10.03.2024

Today’s Forecast

78º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:27 a.m. | Sunset 7:12 p.m.

In today’s newsletter:

The latest from yesterday’s news conference
List of open pharmacies
Asheville area resource map

Did you know? You can sign up for Buncombe County’s BCAlerts emergency notification system, you can text “BCAlert” to 99411.

The latest news and updates from the City

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

The following article is being updated on our website daily. We’ll include the latest news here, in our newsletter. Click the button at the bottom of this section to read the full story and see even more updates from City of Asheville officials.

Picture of a flat-bed tractor trailer with large tubes stacked on the bed — Critical materials like new water pipes continue to arrive for Asheville’s water service system.
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City of Asheville

During yesterday’s 4 p.m. press conference, we heard from representatives of the City Manager’s Office and the Police Department.

City Manager Debra Campbell said, “The City of Asheville’s highest priority is to get water, food, and other necessities to our most vulnerable populations.”

With support of a new locally-assigned FEMA team, priorities include: full restoration of city’s water system, continuing search and rescue efforts, and ongoing public safety. A curfew remains in effect for the City of Asheville from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Water services

There is currently no timeline for restoring running water in Asheville and Buncombe County. According to Assistant City Manager Ben Woody, “Distribution systems have suffered catastrophic damage.”

Crews from Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Cape Fear are actively helping to make local repairs, but access to some areas is still not possible, and the full extent of damage is unknown.

Asheville Water Treatment Facility, Mills River — limited operations, serving primarily residents in South Asheville (non-potable, boil alert in effect)
Northfork Water Treatment Facility, Black Mountain — inoperable, repairs are underway
William DeBruhl Water Treatment Facility, Swannanoa — inaccessible and inoperable

Trash collection

Today, Waste Pro will pick up trash from homes in Buncombe County (outside the incorporated City of Asheville) that have typical Thursday collection routes — if those routes are accessible. Please do not put storm debris into bins.

Household waste may also be brought to the Buncombe County landfill or three local Ingles locations, where Waste Pro will have trucks stationed:

1865 Hendersonville Rd. in Asheville
225 Charlotte Hwy. in Asheville
2901 Hendersonville Rd. in Fletcher

Important reminders

🌡️ All of Asheville and surrounding communities are under a boil-water advisory for non-bottled water. Water must come to a rolling boil for at least one minute to be considered potable.

🚦When power is out at a traffic light, it becomes a four-way stop. “Use patience and watch out for each other,” Police Chief Mike Lamb said.

🛠️ Be alert to scammers. Reputable companies offering to do repairs will not require payment upfront — do research online to ensure companies are licensed and legitimate service providers.

🚧 Officers are securing areas that are unsafe — especially areas along the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers. The public is warned not to cross security lines or barricades, which could indicate dangerous conditions like sink holes — ignoring these barriers could result in a dangerous situation and put first responders’ lives at risk.

Find cell service and wifi

Health

These pharmacies are open

The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy is keeping a current list of pharmacy openings in Western NC on their website.

Buncombe County

Asheville Discount Pharmacy, 76 Patton Ave. | Monday-Friday starting today, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

CVS, 505 Smokey Park Hwy. | call for hours 828-667-5457

CVS, 612 Merrimon Ave. | call for hours 828-253-4350

CVS, 324 Long Shoals Rd., Arden | call for hours 828-654-0812

Genoa Healthcare, 1314 Patton Ave. | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Publix Pharmacy, 1830 Hendersonville Rd. | 828-274-6293; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Publix Pharmacy, 165 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville | 828-658-1053; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sam’s Club, 645 Patton Ave. | 828-251-0372; Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sunday

Sona Health, DBA Sona Pharmacy + Clinic, 805 Fairview Rd. | Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Walgreens, 2501 Hendersonville Rd., Arden | call for hours 828-684-5375, cash only

Walgreens, 1835 Hendersonville Rd. | call for hours 828-274-7560, cash only

Wal-Mart Supercenter, 25 Northridge Commons Pkwy., Weaverville | Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

See surrounding counties

News Notes

Community

The Reuter Family YMCA (3 Town Square Blvd.) is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for showers and charging devices. The location is also accepting donations of drinking water, nonperishable food, and comfort items.

Health

Four area Mercy Urgent Care locations have reopened for walk-ins. The West Asheville (1201 Patton Ave.), Weaverville (61 Weaver Blvd.), and Waynesville (124 Frazier St.) locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Brevard location (22 Trust Ln.) is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Announced

Airbnb.org is working to provide free, temporary housing for North Carolinians and Floridians displaced by Hurricane Helene. To request housing, contact our local 211 information center.

Health

More than 100 nurses and physicians have arrived to assist in HCA hospitals in the region. HCA has set up the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund to aid healthcare workers impacted by Hurricane Helene. UNC Health is now offering free virtual visits from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week for adult residents of WNC. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Cause

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is in need of financial support after its shelter was destroyed. All the animals were evacuated to foster homes before the storm hit, but the team is now looking to build a temporary shelter to support local animals and animals from surrounding rural shelters.

Community

A Wellness Check Status Map for Henderson County is now available. The interactive tool indicates the welfare check status for individuals whose location and safety have been reported as unknown. (Citizen Times)

Number

Up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers have been authorized to deploy to North Carolina communities to support critical aid efforts. The soldiers will support FEMA and other interagency partners and are expected to move to impacted areas within the next 24 hours. (WYFF)

Try This

Citizen Times’ interactive resource map

Gray map of the Asheville, NC area with colored dots indicated local resources available by location

You can search for water distribution sites, gas, construction supplies, and more. | Map via Citizen Times

Citizen Times has created an interactive map of our area to help locate resources nearest you — including color-coded dots for the following:

Water distribution
Medical services
Shelter
Wi-Fi locations
Groceries
Gasoline
Construction supplies

Locations in Asheville

🚰 Pack Square, 80 Court Plaza
🚰 Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave.
🚰 Terra Nova Beer Co., 101 S. Lexington Ave.
🚰 Home Depot, 795 Fairview Rd.

🛒 Trader Joe’s, 120 Merrimon Ave.
🛒 WALLS Wine Bar, 38 Broadway St.
🛒 West Village Market, 771 Haywood St.

📲 Doubletree Hilton, 199 Haywood St.
📲 Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry St.
📲 A-B Tech Shelter, 340 Victoria Rd.

Please note this list was updated as of 6 p.m. EST on Oct. 2 — availability and openings may be subject to change.

Find more locations

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Erin

From the editor

Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the past several days, to check on Grace and Molly and to share your feedback.

We are working each day to respond to the needs of our staff and requests from our readers — we hope to continue delivering the information our community most needs. Due to ongoing impacts of the storm, our team’s resources are greatly reduced and our daily publishing schedule limits our ability to share real-time information. Please follow these local sources for hour-by-hour updates and reporting. We’ll still be in your inboxes each morning at 6 a.m.

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