said the hotel has waived deposits for locals and has taken $10 off the pet deposit so owners can house pets for $25. For laundry services, Patton said the staff is referring customers to Hannah’s Wash Dry Fold, which is offering free services to first responders and linemen.
Sleep Inn also offers continental breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
According to Patton, Sleep Inn currently has only four rooms available.
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