Hurricane Helene, Oct. 7-13: Updates + need-to-know information

AVLtoday is currently raising funds for BeLoved Asheville, with a goal to raise $20,000 by Oct. 18 — 100% of donations go toward supporting food and water distribution, clothing and supply deliveries, and debris cleanup across our region. Please consider contributing if you can.

From the coast of Tampa to the Appalachian Mountains, Helene brought significant destruction across 500 miles, leaving many communities in Western NC in urgent need of support and recovery.

On Sept. 29, President Joe Biden approved Gov. Roy Cooper’s request for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration for Tropical Storm Helene, enabling immediate federal assistance for 25 counties in NC and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Buncombe County’s briefings are now held once per day at 11 a.m. You can livestream the updates on the Buncombe County Government Facebook page or tune into Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM or the iHeart radio stations, including 99.9, 104.3, and 105.1 FM and 570 AM.

To find information from more recent news briefings, check out this article.

Sunday, Oct. 13 updates

Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder began the meeting with a moment of silence, reflecting, “For me, a Sunday morning typically involves reflection and gratefulness for our many blessings. Our community has been through an incredibly devastating event and I would like to take a moment of silence on this Sunday morning to acknowledge the tremendous impact to our community, the loss of friends and family, and even the loss of a basic sense of security for so many. This morning, I also think about the path forward. And how we unite and move forward with strength drawn from each other and from our beautiful community. I’m filled with hope and gratitude for each of you working to build a future full of promise.”

Trash and recycling pickup will resume Monday, Oct. 14

• WastePro will resume recycling on Monday, Oct. 14. The City of Asheville will also resume trash and recycling services on the same day.
• WastePro will run regular routes for household trash and recycling in Leicester. For areas that are not accessible, a trash truck will be at Leicester Elementary (31 Gilbert Rd.) from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday only. This service is for bagged trash only, not storm debris.
• Water and food distribution sites are not accepting trash.

Donation site updates

The donation center at 6 Commerce Way in Arden is not accepting donations until Wednesday, Oct. 16 while teams focus on distribution. The City of Asheville donation sites at Harrah’s Cherokee Center and in West Asheville at 298 Patton Ave. are not currently taking clothing donations. The City of Asheville recommends clothing donations go to Goodwill sites, which are providing vouchers for those in need for clothes.

Burn restrictions have relaxed

Gov. Roy Cooper has relaxed burning restrictions, but the county is urging residents to follow safety guidelines due to dry conditions:

• Burn your debris in manageable amounts. This should be less than 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet in height.
• Clear an area of at least 15 feet around burn piles of combustible ground debris and vegetation.
• Keep piles 25 feet from any structure or sections were yards meet forests.
• Have a means of extinguishing the fire: Use a water supply if it is available, shovel or digging device, or fire extinguisher. If you live near a stream, creek, or pond, collect water in buckets for your burn piles.
• If your fire becomes out of control, please call 911. Do not call 911 with smoke complaints about your neighbors.

Duke Energy continues to restore power

Currently, 10,232 Duke Energy customers remain without power. Duke representatives will provide more updates at the news briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Applications still available while Buncombe County Economic Services is closed

While Buncombe County Economic Services is under emergency closure, residents can still apply for Medicaid, Food Assistance, Energy Program and Work First online. Applications are also available on the Buncombe County website and they can be emailed to dssmail@buncombecounty.org or dropped off at 40 Coxe Ave. Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An Economic Service Call Center (828-250-5500) is running on a limited basis, Monday-Friday.

Saturday, Oct. 12 updates

Nonprofit support in communities around Asheville

On Sunday, Oct. 13, Bounty & Soul will be at these locations to offer meals, food, essentials, cold weather items, and assistance:

• Bounty & Soul Latino location (216 Whitson Ave., Swannanoa), 1 p.m.
• Swannanoa Library (101 W. Charleston Ave., Swannanoa), 1 p.m.
• Bee Tree (372 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa), 2:30 p.m.
• Lytle Cove (220 Lytle Cove Rd., Swannanoa), 2 p.m.
• Tierra Fertil Farm (74 Bagwell Mill Rd., Arden), 2 p.m.
• Jasper Apartments (234 Habibi Ln., Swannanoa), 4 p.m.
• East Haven (2244 US-70, Swannanoa), 4:45 p.m.
• Forest Hills (3 Dustin Dr., Swannanoa), 5 p.m.

These locations are changing daily based on needs. For more information on how to help or receive assistance, go to www.bountyandsoul.org or call 828-419-0533.

Buncombe County Sports Park replaces a food + water distribution site

The Sand Hill Elementary distribution site is being relocated to Buncombe County Sports Park, which is in the same driveway as the Sand Hill location (58 Apac Dr., Asheville).

Other water distribution sites include:

• William W. Estes Elementary School
• North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
• Fairview Elementary School
• Black Mountain Ingles
• Leicester Elementary School
• Asheville Middle School
• Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
• Pack Square Park
• Lucy Herring Elementary School
• Oakley Elementary

Find room at any of the Buncombe County shelters

Space is available at all shelters.

• AB Tech Conference Center: 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville
• Medical Emergency Shelter: 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville (medical equipment required)
• Former Gold’s Gym (Novant Health): 1815 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville (family friendly)
• WNC Ag Center: 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher (pet friendly)

An update on medical centers

• Novant Health has a community care cruiser on-site at AC Reynolds High School (1 Rocket Dr.) daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They offer no-cost urgent care services, a mobile pharmacy, and connections to obstetric and pediatric care.
• The community care station in Swannanoa is open and running Saturday, Oct. 12 until 7 p.m.
• Mercy Urgent Care clinic (1272 Tunnel Rd.) will reopen on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other Mercy locations that have reopened include South Asheville, Weaverville, and West Asheville.

Progress on power

As of Saturday morning, there are 18,000 Duke Power customers without power.

Business grants available for farmers

Farm businesses with damages directly related to Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for the WNC Communities’ Immediate Disaster Needs grant program, which provides quick resources to get farms back on their feet. Visit the WNC Communities website or email grants@wnccommunities.org or grants@wnccommunities.org.

US Army deploys to assist FEMA

US Army Corps of Engineers has deployed subject matter experts in debris management, temporary power, temporary water and infrastructure assessment to assist FEMA in coordinated efforts to impacted areas. A total of 287 preliminary water and wastewater assessments have been completed across the impacted areas of NC.

Friday, Oct. 11 updates

News about water service
On Thursday night, water resources staff began pressurizing and filling the North Fork Bypass line.

However, there is still an issue with the turbidity (amount of sediment) in the reservoir, and sediment must be removed. A private contractor will install curtains in the reservoir to create a section for coagulation (meaning water particles can be clumped together so they become heavy and fall to the bottom). This same treatment process is happening in stages to get sediment to settle at the reservoir. The North Fork Water Treatment Plant can’t be used right now, so crews will begin pressurizing the distribution system directly from reservoir water instead of going through the treatment plant.

Areas are being restored incrementally, moving west from North Fork to Asheville. Crews will have to pressurize, move lines, and make repairs as they appear. Work will start this weekend in Swannanoa, which Assistant City Manager Ben Woody called “ground zero” for the water system destruction. Once crews move past Swannanoa, the process for water restoration will hopefully be easier and faster, but no timeline was provided.

Essentials for water safety

As water begins incremental restoration, the City of Asheville shared crucial safety information:

• When water becomes available it is important to note it will have more sediment than usual. Turn off icemakers and cut off water from toilets while not in use.
• If you have water from the City of Asheville, you are under a boil water notice. You must boil this water vigorously for at least one minute before you can use it for consumption, such as cooking, brushing teeth, and drinking. It is safe to use this water for showers, however and avoid getting water in the mouth. Sponge baths may be more appropriate for babies and small children.
• If you get water that looks dirty, close the valve to your hot water heater to prevent sediment from accumulating and shut the power off to your water heater to prevent sediment from accumulating. When clean water is restored, you can turn this back on.
• If you do not have water, turn your water heater off to prevent a fire from occurring. You can turn this back on when clean water is restored.
• Because Black Mountain has multiple water sources, some residents have begun receiving water. If you have water in Black Mountain do not drink it or give it to pets, even if you boil it, it is not safe to consume. Only use it to flush your toilet.

Bus service expands its offerings

Beginning Monday, Oct. 14, the ART Bus system will expand its service windows to 7 a.m.-7 p.m. With some modifications as well as a continuation of flag stop service, 14 of 19 routes will be served — the N1, S4, and 170 routes will be added to current routes.

Clarification of the boil water advisory

If you have water service, you need to boil water for at least one minute for any consumption use (like drinking, cooking, brushing teeth). It is safe to use for showers, laundry, etc. Black Mountain water service is only safe for flushing toilets — do not consume water in the Town of Black Mountain even if it was boiled.

Residential debris removal will start soon

• Debris removal continues to happen at critical infrastructures, including medical, sewer, and school facilities. Residential debris removal for Buncombe County and the City of Asheville will begin soon, and more information will be shared over the weekend.
• There will be multiple trucks and passes, so residents do not have to place all debris out at one time. Keep debris out of the road.
• Officials have warned residents not to attempt the cleanup process without proper PPE; long pants, safety glasses, gloves, and sturdy shoes are recommended to keep you safe.

Board of Commissioners meeting will not be open to the public

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. to take up critical business. The building is still without water, so this meeting will not be open to the public. However, it will be streamed live on Facebook, and public comments can still be submitted.

• Submit public comment via email to sarah.gross@buncombecounty.org with the subject line: “Public Comment October 15, 2024.”
• Send emails by Sunday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. to provide remote comment during the meeting.

Remember safety and security ahead of colder temperatures

As of 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, 30,000 customers in Buncombe County remain without power, and cold temperatures are approaching next week. The Fire Marshall reminded folks not to use gas ovens or gas grills to heat your home. Generators should not be operated inside and should be placed at least 20 feet away from your home.

The WNC Ag Center is currently full, but these shelters remain open:

• AB Tech Conference Center: 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville
• Medical Emergency Shelter (for individuals dependent on medical equipment): 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville
• Former Gold’s Gym (Novant Health): 1815 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville (family friendly)

A-B Tech adjusts opening date

The projected date for restarting classes at A-B Tech has been pushed to Monday, Oct. 28. Some programs will begin before then; faculty will contact students about when and where to restart their studies.

What to do if your trash was missed

If your neighborhood was part of the adjusted trash pick-up schedule in the City of Asheville but your trash or road was missed, call 828-259-5857 to get it picked up. Normal collection schedules will resume on Monday, Oct. 14.

Thursday, Oct. 10 updates

A milestone in water restoration

At 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, contractors reconnected North Fork’s 36-in bypass waterline, meaning the North Fork water treatment plant is now reconnected to the water distribution system. “This is a significant milestone in our ability to begin the process of restoring water,” Assistant City Manager Ben Woody said, adding that there is still lots of work to be done to get the turbid, murky water from the reservoir into the distribution system.

First community care station open in Swannanoa

The first community care station, created in partnership with the New York Fire Department and FEMA, has opened in the parking lot of the Swannanoa Ingles (2319 US Hwy. 70).

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., people can shower, do laundry, use bathrooms, access cell service, get water + hot meals, and find access to counseling from All Souls Counseling. If you have items like shower shoes, towels, and toiletries, you’re encouraged to bring them — but if you don’t, they will be provided.

Another community care station is in the works at AC Reynolds High School but hasn’t opened yet. However, there is currently a disaster recovery center set up at the high school.

New water testing process

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 10, people who would like to have their well water tested can apply in person at the Buncombe County Permits and Inspections office (30 Valley St.), Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. You’ll receive a water testing kit with instructions on how to disinfect your well and collect the sample, along with collection supplies. After you complete the test, bring it back to the office, where staff will deliver it to a mobile EPA lab — you’ll get results back within two business days.

Guidelines for reopening restaurants

• Any establishments that had interruptions in power or water need inspections from Buncombe County Environmental Health before permits can be reinstated and food can be sold.
• Restaurants that don’t have access to municipal water but want to reopen must complete an emergency operations plan — information on the plans has been sent to all restaurants. Once plans are approved, inspectors will visit.
• If restaurants have access to water and are under a boil water advisory, the practices outlined in the advisory need to be followed — an emergency operations plan or inspection visit is not needed to reopen.
• If restaurants never lost power or water, the County wants to know, but the establishments are able to reopen whenever they’re ready.
• Note: Any free food being given out from restaurants is not regulated by Buncombe County Environmental Health.

Woodfin’s water, roads, and resources

Most roads in town are clear and there is notable progress in water restoration — the treatment plant is at 100% capacity with the transmission line 90% functional. The Reynolds Tank is supplying 25% of customers, but a boil advisory remains. The Herron Cove Pump Station is operating on an emergency generator, and the Baird Cove Tank is being filled, with plans to release water soon.

Where to go for resources:

• New Bridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave. | Daily: water available 10 a.m.- p.m., and food, ice, and other goods are available from 3-5 pm.
  
• Victory Baptist Church, 80 Olivette Rd. | Hot food, water, and other supplies are shuttled here Monday-Friday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
  
• New Liberty Baptist Church, 625 Olivette Rd. | Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
  
• New Life Community Church, 147 New Life Dr. | Water, non-perishable food, and other supplies

If you or someone you know needs supplies brought to them in Woodfin, contact a volunteer, police officer, or call town hall at 828-253-4887.
Asheville Regional Airport update

Asheville Regional Airport is open for travel. President + CEO Lew Bleiweis assured that commercial flights are not diminishing the relief efforts at the airport, with relief flights continuing to be the top priority.

If you’re flying from the airport, contact your airline for the most recent information on flight status before arriving. In addition, plan ground transportation accordingly as ride-share drivers and taxi services have been harder to access.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 updates

The Buncombe County website has been modified to make disaster-related content easy to load and access on devices that have limited bandwidth or connection. Buncombecounty.org and buncombeready.org (which now redirects to the main Buncombe County site) are now simple pages with five different clickable buttons directing to information about water, emergency numbers, disaster assistance, and more. Note: You will still be able to access the full website by clicking the last button.

City of Asheville curfew change

Effective Thursday, Oct. 10, Asheville’s curfew is changing. Curfew will begin at 11 p.m. and be lifted at 6 a.m. The decision was made in consultation with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.

Plan for reopening schools

• At the time of the briefing, 40 of 45 Buncombe County schools had power, while only 13 had water.
• Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools have put in a request for portable restrooms with handwashing stations to allow all schools to reopen. To serve all schools, 939 bathrooms and 391 handwashing stations are needed.
• Asheville City Schools simultaneously plans to drill 8-10 wells to serve its schools. A well has already been drilled and groundwater accessed at Hall Fletcher Elementary School, although there are additional steps before that water can be used in buildings.
• Buncombe County is also making a plan for grab-and-go meals and reworking bus routes to account for inaccessible roads.
• Asheville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Maggie Fehrman said that the target for opening Asheville schools is Monday, Oct. 28 — parents will be given a 72-hour notice before opening. Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rob Jackson did not provide a timeline for reopening.

Asheville City School also has upcoming educational opportunities for students:

• On Thursday, Oct. 10 from 2 to 6 p.m., a college admission work session will take place at Montford North Star Academy at 90 Montford Ave. This is an opportunity for seniors to access internet and support for applications, essays, meals, and counselors on site. There will also be limited access to portable restrooms.
• Bridge Learning for K-12 grade students will launch on Monday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Isaac Dickson Elementary School and Hall Fletcher Elementary School. This provides some educational enrichment. All Asheville City Schools students are welcome to attend.

Cold weather donations needed

As the temperatures begin to drop, donations of coats, blankets, and other cold weather items have been requested. You can bring them to:

• 1298 Patton Ave., Asheville
• Arden Presbyterian Church - 2215 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville
• Harrah’s Cherokee Center - 87 Haywood St. Note: Bring items to the front door from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

The donation site at 6 Commerce Way in Arden is not currently taking cold-weather related donations.
New FEMA disaster recovery center

A FEMA disaster recovery center has opened at A.C. Reynolds High School, where people can register for assistance in person, talk to a Small Business Administration representative, and access state services. The center will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To date, FEMA has approved 24,500 applications for Buncombe County residents with a total of $27 million.

FEMA assistance denials

If you have been denied by FEMA, the City of Asheville would like to know. Fill out this form so that the city can gather the information needed to go to FEMA. If you have applied and received a denial, be sure to contact FEMA to understand the reason for the denial and get the steps to appeal the decision.

Trash collection

• For Thursday, Oct. 10, Waste Pro will run normal routes for household trash to accessible locations in Arden and Fairview. On Thursday only, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Waste Pro will have trucks located at the Ingles on Charlotte Highway and Glen Arden Elementary School for residents to access with household bagged trash only.
• All regular schedules are expected to begin on Monday, Oct. 14.

An update on mail and delivery

• USPS has temporarily suspended retail and delivery operations for some postal facilities throughout WNC until further notice. For offices that are experiencing a temporary closure, the Postal Service is making contingency plans to work from a nearby facility. USPS operations in Alexander (2350 Old Marshall Hwy.) have moved to Weaverville (270 N Main St.). Customers can also call 1-800-ASK-USPS with questions about facilities and delivery.
• UPS is delivering to locations deemed safe; if the roads aren’t clear, you can pick up items at UPS at 301 Sweeten Creek Industrial Park Dr. in Asheville.

Mountain Mobility resumes additional services

Mountain Mobility is resuming nonemergency medical transportation, as well as the ADA complementary paratransit service and the Enka-Candler Trailblazer service.

Park and library closures

All parks and libraries remain closed, as staff has been diverted to work emergency response.

Water service restoration

Take a look at what we know about the water system damage and restoration so far. The next water update will take place at the Friday, Oct. 11 news briefing.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 updates

Tuesday’s news briefing included updates on distribution sites, power restoration, and trash service, as well as remarks on sewage operations, FEMA assistance, and mental health resources.

The briefing began with an acknowledgment of the devastating impacts expected to hit Florida as Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall late Wednesday night. As we all hope for the safety of Florida residents, Buncombe County Director of Communications and Public Engagement Lillian Govus assured the community that the support + resources we’ve received here in WNC aren’t going anywhere.

Screenshot via Duke Energy

Electrical infrastructure: repair or rebuild?

As of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 58,000 residences remain without power. Duke Energy has published a map marking these areas. Yellow represents areas designated “complex repair zones,” meaning they sustained significant damage but can be repaired. Red represents “disaster rebuild zones,” where buildings and key infrastructure no longer exist and require new poles, lines, and equipment. For red areas, Duke Energy says “temporary restoration solutions are under development.”

Using supplies for community outreach

Schools, nonprofits, and other community partners can now request the supplies donated to the county’s distribution center at 6 Commerce Way for outreach efforts. There are three ways to make the request — fill out the online form, call 828-393-5628, or stop by the center in person to fill out a paper form.

Transfer station reopens

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 9, residents can drop off bagged trash at the Hominy Creek Transfer Station (190 Hominy Creek Rd.) free of charge until payment processing equipment is up and running again. Commercial + large vehicles can use the county landfill at 85 Panther Branch Rd. in Alexander, Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

All major lines working at Metropolitan Sewage District

Metropolitan Sewage District General Manager Tom Hartye provided an update: The plant has been operating throughout the duration of Helene’s impacts, with all major lines or “interceptors” working and all 40 pump stations back online (with some running on generators).

You can flush and use the sewers, but check your own plumbing lines for damage. If you have an emergency with your lines, you can call MSD at 828-768-0540 or visit the administration building at 2028 Riverside Dr.

Buncombe County FEMA applications

Here in Buncombe, FEMA has approved 14,500 applications for a total of ~$15.9 million. National Incident Management Assistance team lead MaryAnn Tierney reiterated that FEMA funds are grants and not loans — you do not have to pay them back. You can apply at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

There are also crisis counseling services available 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990. Find additional info online.

VAYA Health shares mental health resources

VAYA’s Chief Medical Officer and psychiatrist Richard Zenn, MD shared a presentation covering how to take care of yourself during this time, detailing signs of when to seek extra care, how to help at-risk individuals like children and elders, and resources for how to access care.

If you are exhibiting any of these feelings or behaviors, it may be time to seek additional help:

• Overwhelming fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness or frustration
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels
• Difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or making decisions
• Physical reactions like headaches, body pains, and skin rashes
• Worsening of chronic health issues
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Here’s how to access resources shared by VAYA Health:

• Text or call 988 to speak with a trained mental health professional.
• Call 1-855-PEERS NC to access NC’s Peer Warmline — here, you can talk to a peer living in recovery from mental health or substance use issues.
• Call the VAYA Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127 for crisis assistance.
• First responders and volunteers can call Hope4NC at 1-855-587-3463 for support.

Additional info

Here is more information gleaned from updates and press questions during the news briefings:

• The EPA needs to perform assessments to gauge the public health impact of the rivers before any cleanups can begin.
• Rumors of 200+ people being trapped in a Candler church were deemed false.
• While no specific details were shared, it was said that the county public health officials and the greater emergency operations team are making preparations for any increased cases of infections, bacterial diseases, or other public health ramifications that could potentially result from the water outages. Donations of hand sanitizer to drop-off stations are encouraged.

Monday, Oct. 7 updates

Water restoration

• A timeline for restoring the city’s water system was not provided, but completion is nearing on the North Fork bypass line, which officials have said is a major milestone. EPA officials are on-site at the North Fork Reservoir to provide resources and assistance for treatment. City and NCDOT contractors are making progress on large-scale repairs.

Nonpotable water availability

• Nonpotable water (also called gray water) for flushing toilets is now available at all City of Asheville and Buncombe County distribution sites. See all distribution sites.

Oxygen refilling

• Oxygen can be refilled at Palmetto Oxygen LLC, Blue Ridge Home Care, AeroFlow, Lincare, Accucare, Bradshaw Oxygen LLC, and East Coast Medical Oxygen.

Trash collection

• Yesterday, the City of Asheville began regular Monday and Tuesday collections where accessible. Residents are encouraged to download the AVL Collects app to receive notifications about trash and recycling pickup in their area. There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational. Storm debris should not be placed in bins and will be collected at a later date.
• Waste Pro will run routes beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Enka-Candler area. It will also have a drop-off location at Leicester Elementary (31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community resources

To find information on food + water distribution sites, shelters, shower and laundry services, and more, find our guide to community resources. It’s being updated each day with new information.