Water turbidity drops, flood-damaged home purchase program, FEMA homes

The Friday, Nov. 8, Buncombe County Helene recovery briefing covered further drops in turbidity levels at North Fork, a program to help purchase or storm-proof homes in floodplains and more.

Also included were daily updates on food and water distribution and locations of Community Care Centers where showers, laundry and other essentials are available.

Briefings go live on the Buncombe County Facebook page at 11 a.m. on weekdays. You can also find recordings of past briefings on the page. Here’s what was covered in Friday’s briefing.

Homeowner Grant Program and FEMA-manufactured homes

Buncombe County is reopening applications for the 2024 Homeowner Grant Program to give the community impacted by Hurricane Helene more time to complete and submit applications. The new application period is open Nov. 11-15.

Applications can be obtained at buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant or by calling 828-250-5500. Phone support is available in several languages. Currently, the website says the applications are closed, but it will be updated.

County Manager Avril Pinder also added that on Thursday night, Nov. 7, keys were handed over to the first family who received a manufactured home from FEMA. The home was placed on their property.

“With those keys, hopefully a small sense of normalcy was regained,” Pinder said.

More: With many thousands displaced by Helene in N. Carolina, short-term rentals sought by FEMA

Legal counseling for Helene survivors

Free disaster-related legal counseling, assistance and referrals are available for eligible North Carolina homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties as they recover from Helene. For legal assistance, call 1-866-219-5262 and dial 2657. The toll-free hotline is available 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays. More information about legal assistance for N.C. residents is available online at: legalaidnc.org/disaster.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Steve McGugan, Assistant Director of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, spoke about the program’s plans. This is a FEMA-funded program designed to reduce further damages and losses following a disaster.

The county and state work together through the program to assist homeowners in the following types of projects:

• Acquisitions – If your property has been severely damaged and you are located in a flood hazard area and wish to relocate from that area you can sign up for the acquisition program. Your home will be bought at the value your property would have been appraised at the day before the disaster took place. The property may be used in ways that benefit the community in the future such as the creation of parks and greenways.

• Elevations – These are completed when your home may have had water on the first floor and you are in a flood hazard area. The program helps raise your home to a height 2 feet above the 100-year flood elevation through a new foundation. Temporary lodging will be provided, and no household items need to be moved out of the home for the process.

• Mitigation reconstruction – If your home is determined ineligible for elevation, this program involves tearing down the old home and building a new foundation, then building a new home. Newly built houses will be constructed using standard floor plans.

The program will be in Buncombe County next week taking applications from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12-Friday, Nov. 15, at the East Asheville Library. A team will be present to answer questions, help fill out paper application forms and check tax cards to ensure names, signatures and location within flood zones.

Asheville water system updates

Representative for the City of Asheville’s Water Systems Clay Chandler provided an update on water quality. North Fork turbidity as of early Friday morning has fallen below 17. The third round of in-reservoir treatment will be undergone next week, and 19 million gallons per day are now being pushed through the system.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has chosen a contractor for the Interim Pretreatment system project who will be onsite early next week for a site visit, with the buildout beginning shortly after that. The timeline is still late November-early December for completion of this project.

Finally, Chandler said that the DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant at Bee Tree is also undergoing repairs. Currently, focus is on the removal of debris from in and around the area, as a massive landslide caused by the storm brought sand, silt, clay particles and boulders into the reservoir. Turbidity at this location is still around 200.

Well testing changes

Operational changes to well testing are coming due to holidays. On Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, Environmental Health won’t be accepting water samples. During the week of Thanksgiving, they will only accept water samples on Monday, Nov. 25.

City Council meeting

City Manager Deborah Campbell encouraged residents to tune into the Tuesday, Nov. 12, City Council meeting. There will be an update on how the city is organizing to respond and aggressively pursue necessary resources to help the community continue to recover. FEMA and recovery advisers will also provide brief updates. Watch on Charter Spectrum 193 or on the city’s YouTube channel linked on the front page of the city’s website at ashevillenc.gov.

Campbell added that the council has already passed a resolution providing funds to help aid individuals and businesses affected by the storm. This includes:

• Mountain Bizworks is distributing business stabilization funds totalling $704,000.

• Eblen Charities will distribute rental assistance funds totaling $500,000.

• The Asheville Regional Coallition for Home Repair will distribute home repair funds totaling $750,000.

The city is working closely with these partners to finalize program details in compliance with state and federal funding guidelines. Announcements on when and where to apply for grants through nonprofit partners are coming soon.

Community Care Stations

Community Care Centers are open daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. with showers, laundry and more. All Community Care Centers now have ADA accessible showers and bathrooms. Laundry drop-off and pickup is available at the Swannanoa Ingles.

Locations of Community Care Stations 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

Where to get food and water in Buncombe County

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

Free vaccines in Buncombe County

The Buncombe County Public Health Mobile Team will be out next week providing free vaccines. Their schedule for next week is:

• Tuesday and Friday: 12-6 p.m. – Swannanoa Ingles CCS and Tunnel Road CCS

• Wednesday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – Big Ivy Community Center

• Thursday: 2-5 p.m. at the Bounty & Soul market at the former BiLo in Black Mountain

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center relocates

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Cane Creek Pool will be relocated tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 9 to the Asheville Mall at 3 S. Tunnel Road across from the Bath and Body Works store. This location will be accessible through ART bus route WE1.

Today and tomorrow, Nov. 8 and 9, the Mobile Disaster Recovery Center will be at the Buncombe County Sports Park from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

More: Asheville voters pass $80M bond referenda: Housing, parks, transportation, public safety

FCC Environmental hiring event

FCC Environmental will host a hiring event on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 309 College St. More information will be shared in briefings soon.

Also for job seekers, the WNC Mountain Strong Career fair is happening today, Nov. 8 until 4 p.m. at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville.

Waste Pro collection

Waste Pro will be at the North Buncombe pool today until 3:30 p.m. to collect bagged household trash as they run their normal routes in the Weaverville area.

Any events hosted by Solid Waste including household hazardous waste events have been cancelled until further notice to focus on critical waste and restoring infrastructure.

Buncombe County Debris collection

So far, more than 100,000 cubic yards of debris have been collected in Buncombe County. Crews continue to collect between 12,000 and 15,000 cubic yards per day. For reference, it takes 2,690 loads to gather 100,000 cubic yards.

Currently, 45 trucks are running in the county. Crews are working in Swannanoa, Julian Shoals, Lower Brush Creek, Black Mountain and Barnardsville. Several crews are beginning work in the northwest part of the county.

When will Parks and Recreation programs start?

Parks and Recreation programs will return Tuesday, Nov. 12. While most previously scheduled programs and events are back on the schedule, cooking classes, field trips and some outdoor programs will not be returning due to challenges such as potable water availability, transportation and available outdoor spaces. Until regular potable water delivery resumes, bring your own filled water bottle to programs.

Youth and adult basketball leagues are currently open. Registration for other programs also reopens on Tuesday.

Government offices closed for Veterans Day

Buncombe County government offices including the courthouse, sheriff’s office, health and human services and more will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. Relief sites and Community Care Stations will remain open.

The Buncombe County Veterans Services Office offers a wide array of services for veterans and their families. This includes support for disability compensation, survivor benefits and more. Learn more at buncombecounty.org/veterans.

More: Mo Green ‘humbled and honored’ by NC superintendent of public instruction win

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: Water turbidity, home purchase program, FEMA