Potential Lead in Water, Hazard Mitigation, Boil Water, Free Bottled Water

Buncombe County -- November 14, 2024: Press Release: Buncombe County Government Structures built before

 1988 have the potential for lead in internal plumbing.

Depending on pipe materials, lead may be found in water that has sat undisturbed in household plumbing for 4-6 hours and could pose serious health risks if ingested. Until the ongoing
 boil water notice is lifted, residents are advised to drink bottled water.  

If you must use tap water for consumption, the City of Asheville recommends that city water customers run water through faucets for two minutes or until the water temperature changes, then boil water for one minute. 

Drinking bottled water is the safest way to avoid lead exposure. This is critical for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and for kids under 6 years old. Bottled  water is being distributed throughout the City and County for free (distribution sites below).  

Out of an abundance of caution, children under 6, pregnant people, and breastfeeding people who have consumed tap water and have concerns, should consult their health care providers. If they do not have a doctor, they can call the Buncombe County Blood Lead Information Line at 828-250-5205. Buncombe County Public Health has set up a Blood Lead Information Line for healthcare providers and the public to call with any questions or concerns. Callers can leave a message, and a public health nurse will call back as soon as possible.  

More information on lead awareness and testing can be found by visiting ashevillenc.gov/lead-awareness

Hazard Mitigation
 

Buncombe County residents can receive funding to make their homes more resilient through home projects that reduce the long-term risks and impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and storms. 

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is FEMA-funded but is executed by the State and the County. Through the program, there are three home or property projects including elevation, home mitigation reconstruction, and acquisition.  

1. The elevation project raises the home as is, demolishes the old foundation, and builds a new foundation that raises the first floor approximately

2 feet above the 100-year flood elevation. In this project, the homeowner is provided temporary lodging while work is done on the home, nothing is moved out of the home. 

The mitigation reconstruction project is used when it is determined a home cannot be raised due to the home’s instability. The program will move out all the household furnishings and store them, provide temporary lodging, demolish the old home, build a new foundation at 2 feet above 100-year flood elevation and build a new home on the foundation. These are contractor grade homes, no custom furnishings.  

3. The acquisition project buys the property from the homeowner, at the value of the property the day prior to the disaster, once the homeowner relocates, the home is demolished, and the property remains as greenspace into perpetuity. 

In all 3 of these projects, FEMA provides 75% of the cost and the state pays the 25% match, there is no cost to the homeowner.  

The program does not have an income requirement and is intended to assist all of those impacted by the disaster. 

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. Applications can be made online and in-person. While in-person applications will be taken until Friday at 6 p.m., the program is ongoing, and applications can be filled out online.  

To apply online, complete the 5-minute Grant Information Request and then follow the instructions from a follow-up email. 

To apply in-person, visit the Asheville Mall through this Friday (November 15, 2024) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Staff will be on-site to answer questions and accept applications. No appointment is necessary. 

Storm Debris 

There are 41 trucks in operation in unincorporated areas of Buncombe County today.  

While crews are picking up debris in all zones of the county, pick up activity will be reduced due to weather. As of today, we have collected 148,746 cubic yards
 of debris in Buncombe County. This is great progress and not an insignificant amount, but it is a small amount of the 10 million cubic yards of debris that the storm created.   

If you were to lay all of the storm debris out on one football field without end zones, it would stack 5,625 feet high. That is roughly a mile high, the height
 of Mt. Pisgah from sea level to peak.  

Truck crews are making multiple passes. Residents may see them collect debris only by sorted category or collect some debris at each house in a neighborhood.
 Debris pickup is not like trash day, where you expect to see your whole can emptied. Crews may take some debris when they stop, but not clear the whole pile. They will be back for the rest of the sorted debris. Eventually we will climb this mile-high mountain
 of debris, and we ask for the community’s patience and cooperation while we continue this major operation.  

Homeowner Grant Program 

The Buncombe County Homeowner Grant program for Buncombe County residents will close this Friday. Applications can be obtained at
buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant
 or by calling (828) 250-5500. Phone support is available in any language. 

Qualified homeowners can receive financial assistance for housing-related costs such as property tax bills and other housing costs including mortgage, or homeowner’s
 insurance. 

Community Care Stations and Water Distribution 

Water, showers, laundry, hot meals, and more are available to the community as we continue recovery. Our Community Care Stations are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Community Care locations are: 

At Home Store parking lot  

Big Lots/Innsbrook mall  

Buncombe County Sports Park  

Bethel United Methodist  

Fairview Ingles 

Swannanoa Ingles  

Owen Pool  

Morgan Hill Baptist Church 

Water and meals ready to eat are available at distribution sites daily at:   

Black Mountain Ingles   

Swannanoa Ingles   

Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center   

Pack Square Park   

Buncombe County Sports Park   

Fairview Ingles at 225 Charlotte Highway 

Solid Waste 

Waste Pro will be running regular routes for trash and recycling today where available. A drop off site for bagged household trash is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at Ingles Fairview and on Friday North Buncombe Pool.