(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccurate headline.)
The Thursday, Oct. 24, Buncombe County Helene recovery briefing covered several coming changes: Relocated voting sites and care centers, the approaching D-SNAP deadline and more.
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 Thursday’s briefing.
Oct. 21 in Buncombe recovery briefing: Donation pauses, water updates, debris facility updates, more
D-SNAP deadline
Today, Oct. 24, is the last day to apply for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Apply in person at Buncombe County Health and Human Services at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville from 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
If you cannot go in person, you can fill out an authorization form and send an authorized person in your place. The form can be found at buncombecounty.org. The application process can also be started online by pre-registering at epass.nc.gov and then calling the D-SNAP Call Center at 1-844-453-1117.
County Manager Avril Pinder warned that lines will be long at BCHHS but assured the community that applications from anyone in line before 4 p.m. will be received.
Find food, water and more: Where to find relief in Buncombe County one month post-Helene
Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center relocating
The Disaster Recovery Center, which Pinder describes as a “one-stop shop” for assistance from FEMA and the Small Business Administration, is moving from its location at A.C. Reynolds High School at the end of the day on Oct. 24 to prepare for schools to reopen. Visit the site at 9 Reynolds Dr. before it closes—the county will announce a new location as soon as possible.
A Mobile Disaster Recovery Center is open from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Oct. 24–27 at the Bee Tree Fire Station in Swannanoa and from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Oct. 28–31 at the Buncombe County Sports Park parking lot.
Community Care Centers, food and water distribution in WNC
Locations of Community Care Centers, which offer free showers, laundry, food and more, include:
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A.C. 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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Ingles Swannanoa
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Morgan Hill Baptist Church
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Owen Pool
The food and water distribution site at A.C. Reynolds Middle School has closed. As of Oct. 24, remaining distribution sites include:
Reminder for families returning to school
Pinder reminded that as area as schools reopen, many traffic lights are still not functioning. Help ensure the safety of the community by slowing down when you see an unlit traffic light and treating the light as a four-way stop.
Trash drop-off sites
The Oct. 24 household bagged trash drop-off site is located at the Ingles in Fairview.
A pesticide collection event open to all counties is also occurring today until 4 p.m. at 74 Research Dr. in Mills River. Labeled and known chemicals only; no mixed chemicals or liquids in bulk containers will be accepted. There is no charge for disposal.
Early voting in Buncombe County; extended weekend hours
The Buncombe County Elections Office is offering extended early voting hours this weekend and urges all residents to utilize them. All 10 early voting locations are open every weekend from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. through the last Saturday before Election Day on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.
Use the wait map at buncombecounty.org/vote to see how many people are in line to help you choose where to go – weekends are usually less busy for early voting. You can vote at any of the following locations:
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West Asheville Library
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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
Contact Election Services with any questions at 828-250-4200 or by email at elections@buncombecounty.org. You can also visit the office at 59 Woodfin Pl. in Asheville. Visit buncombecounty.org/vote for more information.
All 80 precincts for Election Day voting have now been assessed – 17 must be transferred or moved to new locations, all of which have been established at this time. Changes to voting locations are published on the website, and cards have been sent to affected voters in the mail.
Mountain Mobility early voting
Mountain Mobility is providing direct access to three early voting sites via the Trailblazer route. Customers using any of the three Trailblazer routes will be able to use one of these three locations based on their area:
Customers can be picked up anywhere along the Trailblazer route. As always, Mountain Mobility is free and available to all.
More: WNC election boards harness magic of voting to overcome voting obstacles after Helene
FEMA temporary housing needs
FEMA is seeking owners or property management companies to help meet temporary housing needs for Hurricane Helene survivors by leasing properties directly to FEMA.
The agency will host a webinar this afternoon, Oct. 24, from 2–4 p.m. for property managers and residential property owners who are interested in learning more about leasing directly to FEMA. Register at fema.zoomgov.com/webinar.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in WNC
Dan Connolly of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made an appearance to explain some of the key missions of USACE post-Helene.
First, the USACE is assisting with debris removal across the region. Today, Oct. 24, they are picking up debris at the NC Arboretum.
USACE has also worked towards temporary water solutions. Most recently, they helped establish a clean water source on the UNCA campus. Connolly said they hope to have clean water running on campus by Friday or Saturday.
USACE works in multiple counties in WNC, depending on where they are needed.
Where to volunteer in Buncombe County
Dan Leroy of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County provided information on joint efforts to organize community-wide volunteering for local response efforts.
“One of United Way’s longtime roles in our community has been mobilizing volunteers to address a wide variety of critical community issues,” Leroy said.
Handsonasheville.org, the organization’s volunteer coordination website, is online now.
In addition to Hands On, United Way worked with Lutheran Disaster Response and Relief and Buncombe County Government to launch an in-person Volunteer Reception Center to “complement the website.” Volunteers can stop by 50 South French Broad Ave. from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. seven days a week to be assigned on the spot. Email uwabcvrc@gmail.com or call 813-485-1354 for more information.
“United Way is committed to ensuring that everyone who wishes to volunteer in local recovery efforts can do so in a manner that is easy, impactful and personally fulfilling, and to ensuring that every organization engaged in the recovery throughout Buncombe County can access the volunteers that they need to complete their missions,” Leroy said.
As of Oct. 24, 38 volunteer opportunities are listed on the website, representing 7,326 individual volunteer slots. Leroy encouraged non-profit organizations, community groups and disaster recovery organizations to register for volunteer opportunities on Hands On, which will also automatically register organizations for the Volunteer Reception Center. Reach out at info@handsonasheville.org or call 828-393-5628.
Pisgah Legal Services offers post-Helene help
Jackie Kiger, CEO of Pisgah Legal Services, reminded the public of the services available through the organization post-Helene and encouraged anyone who needs legal assistance to reach out.
“Pisgah Legal Services provides a broad array of free civil legal aid, anti-poverty advocacy and access to healthcare to help people meet their most basic needs for safety, shelter, healthcare, food and other critical necessities,” Kiger said.
Pisgah Legal can also help with:
Kiger also encouraged those who experienced damage to their homes caused by Helene and need assistance with navigating paperwork to receive federal assistance to visit Pisgah Legal. Call 800-489-6144 for assistance, or apply online at pisgahlegal.org/free-legal-assistance.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: WNC Helene recovery: Relief, voting relocations, FEMA needs, more
