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Wednesday, Oct. 9 updates

• 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.
• 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.

• If you have been denied FEMA assistance, the City of Asheville has created a form to submit your information. Completing the form will help the city advocate your receipt of funds — but is not a guarantee the decision will be reversed. If you were denied, be sure to also contact FEMA to learn the reason and steps to appeal.

• Yesterday, a FEMA disaster recovery center 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.

• Buncombe County Health and Human Services advised area restaurants that all establishment permits have been suspended until health inspections are passed. According to Director of Communications and Public Engagement for Buncombe County Lillian Govus, health officials are working to ensure safe reopenings. (WLOS)

• Beginning today, home well water testing kits will be available at Buncombe County Environmental Health (30 Valley St.). You can get yours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The kits have easy-to-follow instructions.

• Contractors continue to work on the water line break under Reems Creek, with the goal of restoring water to everyone in the Town of Woodfin service area by tomorrow, Oct. 11. For those who do have water, a boil water advisory is still in effect and officials are asking folks to conserve. Find water distribution sites in Woodfin.

• $2 million. That’s how much Biltmore Estate and its family owners committed to localized aid through the new Biltmore Relief Fund for WNC. The money will support area nonprofits and help assist the estate’s employees in crisis.

• From 12 to 5 p.m. this evening, Oct. 10, Golden Folk Sessions, Mission Pizza, and Terra Nova Beer Co. are teaming up to host a Barter and Share Market. There will be live music, warm meals, a kids area, artwork, clothing, and more — see how you can support the event.

• NCWorks Career Center services are available inside the Land of Sky Regional Council offices (339 New Leicester Hwy., Ste. 140); the Asheland Avenue office is temporarily closed. The NCWorks Mobile Unit will also be on site for the time being to provide assistance.

• After delaying opening due to the storm, Hendersonville Theatre will present “Misery” from Thursday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, November 3. The play by William Goldman is based on the Stephen King classic, which tells the story of a cat-and-mouse game between a romantic novelist and his number one fan. Opening night tickets are pay-what-you-can.