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

Stay safe and stay strong, Asheville. | Photo by AVLtoday

During yesterday’s 4 p.m. press conference regarding the ongoing aftermath of Helene, local officials provided crucial updates on the situation in Buncombe County.

Sheriff Quentin Miller announced that at least 57 people have died so far.During the call, Scott Dean with the National Urban Search and Rescue team noted, “We are dealing with a lot of major issues from bridge closures to no power, no water, just complete infrastructure failure.”

A curfew is still in effect for the City of Asheville, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., and there will be no trash or recycling collections, or bus services until further notice. However, the landfill is open for public use.

Food, water, and shelter

There is currently no timeline for restoring running water in Asheville and Buncombe County.

The City of Asheville has set up water distribution sites that will also begin serving food as it becomes available. Folks are encouraged to bring their own containers to fill with water. If you have donations, do not bring them to these sites, instead email helenedonations@buncombecounty.org or drop them off at BeLoved Asheville (32 Old Charlotte Hwy.).

William W. Estes Elementary School, 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Rd., Asheville (enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School, 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School, 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview

MANNA FoodBank is set up at the Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd., Asheville — parking lot to the left) to accept donations and distribute food + resources. Donation hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and distribution hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. each day until this Saturday, Oct. 5.

If you’re unsure if drinking water and food is safe for consumption, please check these resources.

There are a few shelters in place:

General shelter: AB Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr. (use Victoria Road entrance)
Medical emergency shelter: 10 Genevieve Circle
Opening soon: Gold’s Gym Patton, 1047 Patton Ave.

Connecting with loved ones

With many folks still without cell service, the Register of Deeds office is helping families locate loved ones they haven’t heard from. They’ve received 11,000+ requests so far. A wellness check initiative is being organized, with volunteers conducting door-to-door visits. If you haven’t heard from someone who may be affected by the storm, please complete this form to notify Buncombe County officials or call (828) 820-2761 to leave a voicemail.

Cell service + immediate ways to help

News Notes

Health

Need a prescription filled but unsure where to go? The NC Board of Pharmacy has a confirmation of which pharmacies in Western NC are open and serving patients. Check their website for the latest updates on operating hours and locations.

Community

If you’re looking for essentials like gas, groceries, and open shelters, Citizen Times has put together a helpful guide to assist locals in quickly locating the resources they need.

Cause

The Blood Connection reported that its inventory is critically low following Hurricane Helene. If you’re willing and able to help, there is a donation center at 225 Airport Rd. in Arden. The facility will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. the rest of the week — appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

Wellness

Local nonprofit Resources for Resilience is offering Listening Circles for those affected by the hurricane. The group invites folks to join online every day from 12 to 1 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 18, providing support to help ease feelings of overwhelm and stress. Save this Zoom link.

Announced

Following a federal disaster declaration due to Hurricane Helene, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available in 25 counties and for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Affected individuals have 60 days (from October 1) to apply at des.nc.gov, with a final application deadline of Monday, Dec. 2.

State

As of yesterday at 4 p.m., Duke Energy reported that they have restored power to 1 million customers in NC. However, 284,000 customers in the mountain region still remain without power. As restoration efforts continue, please use caution when encountering downed power lines.

Wellness

Upgrade your morning cup of joe when you switch to VitaCup’s Genius Coffee. It’s infused with vitamins and minerals that support all-day energy + focus. Try it in coffee pods.*

Health

Stop missing out on the conversations that matter — try these stealthy, barely noticeable next-gen hearing aids. No wonder 400,000+ customers love them.*

The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Todays edition by:
Cat

From the editor

Hi friends, I wanted to share a resource that Grace passed along (to pass on to you!). Archetype Brewing has opened its West Asheville location at 265 Haywood Rd., operating daily from 12 to 5 p.m. until Sunday, Oct. 6. If you’re in the area, stop by for supplies, charging stations, and drinking water while supplies last.

If you have extra nonperishable goods to share with the community, feel free to drop them off in the taproom.

For live updates in the community, please head to Blue Ridge Public Radio (88.1 FM), Citizen Times, and WLOS.

As always, stay safe, Asheville. ❤️

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