City of Asheville Helene Recovery Update Oct 23, 2024

 

Asheville -- October 23, 2024: City of Asheville: Helene Recovery Daily Update This is the latest information available as of
9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024

Curfew was lifted effective Oct. 21.

ART bus services will continue to be free until further notice.

City offices will re-open to the public today, Wednesday, Oct. 23. This does not include City recreation centers.

Burning yard waste and debris is not allowed within city limits due to many safety concerns.
LOCAL UPDATES

 

Public officials will hold a news briefing today, October 23 at 11 a.m. The briefings are streamed live at
facebook.com/buncombeGov and broadcast on Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM. You can also listen on the Asheville

 

Media Group stations at 105.9, 96.5, 98.1, 105.5 and 97.3 (Spanish) and iHeart radio stations at 99.9, 104.3, 105.1, and
570 AM.

 

 

Storm debris removal is critical for community safety and temporary debris sites are necessary to process and ultimately
remove debris from our community. There is and continues to be a sense of urgency about debris removal. The longer
storm debris remains in our neighborhoods and business areas, the longer we are living with fire and safety hazards.

 

Removing storm debris improves residential and business neighborhood safety. It is also critical to businesses reopening
and economic recovery.

 

Temporary sites are necessary to process and ultimately remove debris from our community. Temporary sites will be
diligently monitored for safety and compliance with environmental regulations.The debris removal strategy will continue to
be dynamic and we will keep pivoting, when possible, as we are able to secure additional sites. We want to have as few
impacts on neighborhoods and business areas as possible.

 

Safety will remain at the forefront of every decision and we remain committed to outreach and information sharing in
residential and business neighborhoods near any temporary site. The activities at temporary sites include: debris staging,
grinding, compacting and preparation for hauling to a permanent site outside of the city. No hazardous materials will be
brought to temporary sites. Temporary sites will receive construction and demolition materials, appliances, electronics,
vegetative material and household hazardous waste such as cleaning supplies, paint and batteries. Household hazardous
waste will be contained at the sites.

 

● Enka Commerce Park Site - main site, currently receiving storm debris.
● 65 Ford Street - moving forward, site will only be used if needed. With the exception of vegetative debris, storm
debris currently on this site will be processed and removed in two weeks. However, security and site prep measures
such as fencing and access for heavy machinery will continue so the site is ready to be used, if needed.
● Front 9 of the Municipal Golf Course - this site will only be used if needed. However, security and site prep
measures such as fencing and access for heavy machinery will continue so the site is ready to be used, if needed.
More information on storm debris processing sites can be found at www.ashevillenc.gov/helene/debris-removal/
STORM DEBRIS COLLECTION

 

City staff and contractors are actively working to remove storm debris. Due to the volume of debris, we cannot provide
exact times and locations for collection. Collection will be ongoing. Additional information can be found at
ashevillenc.gov/helene/debris-removal/

 

● The community can place storm debris at the curb in the right of way. Debris should be separated at the curb by
category: construction, appliances, electronics, vegetative, and household hazardous materials. There will be
multiple passes at collection - you do not have to have it all out at once.
● The contractor cannot collect directly from private property. However, if your pile starts at the curb in the right-of-way
and stretches into your yard in a continuous manner, their equipment can reach about 18 feet as long as there are no
overhead lines or obstructions.
● Do not place or lean debris near or on trees, poles or other structures including fire hydrants, meters, and curbside
trash carts. Do not block the roadway. Ensure access for large trucks & emergency vehicles.

● Do not attempt the cleanup process without proper protective equipment: long pants, safety glasses, gloves and
sturdy shoes are recommended.

 

 

More than 95 percent of service has been restored. All City of Asheville water customers are under a Boil Water
Notice. This water is NOT SAFE for drinking from the tap. Water must be vigorously boiled for at least one minute
before consumption. The water is safe for laundry, showering (do not swallow water while showering), handwashing
(unless immediately prepping food after), washing dishes at a minimum 170 degrees, and flushing toilets.To minimize the
chance of infections, people with open wounds, cuts, blisters or recent surgical wounds and people who are
immunocompromised or suffer from chronic illness should use boiled water (then cooled) or water from an alternate
source.

 

The Boil Water Notice was issued out of an abundance of caution, now that North Fork is online and there are
zones where water from the two plants can potentially mix. Any water intended for consumption (drinking, cooking,
brushing teeth) should be boiled for at least one minute beforehand. The City of Asheville is not assessing late fees
for water bills, sending delinquent notices, creating new bills, or doing any cuts-offs for non-payment at this time. We are
accepting payments online, in person at City Hall, over the phone, and by mail for anyone that is trying to pay an existing
bill. Please contact customer service at 828-251-1122 with billing concerns.

 

What to do before water service returns: Flip off the breaker to your water heater. Turn off water to your water heater.

 

Turn off hot water under your sinks. Remove aerator (it typically unscrews) on faucets. Turn off the ice maker. Turn off
water to your whole house filter, if you have one.

 

What to do when your water service returns: Flush your home plumbing by running the bathtub’s cold water faucet.

 

Your water heater may be turned back on once your home’s plumbing has been flushed. It’s safe to flush your toilet after
completing steps 1 and 2. Leave your ice maker turned off.

 

 

A Disaster Recovery Center is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply
for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, and apply with the U.S. Small Business

 

Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more. The Buncombe County center is located at A.C.
Reynolds High School, 1 Rocket Dr. Open: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily.

 

 

Community Care Stations are set up across Buncombe County, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily, offering hot showers, laundry, wi-fi,
bathrooms, charging stations, water and meals. All amenities are free to the public. Please bring your own towels and
toiletries for showering. Community Care Station locations:
*AC Reynolds High School, 1 Rocket Drive
*At Home Store (Parking Lot), 980 Brevard Rd
*Big Lots/Innsbrook Mall, 85 Tunnel Road
*Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Dr.

*Bethel United Methodist, 1050 Riceville Road
*AC Reynolds Middle School, 2 Rocket Dr.
*Ingles, 2319 US Hwy 70
*Morgan Hill Baptist Church, 594 Barnardsville Highway

 

 

Food, drinking water, and water for flushing (bring your own containers for flushing water) are being distributed throughout
the City of Asheville and Buncombe County at the locations and times below:
● Sky Lanes Bowling Alley, 1477 Patton Avenue, Asheville - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● Black Mountain Ingles, 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, 28711 - 12 p.m. -  4p.m.
● Fairview Elementary, 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview - 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
● Swannanoa Ingles, 2299 US 70, Swannanoa - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road, Asheville - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (no bulk water for flushing)
● Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Dr., Candler - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● AC Reynolds Middle School, 2 Rocket Dr., Asheville - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● 980 Brevard Rd in the At Home store parking lot - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
● 85 Tunnel Rd in the Innsbruck shopping center parking lot - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

 

SHELTERS
● General public shelter at WNC Agricultural Center (pets accepted) - 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher
● General public shelter at the Old Gold’s Gym - 1815 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville