Stomach Illnesses Post-Helene, Buncombe County Park Openings

Buncombe County -- October 29, 2024: Press Release Buncombe County Government: Early voting continues every day through Saturday at 3 p.m.

 

Currently, an average of 6,700 voters are voting early each day, which is on par with 2020 trends. To date, 37% of registered voters in Buncombe County have voted early.  Highest turnouts have been at the Weaverville and South Buncombe locations. To check wait times and other voter information, visit buncombecounty.org/vote.  

 

 

Black Mountain Library  
East Asheville Library  
Enka-Candler Library  
Fairview Library  
South Buncombe Library  
West Asheville Library 
UNCA Health & Counseling Center (new location)   
Weaverville Community Center  
Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center  
Leicester Community Center  
 
Community Care Stations are open and ready with showers, laundry, and more. Tonight, the Swannanoa Ingles Station will have new equipment switched out and while no disruptions are expected, we recommend visiting any of our other stations tomorrow morning to avoid any delays. The new site at Swannanoa Ingles will include drop-off laundry service. Our Community Care Station locations include: 

 

A.C. Reynolds High School (ADA showers and restrooms) 
At Home Store parking lot (ADA showers and restrooms) 
Big Lots/Innsbrook mall  
Buncombe County Sports Park (ADA showers and restrooms) 
Bethel United Methodist (ADA showers and restrooms) 
Swannanoa Ingles (ADA showers and restrooms) 
Owen Pool (ADA showers and restrooms) 
Morgan Hill Baptist Church (ADA showers and restrooms) 

Buncombe County registered nurses and the Mobile Team are offering free Tdap, COVID, flu and hepatitis A vaccines at Community Care Sites, this includes:  
Swannanoa Ingles: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  
Buncombe County Sports Park: Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.   
Big Lots: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. 

 

Water and meals ready to eat are available at distribution sites open everyday at:  
 
Sky Lanes Bowling Alley  
Black Mountain Ingles  
Swannanoa Ingles  
Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center  
Pack Square Park  
Buncombe County Sports Park  
Fairview Ingles  
 
Buncombe County Parks & Recreation 

 

The Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce the opening of Glen Bridge and Corcoran Paige River Parks. While these parks are open, we ask to not use the river at this time. The disc golf course at the Buncombe County Sports Park has also been cleared to open and is ready for play. Please note that the sport park continues to serve as a water distribution site and Community Care Station, so please do not park in the lots where these services are occurring; parking is available by fields 1, 2, 8, and 9. 
Residents should not attempt to access closed parks including Lake Julian, Owen, and Karpen Soccer Fields. The Ledges Whitewater, Alexander, and Walnut Island River Parks also remain closed at this time. Hominy Valley Park and North Buncombe Fields are open.  

 

 

To date, 40,000 cubic yards of storm debris have been picked up in Barnardsville and Swannanoa. That’s about 40,000 full-sized mattresses. Debris cleanup, which includes debris from trees, homes, businesses and vehicles will be a lengthy process. 
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, WastePro will operate normal routes for household trash and recycling in accessible locations in Swannanoa. For residents WastePro cannot reach, bagged trash drop-off is located at Hearts with Hands at 850 Warren Wilson Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday for household bagged trash only. Please note, this is a different location from prior weeks as the pool is a Community Care Station and school is back in session. 
Remembrance Ceremony 
The Black Mountain community is invited to come to Town Square, 100 State St., at 6 p.m. for a Community Reflection and Remembrance Program. For those not able to join in person, there will be a livestream on the Town of Black Mountain’s official Facebook page. 
 
Public Health Guidelines 

 

Gastroenteritis Post-Hurricane Helene: After major flooding events, such as Hurricane Helene, the risk of gastroenteritis—a stomach and intestinal illness—increases due to contaminated water, limited hygiene, and food safety challenges. 
Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director with Buncombe County, recommends washing hands with soap or using hand sanitizer and consuming safe drinking water including bottled water or water that has been boiled. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, muscle aches. Click here for more information. 
Important guidelines for hot tubs: Due to Hurricane Helene, hot tubs may have been flooded, damaged or not received regular maintenance and cleaning, which could lead to build up of harmful bacteria including the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease.  

 

 

If the hot tub did not receive regular cleaning during the storm or was damaged or flooded, drain the water from the hot tub. 
Using fresh potable water, scrub, clean and rinse all surfaces of the hot tub as needed. 
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to replace and clean filters as needed. 
Refill the hot tub with fresh, potable water.  
Water that is under a boil water notice should not be used for refilling a hot tub. 
Return the hot tub to routine disinfectant levels and begin using it again.  
The routine disinfectant levels for a hot tub are free chlorine 3 to 10 parts per million (or ppm), bromine 4 to 8 ppm and water pH of 7.2 to 7.8.  
If a regular source of fresh potable water is not available for servicing and refilling your hot tub, wait to resume use until a reliable water source is available.  
Again, water from a municipal supply operating under a boil water notice is not considered a reliable water source for a hot tub.  
Water with high turbidity (meaning not very clear) is difficult to keep at proper disinfection levels and can cause buildup of biofilms on jets and other areas of the hot tub that allow for growth of bacteria. 

 

 

While Buncombe County Emergency Services will begin shifting back to normal operations, they do expect delayed responses in getting to areas that have compromised infrastructure or debris in roadways.  
The Fire Marshall’s Office has been working with private areas on determining good water supply for fire hydrants. Residents are asked to be mindful of fire danger and be very cautious with burning with the current fall conditions. 
Alternative housing that some people may be using after Hurricane Helene needs to be equipped with safety equipment including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and more.  

 

 

Philip Cooper with Operation Gateway, an organization addressing the social determinants of health, shared how organizations came together to establish the Edington Distribution Center to organize all the aid that came to the region in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This includes collaboration with La Milpa, Asheville Dream Center, Asheville Housing Authority, Hands on Asheville, and more.

 

The organization was also able to acquire funding and organize volunteers to provide direct outreach in rural areas. 
Pisgah Legal will be at the Edington Distribution Center on Thursday and Friday to provide assistance. 

 

The One Buncombe Call Center at 828-250-6100 is ready to answer any calls with Hurricane Helene questions. Starting Wednesday, the One Buncombe Call Center will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
 
There will not be a water restoration update at the community briefing tomorrow as water crews are hoping to make progress at the North Fork Reservoir. An update will be provided on Thursday.