During Buncombe County’s Oct. 10 briefing on area recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene, officials addressed remaining power outages amid cooling temperatures, progress on municipal water restoration, airport operations, procedure for reopening restaurants 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 to know from today’s briefing.
More: Internet outages persist after Helene: Spectrum details restoration progress, obstacles
Buncombe County power information, emergency shelters
County Manager Avril Pinder began the meeting with an update on power and shelters. According to Pinder, about 36,000 customers in the county were still without power. She provided the following list of open shelters:
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A-B Tech Conference Center: 16 Fernihurst Drive, Asheville
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Medical Emergency Shelter (for individuals who are dependent on medical equipment requiring power): 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville
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Former Gold’s Gym (Novant Health): 1815 Hendersonville Road, Asheville – this is a good option for families with children
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WNC Ag Center- 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher (This is a good option for families with pets)
Pinder added that a community care station has opened in Swannanoa at 2319 U.S. 70 in the parking lot. The center, open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, provides a place for community members to shower, do laundry, use the bathroom, access cell towers and Wi-Fi, get potable and non-potable water, access counseling and pick up hot meals between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring shower shoes, towels and toiletries for showering purposes if you have them – they will be provided for you if you don’t.
Another community care center site at A.C. Reynolds High School site is coming soon – the school is currently a disaster recovery site and is not yet providing showers, laundry, etc.
NC FEMA disaster survivor assistance teams will be available Oct. 10 in the following locations:
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Black Mountain
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Pack Square Park
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Community of Emma 528 Emma St., Asheville with Spanish language speakers
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New Bridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave., Asheville, NC– Woodfin/AVL
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800 Fairview Road, Asheville, NC
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Beech Community Center, 15 NC 2117, Weaverville, NC
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Swannanoa – 503 Park Street, Swannanoa, NC
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Walmart – 60 Airport Road, Arden, NC
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Riceville Community Church, 2251, 2342 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC
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North Star Academy, 90 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Pinder also added that warm winter clothing giveaways are now taking place daily from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday at 23 Hamilton St. in Asheville.
More: Sign up for text message updates and crucial information in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath
Trash collection in Weaverville and Barnardsville
Pinder said that normal trash routes will be run Friday, Oct. 11, for household trash in accessible locations. Household bagged trash disposal will also be available at North Buncombe Pool at 734 Clark’s Chapel Road, Weaverville.
More: How Asheville’s service industry responded to needs of others amid Tropical Storm Helene
When will water be restored to Asheville?
Asheville’s Assistant City Manager Ben Woody provided an update on the process of restoring municipal water. Woody said that at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, contractors completed the connection of a 36-inch bypass water main. This means that North Fork Water Treatment Plan is now reconnected to the water distribution system in what Woody called a “significant milestone in our ability to begin the process of restoring water.”
“There is still much work to be done for us to safely move water from our extremely murky and turbid reservoir into the distribution system,” Woody said.
North Fork water turbidity is still improving every day, according to Woody.
More: As the mountains call for help after Helene, NC legislature approves recovery funds
Is the Asheville Regional Airport operating?
President and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport Lew Bleiweis provided updates on airport operations.
While the airport is open, Bleiweis said that passengers should contact their airlines about flight status before arriving at the airport. He added that ground transportation has stabilized somewhat with the return of fully operational gas stations, but to plan in advance for the reduced number of drivers operating.
The airport’s website FlyAVL.com is being kept up to date with FAQs and helpful info for travelers, and is the best location for timely airport updates according to Bleiweis. Call 828-684-2226 for information if you’re unable to access the website.
More: Asheville, Western NC flooding latest update: Everything to know in week 2 of recovery after Helene
Town of Woodfin updates
Woodfin Town Manager Shannon Tuch gave locations of distribution sites for food, water and supplies in the area:
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New Bridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Avenue is open daily, water is distributed 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and food, ice and other goods are available from 3-5 p.m.
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Victory Baptist Church 80 Olivet Road, open 12-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday
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New Liberty Baptist 623 Olivet Road, open Monday-Friday 9-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.
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New Life Community Church, 147 New Life Drive, open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuch added that anyone who needs supplies delivered or knows someone who does should inform a volunteer or police officer, or call the town hall at 828-253-4887.
Tuch also provided an update on Woodfin water – the resovoir is full and the dam remains intact and solid, with low water turbidity. The town treatment plant is at 100% capacity with full staff. Chlorine is within acceptable parameters, and bacterial tests have confirmed an absence of harmful bacteria.
The National Guard is assessing the main transmission line Oct. 10 to help locate undiscovered leaks. The line is 90% functional, according to Tuch. The Reynolds Mountain tank is full and supplying water to 25% of customers, with a boil advisory for consumption. The tank is pumping to the Herring Cove pump station, which is operating on an emergency generator and pumping water to Bear Cove tank as of this morning.
Finally, Tuch said that the town has been in correspondance with Duke Energy to confirm that power is being slowly restored, with several pockets still severely impacted without service. Tuch assured residence that they “have not been forgotten,” with crews repairing key feeder lines. However, if you find that you are the only house in your area without power, report your outage at 1-800-769-3766.
More: Helene in Western North Carolina: Everything you need to know from help to recovery efforts
Testing well water and digging new wells
Jessica Silver, a representative from Buncombe County Environmental Health, said that the department continues to assist well owners with water samples.
If you want your well water tested for bacteria, apply in person at Permits and Inspection at 30 Valley St. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. You will be provided with a water test kit including directions on disinfection and sample collection, as well as a water sample collection bottle. Upon submission, test results should be ready within two business days and will be shared by email or phone call.
Silver added that the office has received 43 applications for new wells – a permit is needed from the office before drilling a drinking water well. Access the permit application online at buncombecounty.org/eh.
More: Buncombe County Sheriff: ‘Actively searching river, debris’ in Swannanoa after Helene
Can Buncombe County restaurants reopen?
As for the process of reopening restaurants, Silver was able to provide some of the guidelines being used by BCEH:
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Food service establishments that had interruptions in water or power must schedule a visit from the environmental health office to reinstate permits. The office is able to accommodate same day visits, or visits scheduled in advance.
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Food service establishments with no functioning municipal water source must complete an emergency operations plan. Plans have been emailed out to all restaurants in the office’s database. Submitted plans are then reviewed by state environmental health before a visit for permit reinstatement can be scheduled.
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Food service establishments with water under a boil advisory must follow best practices as outlined on the county boil water advisory fact sheet. Establishments with water under a boil advisory do not need to submit an emergency operation plan or schedule a visit from the office prior to reopening.
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Food service establishments that didn’t have interruptions in water or power must reach out to the office to provide information on reopening.
For questions, contact the office at 828-250-5016 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
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: When will water be restored to Asheville? Buncombe after Helene update
