The Tuesday, Oct. 22 Buncombe County briefing was shorter but still packed with information on reopening county facilities and restaurants, waste disposal, water quality, and more.
Almost a month after Tropical Storm Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving widespread destruction in its wake, reports on the results of efforts to reopen and rebuild are beginning to pour in. Over the past few days, county briefings have continued to update the community on restoring water to WNC and opening critical facilities like childcare centers and county facilities.
Briefings go live daily on the Buncombe County Facebook page at 11 a.m. You can also find recordings of past briefings on the page. Here’s what was covered in Tuesday’s briefing.
Libraries and parks opening in Buncombe County
County Manager Avril Pinder said that on Wednesday, Buncombe County will reopen to the public during regular business hours, with the exception of most parks and two libraries. These exceptions include:
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North Buncombe Fields Park will open
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Hominy Valley Park will open
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Oakley Library will remain closed
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Swannanoa Library will remain closed
Mobile library and park programming will be announced in the coming days.
More: Pisgah National Forest reopens in parts after Helene; cleanup of debris, trees continues
Community Care Centers, food and water distribution in WNC
Some changes have been made to available community care stations and food and water distribution sites as area schools used as relief sites work toward reopening.
Current locations of available community care centers, which offer free showers, laundry, food and more, include:
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AC Reynolds High School
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At Home Store (Parking Lot)
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Big Lots/Innsbrook Mall
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Buncombe County Sports Park
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Bethel United Methodist
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AC Reynolds Middle School
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Ingles Swannanoa
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Morgan Hill Baptist Church
As of the Oct. 22 meeting, another care center has opened at Owen Pool. Pinder added that the laundry station at the Owen Pool center is still being set up and should be available by this evening.
Food and water distribution are also continuing at:
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Sky Lanes Bowling Alley
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Black Mountain Ingles
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Fairview Elementary
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Swannanoa Ingles
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Leicester Elementary (closing permanently at the end of the day, Oct. 21)
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Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
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Pack Square Park
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Buncombe County Sports Park
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AC Reynolds Middle School
Spectrum restoration, Duke Energy restoration in WNC
As of this morning, 127 Duke Energy customers in Buncombe County are still without power.
Spectrum has restored service to 90% of customers. However, repairs are taking longer than expected in some places, leaving about 10,000 customers without internet access a day after the company’s goal date for restoration.
Early voting in Buncombe County
Early voting continues this week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day, including weekends, through the last Saturday before Election Day, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. You can view a sample ballot at buncombecounty.org/vote to prepare. You can also check the wait map before heading out.
Early voting sites, including changes made post-Helene, are:
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Black Mountain Library
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East Asheville Library
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Enka-Candler Library
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Fairview Library
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Leicester Community Center
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South Buncombe Library
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UNCA Health & Counseling Center
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Weaverville Community Center
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Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center
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West Asheville Library
Waste disposal options
WastePro is running regular routes for trash and recycling where accessible this week.
The landfill is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The transfer station is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. for residential bagged trash and household recycling—regular fees apply. On Tuesday, you can drop off bagged trash at A-B Tech Enka from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Wednesday at Owen Pool. You can also drop off your recycling at 116 N. Woodfin Ave. Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at a drop-off area just inside the gate.
More: No additional debris brought to West Asheville site near Deaverview, for now, city says
D-SNAP deadline approaches
Buncombe County residents can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) through this Thursday. Individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for D-SNAP.
You can apply in person at Buncombe County Health and Human Services at 40 Coxe Ave. in Asheville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or begin the application process online by pre-registering at epass.nc.gov and then calling the DSNAP Virtual Call Center at 844-453-1117.
Buncombe County no longer accepting donations of goods
Due to “the incredible outpouring of support” seen in the area, Pinder said that Buncombe County cannot accept any further donations of goods. She recommended monetary contributions to those who hope to help.
The county is also unable to offer volunteer opportunities at this time. Pinder asked that only those with pre-arranged commitments to volunteer show up at volunteer sites.
Restaurants and childcare centers reopening
Jessica Silver, a representative from Buncombe County Environmental Health, said that the agency launched a simpler form for emergency operation plans required to reopen many area restaurants. BCEH has approved 276 streamlined emergency operation plans for food establishments since Thursday of last week, according to Silver.
The agency is also working with the Division of Child Development and Early Education to assist childcare centers with the reopening process. Silver said they have received 42 emergency operations plans, of which the agency has reviewed 40 and approved 32.
More: More Asheville restaurants reopen nearly a month post-Tropical Storm Helene, issues persist
Well testing updates
Since Helene, BCEH has received 900 water sample applications. While most wells were not directly affected by the floodwater or damaged by the hurricane, the applications have provided “peace of mind for those relying on wells for drinking water.” However, Silver said that the agency hopes to shift focus to wells that were flooded or damaged during the storm.
The office will begin screening water applications to determine if wells were flooded or damaged. Disinfection kits and water sample kits will be distributed to affected wells. Silver asked that individuals only request samples at this time if their wells were flooded or damaged during Helene to allow the agency to process these samples more quickly.
Reach out with questions by phone at 828-250-5016 or email at [email protected].
When will DMVs reopen in WNC?
Wayne Goodwin, commissioner for the NC Division of Motor Vehicles, updated DMV services in WNC.
“At its peak, we had 25 driver license offices and 28 license plate agencies throughout Western North Carolina closed due to impacts from the storm,” Goodwin said.
After three weeks, “less than a handful” are now closed, including:
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Burnsville driver’s license office, which is currently serving as a relief center, will reopen when water services are available
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Spruce Pine driver’s license office, which is still being repaired following extensive damage to the area caused by Helene
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Marshall license plate agency
Goodwin added that the Asheville license office on Patton Avenue reopened Monday, and 124 transactions were completed the same day.
Goodwin also addressed the need for access to credentials in areas where mail service is unavailable. If you’re waiting on a renewal, duplicate license, or other credential, he advised returning to the location of your in-person transaction at least 21 days after the transaction to pick up your credentials.
If you completed an order for credentials online or at an office that has yet to open, visit the NCDMV website at NCDOT.gov/wnccredentialpickup to find a location to pick them up. Again, allow 21 days for processing before visiting said location.
How regularly is Asheville water tested?
Though Clay Chandler, a regular spokesperson for Asheville’s water resources, didn’t provide a full update on water quality during Tuesday’s briefing, he answered questions regarding the regularity of testing and the current water quality of the area’s water supply.
Chandler said that chlorine, total coliform, and e. coli are tested daily. Once a week, they test at the source for aluminum, iron, and manganese. Testing for these metals will increase daily once the second treatment round begins at North Fork Reservoir.
Chandler said that the agency has not received any reports of illness resulting from the water. However, the area is still under a boil advisory for any water consumed, including for brushing teeth.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe Helene recovery: Well testing, NCDMV updates, daycare, more
