Disaster Recovery Centers have been opened around the Upstate and Western North Carolina. FEMA has announced the opening of another disaster center in the Upstate.
The Laurens County Public Library on West Main Street in Laurens will serve as the site for the recovery center. The center opened Wednesday and will be open through Saturday of this week from 8AM-7PM.
Beginning Thursday a FEMA Assistance Team will be set up in Cherokee County, at the East Gaffney Baptist Church Family Life Center. The Assistance team will be available through Sunday October 20th from 8am to 7pm at 2308 Cherokee Ave. in Gaffney.
FEMA has already opened centers in Pickens, Anderson and Greenville counties.
Buncombe County Government Information:
Oct. 17, 2024: The boil water advisory across Buncombe County remains, with the exception of the Town of Black Mountain, where water can only be used for flushing toilets. Do not consume that water. Water in Town of Weaverville only no longer needs to be boiled for any purpose – you can use it straight out of the tap.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available – just call 919-629-3857 for English and 919-276-5698 for Spanish. People will be able to get help specific to their needs. Their call center is open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday Noon - 4 p.m.
VOTING: Oct. 17, 2024 is the first day of early voting. You can get an ID from the elections office during early voting (it takes only 10 minutes). You can vote seven days a week anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at one of our early voting locations:
Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain
East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Road, Asheville
Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler
Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview
Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy., Leicester
South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, Asheville
UNCA Health & Counseling Center, 118 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville (new location)
Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville
Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville (in lieu of Board of Elections location)
West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Community Care Stations and Food and Water Distribution sites listed below
Oct. 16, 2024: As temperatures are expected to dip to the low 30's in Asheville Wednesday into Thursday (10/16-10/17) cold weather shelters have been set up at 4 locations.
Shelters are available at:
- AB Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville, NC 28801 (Please use Victoria Road Entrance.)
- The former's Gold's Gym, 1815 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. This location has a playroom for children, so it may be more suitable for families. Please note that no pets are allowed at this location.
- Medical Emergency Shelter for individuals who are dependent on medical equipment requiring power is located at 10 Genevieve Cir, Asheville.
- WNC Ag Center at 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher – this is a great option for families with pets.
From Asheville City Government: Community Care Stations are set up in two locations in Asheville, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily, offering hot showers, laundry, wi-fi, porta-johns, 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:
- 980 Brevard Rd in the At Home Store parking lot
- 85 Tunnel Rd in the Innsbruck shopping center parking lot
Food in the form of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), drinking water and water for flushing toilets are available at the below listed distribution sites. Distribution hours are 9 a.m - 7 p.m. or until supplies run out. Bring your own containers for flushing water. These sites also have printed daily updates of important information and resources.
Food & water distribution sites:
- Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza
- Sky Lanes Bowling, 1477 Patton Ave (relocated from Asheville Middle School)
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd (no bulk water for toilet flushing at Shiloh)
- 980 Brevard Rd in the At Home store parking lot (relocated from Lucy Herring Elementary School)
- Oakley Elementary School, 753 Fairview Rd (ending today at 7 p.m. to relocate to 85 Tunnel Rd)
From Buncombe County Government:
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are continuing their work in Buncombe County. If you need to report a missing loved one and you’re in the Asheville city limits, please call APD at 828-252-1110.
In the County, call the non-emergency line at 828-250-6670 to start that report. As always, for urgent or emergency situations, please call 911.
POWER: 2,040 customers remain without power in Buncombe County as of this morning. Some homes may get power but then lose it. If this happens, text OUT to 57801, report it online at duke-energy.com/outages, or call 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
INTERNET: Spectrum experienced a major cut to an underground fiber line in Marion Tuesday night that was helping to connect customers in this region. As of Wednesday morning, 31,500 customers remain offline. Their crews are out and working on repairs.
STORM DEBRIS: Storm debris collection is beginning, so please use the collection services that are offered. Wednesday, debris collection trucks will be in Swannanoa, Barnardsville, and outside of Woodfin.
MONETARY FOOD ASSISTANCE: People impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or D-SNAP. To apply, visit epass.nc.gov or call 1-844-453-1117.
CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES: Eblen Charities is open Monday through Friday from 11-1 at 23 Hamilton Street, Asheville, and they are providing gasoline vouchers, warm winter clothing and other essential items such as hygiene and cleaning supplies, menstrual products, diapers, etc. during these hours. We are continuing to help our neighbors with rent and mortgage assistance, medical needs and other essential items.
EARLY VOTING: All week, you can vote anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at one of our early voting locations:
- Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain
- East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Road, Asheville
- Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler
- Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview
- Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy., Leicester
- South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, Asheville
- UNCA Health & Counseling Center, 118 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville (new location)
- Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville
- Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville (in lieu of Board of Elections location)
- West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville
