Hurricane Helene Resources

Hurricane Helene Updates with Links and Resources

Current Links:

If you are able to support our work financially, donate here. If you want to receive these updates via email, sign up for our newsletter here.

If you want to volunteer or donate supplies to help us resume our clean up work when it is safe and responsible to do so, go to ashevillegreenworks.org/helenevolunteer and fill out the form. Thank you <3

Tropical Storm Helene Recovery Resources - The City of Asheville (ashevillenc.gov)

County Center - Buncombe County Hurricane Helene Updates - Actualizaciones Sobre el Huracán Helene en el Condado de Buncombe

Emergency Preparedness - Buncombe County Emergency Services | Asheville (Scroll down for helpful phone numbers and link, live stream of downtown Asheville from the courthouse)

Follow Buncombe County Government (@buncombecounty) • Instagram Buncombe County updates are broadcast on Facebook live at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and also on the radio on 88.1 or 107.9 FM. These updates are broadcast in Spanish on 97.3 FM.

Follow City of Asheville (@cityofasheville) • Instagram

Follow Blue Ridge Public Radio (@blueridgepublicradio) • Instagram for live updates

Facebook groups where people are sharing resources: Hurricane Helene: N. Asheville/Weaverville /Woodfin /Mars Hill | Facebook and Hurricane Helene: ASHEVILLE | Facebook

Asheville/WNC Resources - Google Docs

Appalachian Hurricane Helene Relief Resources - Google Drive

More information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts:

Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages
Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts
Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators
Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power

State resources for information on the status of utilities, debris sites, etc.:

Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking
Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites
NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System
NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information
NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

Update #8, Monday, October 7

Y'all about made me cry this afternoon. From the sweet notes saying how much you appreciated these updates to the well over 100 of you who let us know that you're here to help with offers to lend whatever you have toward our future cleanup efforts, the feeling of gratitude overwhelmed me. Even my mom in Florida donated to our mission. Thanks, Mom.

That feeling is how I know we can do this. We are GreenWorks strong. Keep sending those donations and keep signing up to help, we're going to need a lot of both in the coming months. And keep sending me your notes. I love reading them and sharing with the rest of our team. Okay, tissues in hand and on to the updates.

Buncombe County issued an update on voting today. They are working to address all voting needs, especially early voting and voting by mail (absentee voting). You can request an absentee ballot until October 29 on their online portal. Early voting begins October 17. The local elections board will be meeting tomorrow to begin processing absentee ballots and discuss modifications to their early voting plan. They will update their website at buncombecounty.org/vote once they have solid plans in place. For more information, call 828-250-4200 or email elections@buncombecounty.org.

Buncombe Countys community briefings will now be held once daily at 11 am on Buncombe County's Facebook page.

Non-potable water (grey water) for flushing toilets is now available at all County and City distribution sites:

William W. Estes Elementary - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate - 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary - 1355 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview
Black Mountain Ingles - 550 NC-9, Black Mountain
Cane Creek Middle - 570 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
Leicester Elementary - 31 Gilbert Road, Leicester
Pack Square Park - 70 Court Plaza, Asheville
Asheville Middle - 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville
Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center - 121 Shiloh Road, Asheville
Lucy Herring Elementary - 98 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville
Oakley Elementary - 753 Fairview Road, Asheville

The City of Asheville continues to make progress on its treatment plants and distribution systems. If you currently have water, please conserve it as much as possible.

EPA officials are on-site at the North Fork Reservoir to provide resources and assistance to treat the reservoir while work continues on the bypass line at the North Fork Water Treatment Plant. The Mills River Plant is fully operational. The City's contractors and partner organizations continue to make progress on critical repairs to primary transmission mains and materials are being sourced as damage is identified.

All of Asheville and surrounding communities remain under a boil-water advisory. Tap water must come to a rolling boil for at least one minute to be considered potable. Click here for How to Disinfect Water Wells Affected by Hurricane Helene.

Oxygen refilling stations are available at several places. See the list here in the County's latest Hurricane Helene update.

EBT cards may now be used to purchase hot meals. Chick-fil-A is distributing sandwiches and water at Swannanoa Ingles (2299 US-70) from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., today through Friday while supplies last.

If you live in the Enka-Candler area, Waste Pro will run routes beginning tomorrow! They will also have a drop-off location at Leicester Elementary (31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester) from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Regular trash collection in the City of Asheville began today and is expected to continue with regular routes tomorrow, as well. Download the AVL Collects app to receive notifications about pickup in your area. Reminder: There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational. Residents can use both recycling and trash bins for household waste. Storm debris should not be placed in bins and will be collected in the future.

As of Sunday afternoon, 73,000 customers remain without power in Buncombe County. The traffic volume in small communities heavily impacted from the storm (like Swannanoa and Garren Creek) is affecting crews' ability to respond to those areas. Both Duke Energy and Buncombe County emergency services personnel are asking that unless you live in these small communities, please stay away.

Both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County are waiving fees related to emergency repairs. Visit buncombecounty.org/permits or develop.ashevillenc.gov to learn more. The Buncombe County Permits office at 30 Valley St. is open.

Limited Asheville Rides Transit (ART) bus service began today. Outbound trips will end at 5 p.m. Riders can find information about transit services through alerts or by calling 828-253-5691.

Local search and rescue and security efforts are being assisted by over 45 independent police agencies, the FBI, and Homeland Security. As of yesterday, 14 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are on the ground in Buncombe County. Search teams have located 336 persons alive and well and are currently working 60 missing persons cases. Drone teams continue to work alongside search and rescue teams in and around Swannanoa and the French Broad River. A curfew remains in effect within the City of Asheville between 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.

Please continue to be aware of scams and misinformation circulating in our community. Buncombe County officials have received reports of landowners and survivors receiving texts offering to buy land quickly for cash. If you receive texts like this, immediately report, block, and/or delete the number. There is also misinformation spreading regarding FEMA seizing supplies or turning away donations. These are all false claims. Be wary and always consult with verified sources. FEMA is here to help and personnel out in the community will be wearing name badges and/or ID cards.

*One Buncombe Call Center Available 24/7*

If you are a Buncombe County resident, call 828-250-6100 to report storm damage, access resources, and find storm-related information. City and county officials continue to encourage the community to "See something, say something." Call 911 to report suspicious behavior, if you believe someone is in danger, or if you have an emergency.

Visit report.buncombecounty.org to upload geotagged photos of storm-related emergency issues.

Buncombe County Hurricane Helene Update

City of Asheville Hurricane Helene information and updates - The City of Asheville (ashevillenc.gov)

Take care of each other out there.

Update #7: Saturday, October 5

It's officially been a week since Hurricane Helene made herself known in Western North Carolina and the greater US Southeast. The full scope of damage and lives lost is still coming into focus, and our hearts remain heavy for our community and all those affected.

We are continuing to prioritize the safety and well-being of our small but mighty GreenWorks team. We appreciate all of you who have reached out so far and told us you are willing to help us clean up and rebuild our community when the time comes. If you'd like to make a donation to help us in this effort, click here.

If you'd like to sign up to receive updates on volunteer opportunities as they become available, click here to fill out this short form. Please note that we are not conducting any clean-ups at this time as it is still unsafe.

In other updates, our operations team, with the invaluable support of our board member and TreeKeeper, Philip Blocklyn, is close to working out the final details of the water situation at our Sand Hill nursery so that we can continue to care for our potted seedlings there.

If you have purchased a tree in our Fall Tree Sale, we will let you know when it is safe and responsible to pick up your tree(s). If you want to purchase a tree to support our Urban Forestry program, you may still do so on our website at ashevillegreenworks.org/shop.

We have located our Trash Trout™, which was recently replaced at Nasty Branch (Town Branch) near the River Arts District. It survived the French Broad floodwaters and is currently sitting on top of the waste paper building. We will have a heck of a time getting it back into Nasty Branch, but hoorah for small wins!

On a personal note, having survived Hurricane Ian in 2022 (but lost our home and everything in it), I promise it will get better. Seeing (and feeling) the outpouring of love and support from friends and neighbors kept me going then and spurs me on now. Celebrate the small things and hug each other through the worst things.

My husband and I are so lucky to have our house intact this time, but I know there are so many who have lost everything. If I learned anything from Hurricane Ian, humankind is resilient and hopeful, even in the face of overwhelming odds. We will rebuild our homes, our businesses, and our community and we will be stronger than ever. Hugs to you all. <3

*New One Buncombe Call Center Available 24/7*

If you are a Buncombe County resident, call 828-250-6100 to report storm damage, access resources, and find storm-related information.

New online tool to upload geotagged photos of storm-related emergency issues such as blocked roads, landslides, and urgent needs for evacuation, supplies, or medicine. Take a photo of the affected area and submit to report.buncombecounty.org. Note: Do not use the 'Take Photo or Video' option as it will not transmit location info.

Residents who do not receive public yard-waste pickup are allowed to burn leaves, brush, and yard trimmings on burning days between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please wait at least three days to allow things to dry out before burning to reduce emissions and only burn in three-foot piles at least 15 feet away from structures. To find out if it is a burn day, check abairquality.org or call 828-250-6767.

The following item are prohibited from burn piles: household trash, building materials, asphaltic materials, cardboard, processed wood, and paper. Burning is not allowed in the City of Asheville, and the Towns of Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville or Woodfin.

The food and water sites distribution sites below are open daily until 7 p.m. or until supplies run out. Please bring containers to refill water.

William W. Estes Elementary School - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School - 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School - 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview
Black Mountain Ingles – 550 NC-9, Black Mountain
Cane Middle Creek Middle – 570 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
Leicester Elementary School – 31 Gilbert Road, Leicester

City of Asheville food and water distribution sites follow.

Asheville Middle School: 211 S. French Broad Avenue, Asheville – Until 7 p.m.
Lindwood Crump Shiloh Community Center: 121 Shiloh Road, Asheville – Until 7 p.m.
Pack Square Park: 70 Court Plaza beginning at 1 p.m. until dark.
Lucy Herring Elementary School, 98 Sulphur Springs Road. Open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency is aware of potential issues in the region’s water, soil, and wells and is working to evaluate health concerns. If you have a well and aren’t sure if your water is safe to drink, boil it for at least one minute or use it only for flushing toilets. Click the link below for information about disinfecting a well that was underwater during Hurricane Helene.

How to Disinfect Water Wells Affected by Hurricane Helene

All of Asheville and surrounding communities remain under a boil-water advisory. Tap water must come to a rolling boil for at least one minute to be considered potable.

Click here to watch a 22-minute video about Hurricane Helene's impact on the Asheville water system and the amazing progress that crews have made in a matter of days. We are still a long way off from where we need to be but our city and county are working hard and fast to get water back to our towns.

More than 700 FEMA personnel are on the ground in North Carolina, and 1,300 urban search and rescue personnel. In Buncombe County, FEMA has approved 14,000 applications, and more than $12 million has been dispersed to disaster survivors. To register for Disaster Assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA or visit disasterassistance.gov. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are out in the community today at several locations

Town of Black Mountain Press Release - October 5, 2024

To date, the Asheville Police Department (APD) has accepted more than 300 missing persons reported and has located 270 of those who are alive and in contact with family and friends. There are currently 75 missing persons cases in the City of Asheville. APD is receiving assistance from the FBI and U.S. Homeland Security as well as help from 45 agencies from the state and Southeast region.

The City of Asheville says trash pickup will resume in targeted areas on Monday. Routes are based on road accessibility. Download the AVL Collects app if you are able to receive notifications about trash pickup. Recycling will be collected as trash at this time. Please no mud or destruction debris in any trash or recycling cans.

I hope that you all stay safe and well this weekend. Take care of each other and I will be back on Monday with another update.

Update #6: Friday, October 4

Hello all. I hope this message finds you doing as well as you can be. As I've said before, we will have a lot of work to do when it is safe and responsible to do so. The City of Asheville and Buncombe County as well as much of Western North Carolina are still undergoing search and rescue efforts and many of our roads and waterways are dangerous to be near or on right now.

Our staff is scattered across multiple states with some of them remaining in the Asheville area, but all are safe with friends and family. We hope you are also safe. Our hearts are breaking for everyone experiencing loss and/or displacement. We are working to regroup and create a plan of action to support our community. If you'd like to make a donation to help us in this effort, click here.

Until we are all back in one place and it is safe for all of us to resume operations, we have created a web form where you can let us know that you're able to help in whatever capacity that looks like for you. Go to ashevillegreenworks.org/helenevolunteer to fill out the short form. Thank you all so much for your willingness to help.

We believe the irrigation system at our Sand Hill nursery is operational, but we don't have a way to fill our several hundred-gallon water tank to water our potted trees. We are working on several possible solutions, but lease let us know in the form above if you have any equipment or supplies (or ideas!) that could help us out.

We have been able to put eyes on our in-ground nursery and there is likely damage to trees there, but it is difficult to determine the full extent of the damage until we are able to go into the nursery. It is not safe to do so at this time. Our office remains intact with no immediately visible damage.

*New One Buncombe Call Center Established*

If you are a Buncombe County resident, you can call 828-250-6100 to report storm damage, access resources, and find storm-related information.

Sherriff Quentin Miller confirmed yesterday that Buncombe County has lost 72 lives due to Hurricane Helene.

Waste Pro is resuming limited service in Weaverville on Friday where safe and accessible. Residents can also drop off household trash (no storm debris) at North Buncombe Pool, 734 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Buncombe County Landfill at 85 Panther Branch Rd, Alexander will be open to receive trash Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Below are messages from the City of Asheville as of Thursday, October 3, regarding trash services.

Curbside collection of household waste (only bagged trash) will resume in targeted areas on Monday, October 7. Routes are being determined based on road accessibility and will be shared when available.
Download the AVL Collects app to receive notifications about trash and recycling pickup in your area. You can find the AVL Collects app in Google Play Store of Apple App Store.
There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational. Residents should use both recycling and trash carts for household waste. All waste will be collected as trash at this time by both City of Asheville and Curbie vehicles.
The following materials cannot be collected at this time: mud, construction debris, concrete, and other bulky or hazardous items. Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October.

Buncombe County has set up a new location to receive hurricane relief supply donations at 6 Commerce Way in Arden. They will receive donations in any size vehicle from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily. Donations are strictly limited to the below categories.

Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food
Bottled water
Clean-up supplies
Paper goods like toilet paper
Baby supplies including formula
Pet supplies
Personal Care

Please do not bring baby food, glass items, furniture, clothing, perishable food, electronics, and flammable liquids. Also please note you will not receive supplies at this location. All donations will go to community partners to distribute.

The City of Asheville has partnered with United Way to open a new donation drop-off site at Harrah’s Cherokee Center (87 Haywood St.). You can bring small donations of water, nonperishable food, eating utensils, infant care items, pet food, and cleaning supplies daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Updates from the town of Woodfin

Food and Water Distribution will take place at the New Bridge Baptist Church at 199 Elkwood Avenue from 2-4 p.m. Donations will be accepted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A portion of donations to the church is being shuttled to Victory Baptist Church at 80 Olivette Rd, Asheville from 3-5 p.m.
Anyone with special needs or with a welfare check request should visit Woodfin Town Hall at 90 Elk Mountain Road or call 828-253-4887 when cellular service is restored to the line.
Trash and recycling collection will start today.
There is not current definitive timeline for when water can be restored at Woodfin.
The town is hosting a briefing everyday at 1 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Updates from the town of Biltmore Forest

Hurricane Helene brought down a large number of trees at Biltmore Forest, which is a primary residential area. This was the main source of destruction for this community.
All roads are currently accessible for emergency crews.
The water system will require repairs once water systems are restored.

The North Asheville Library now has Wi-Fi access in their parking lot. The password is: readmore.

MedVet Asheville, an emergency and specialty veterinary hospital, will be opening starting tomorrow Friday, Oct. 4 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and will be open those hours every day. They are located at 677 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806.

The Buncombe County Permits Office is now open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and accepting electronic applications at buncombecounty.org/permits. Officials urge residents to check regulations before applying as special flood hazard area requirements may apply.

Power was restored to the City of Asheville’s water maintenance building which will aid in repairs to the damaged system. There is still no timeline as to when water service will be restored as crews are still working to access parts of the water distribution system.

The state of North Carolina and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are trucking food and water into Western North Carolina daily.

Walmart will be donating 33 truckloads of food and water to nonprofits across Hendersonville, Arden, Asheville and Weaverville. They are also hosting hot meals at their store in Hendersonville, NC (Store 1242) at 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792. Their store in Arden, NC (Store 1179) at 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 will host an associate fuel truck, laundry, feeding station, bathrooms and charging station.

The Home Depot has partnered with Operation Blessing to deliver truckloads of relief supplies including meals, hygiene kits, water and more to Asheville, NC Store 3625 located at 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803.

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are continuing to do welfare checks and they each have a link to request a welfare check on friends and family.

City of Asheville Helene Missing Persons Form (google.com)

Buncombe Search Sept. 2024 / Buncombe Busqúeda septiembre de 2024 (google.com)

All of Asheville and surrounding communities are under a boil-water advisory for non-bottled water. Water must come to a rolling boil for at least one minute to be considered potable.

More to come soon. Stay safe, everyone.

Update #5: Thursday, October 3

Good morning all. This update will be a bit shorter to get the below information out as quickly as possible.

In yesterday afternoon's briefing, we learned that the county's solid waste partner, Waste Pro will be picking up trash from homes on its regular Thursday route wherever the roads are accessible to their large trucks. This pickup is for bagged household trash only. Please no storm debris. That will be picked up by at a later time. They are still assessing the feasibility of Friday's route; this information is for the Thursday route only.

At this time, there is no estimate on when trash services will be restored for the City of Asheville, but customers can use one of the three drop off locations below to bring their bagged household trash.

Household waste may also be brought to the Buncombe County landfill or three local Ingles locations, where Waste Pro will have trucks stationed:
1865 Hendersonville Rd. in Asheville
225 Charlotte Hwy. in Asheville
2901 Hendersonville Rd. in Fletcher

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are continuing to do welfare checks and they each have a link to request a welfare check on friends and family.

City of Asheville Helene Missing Persons Form (google.com)

Buncombe Search Sept. 2024 / Buncombe Busqúeda septiembre de 2024 (google.com)

We received an update on water services with more information to come at today's 4 pm briefing. There is currently no timeline for restoring running water in Asheville and Buncombe County. According to Assistant City Manager Ben Woody, “Distribution systems have suffered catastrophic damage.”

Crews from Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Cape Fear are actively helping to make local repairs, but access to some areas is still not possible, and the full extent of damage is unknown.

Asheville Water Treatment Facility, Mills River — limited operations, serving primarily residents in South Asheville (non-potable, boil alert in effect)
Northfork Water Treatment Facility, Black Mountain — inoperable, repairs are underway
William DeBruhl Water Treatment Facility, Swannanoa — inaccessible and inoperable

All of Asheville and surrounding communities are under a boil-water advisory for non-bottled water. Water must come to a rolling boil for at least one minute to be considered potable.

Police Chief Mike Lamb and Sherrif Quentin Miller reminded folks that if you come to an intersection with no working traffic lights, it becomes a four-way stop. Be patient and watch out for each other.

They also warned that officers are still securing areas that are unsafe, especially along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. Do not cross security lines or barricades, which could be indicating dangerous situations like sink holes.

Two new locations for food and water distribution locations have been announced by the County. Please bring your own water containers to:

Cane Creek Middle School, 570 Lower Brush Creek Rd, Fletcher
Leicester Elementary School, 31 Gilbert Rd, Leicester

There have been reports of scammers going door-to-door to ask for donations or offer to do repairs and requiring payment up front. Reputable companies do not require payment up front. Please do your own research to verify the legitimacy of a company before you hire them and report potential scammers to law enforcement.

Big Ivy Community Center at 540 Dillingham Rd in Barnardsville has supplies available for people and some animal supplies are also available like hay and feed for livestock. Let the center know if any supplies need to be delivered to you. You can also drop off or pick up donations at Barnardsville Elementary School at 20 State Rd 2170 in Barnardsville.

The Enka-Candler Library now has Wi-Fi access in their parking lot. The password is: readmore.

A public AT&T mobile connectivity station has been set up at the Sam's Club at 645 Patton Ave in Asheville. You will be able to access chargers, use Wi-Fi on computers, and make calls at this station.

Update #4: Tuesday, October 2

Hi everyone. I hope that you are staying safe and well. We are doing the best we can to get our local readers as much accurate information as we can, but we encourage you to listen to the daily Buncombe County updates at 10 am and 4 pm on their Facebook page or on the radio at Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM, as well as iHeart radio stations including 99.9, 104.3, 105.1 and 570 AM. It is also being broadcast in Spanish on 97.3 FM.

I have two corrections from yesterday's email. Yesterday's update was Update #3 and the subject line incorrectly said Update #2. I also listed the citywide curfew incorrectly. Curfew is 7 pm to 7 am (essentially when it is dark outside). Thank you for your patience and understanding <3

Many of you have reached out asking how you can help and we are so grateful to have your support. We aren't ready to resume our work just yet but there will be a lot for us to do when it is safe. We are working on a way to start gathering contact information from folks who want to volunteer when that time comes. Keep an eye on our emails, social media, and website and we will post that information as soon as we have it. If you are able to support our work financially, donate here. Read on for today's updates.

Be patient, be safe, and be kind to each other. We will weather this storm together and build a more climate-resilient community for future generations.

Water and food sites are open noon to 4 pm today and will continue each day. They are working on expanding these efforts and opening more sites as they are able. Please bring your own containers for water as the only water at these locations is potable water from tankers. Locations can be found here and listed below:

William W. Estes Elementary School - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School - 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School - 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview
Ingles Black Mountain - 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 (this site is operated by the Town of Black Mountain with support from County warehouse distribution)

The City of Asheville is distributing water at these locations:

Pack Square Park (80 Court Plaza, Asheville) – Bring containers
Asheville Middle School (211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville) - Cases of bottled water will be available via drive-through

Other local sites for food and water include:

MANNA FoodBank distribution site open today, Oct. 2, from noon to 4 p.m. at the farmers market at 570 Brevard Road in Asheville (Parking lot to the left, just past Jesse Israel Nursery).
BeLoved Asheville is providing water, food, diapers, and baby formula at 32 Old Charlotte Hwy. Spanish-speaking volunteers are available.
Carolina Day School is distributing water at 1345 Hendersonville Road from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for those who still have water. Click here for Hurricane Helene Health Updates: Medicine, Food and Water Safety.

Cell service is continuing to improve and more Wi-Fi hot spots are being added. Here are a few we know about:

Verizon cellular satellite trailer | Family Justice Center, 35 Woodfin St.
T-Mobile cellular satellite trucks + access to power | Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave.; Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St.
90 Southside Ave in the South Slope area of Asheville has public Wi-Fi in the parking lot
West Asheville and Pack Libraries have Wi-Fi available outside, password is: readmore

Today is day six and search and rescue efforts in Buncombe County are still underway. There have been 57 deaths confirmed in Buncombe County.

Curbie's facility and fleet of trucks are largely intact, and recycling service has resumed for the town of Fletcher. The Curbie recycling facility is still without power, and they are working hard to resume service wherever they are able.

There is no timeline on resuming garbage collection yet but the County is coordinating with their provider, Waste Pro, today to resume service as soon as possible.

Asheville and Buncombe County Schools are closed until further notice. Asheville City School staff and Buncombe County school and government staff: please check in with your supervisor if you have not already done so.

The following Mercy Urgent Care locations are open for walk-ins with no appointment needed to treat non-life-threatening illness or injuries. Call 911 for emergency care or go to the emergency room.

Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville, 1201 Patton Ave, open 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville, 61 Weaver Blvd,
open 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Mercy Urgent Care Brevard, 22 Trust Ln
Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville, 120 Fraser St

For pharmacy information, emergency refill rules, and general health recommendations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, click here.

The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy is maintaining a list of pharmacies in WNC that are open. Click here to find the list. It is being updated by the Board of Pharmacy every 30 minutes.

Go to Drivenc.gov for real-time road condition updates. Western North Carolina is still on a DO NOT TRAVEL advisory from the NCDOT. Unless it is absolutely necessary, please stay off the roads and stay home. Individuals evacuating the Asheville area are able to use I-40 East or I-26 East.

For those unable to evacuate and need a place to go, Buncombe County shelters are listed below. All shelters can provide basic needs and are open to individuals and families who need a safe place to stay during this emergency.

A general shelter is now open at the former Gold's Gym at 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.
AB Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville, NC 28801 (Please use Victoria Road Entrance.)
Medical Emergency Shelter (for individuals who are dependent on medical equipment requiring power) located at 10 Genevieve Cir, Asheville, NC 28801.
WNC Agriculture Center- Fanning Bridge Road. This location is full.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds office is assisting in performing well checks on folks as requested. Use this web form to request a well check, click here to access the form. Or call 828-820-2671 and follow the prompts. If you have submitted a well check to Buncombe County and have since spoken to your missing person, please email register@buncombecounty.org to let them know.

If your home has damages and you need assistance with cleanup, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

The USPS has suspended service for areas with ZIP codes beginning in 287, 288, and 289. Deliveries are being attempted in some 287 areas where it is safe and possible to do so.

Thousands of linemen are working day and night to clear debris, reopen roadways and repair major portions of the power grid. As of today, over 80% of the 360 substations that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene have been restored and significant work on substations will continue today. Most customers in Western North Carolina can expect the power to be back on by Friday, October 4.

The North Carolina National Guard has deployed almost 800 soldiers and airmen to provide support to WNC along with more than 275 vehicles, including 88 High-Water Vehicles and 19 helicopters.

Commercial service at the Asheville Regional Airport has resumed. If your car was at the Airport lot, none of the airport lots flooded, and cars are all ok. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able.

North Carolina has officially received a Major Disaster Declaration meaning individuals in many counties (including Buncombe) eligible for Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Individuals can begin applying online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7285 between 7 am and 10 pm EST).

As a reminder, all GreenWorks events this week through October 5 are cancelled. Our Sand Hill nursery and office at 2 Sulphur Springs Rd are ok. We have not been able to assess damages at our Hardesty Ln nursery yet. We know that we will need a way to water our seedlings at the Sand Hill Nursery very soon and we are working on a way to do that. We will update you with our exact needs when we know more.

Help each other and be safe. We love you all. If you want to receive these updates via email, sign up for our newsletter here.

Update #3: Tuesday, October 1

We are sending out regular email updates and we realize that some of our readers may not be able to open or receive our emails because they contains links. Our goal is to try and get helpful information out to whoever is able to access it. If one of our emails finds you, we hope you are safe. Hang in there. We are thinking of you.

I-40 East is open. Go to Drivenc.gov for real-time road condition updates. Western North Carolina is still on a DO NOT TRAVEL advisory from the NCDOT. Unless it is absolutely necessary, please stay off the roads and stay home.

Buncombe County is still in active search and rescue mode today and have confirmed 40 storm-related deaths in Buncombe County. If you need emergency services, call 911. The non-emergency phone number is 828-250-6650 but please be advised that this phone line is experiencing heavy use. Buncombe County is working on getting more staff in to help man phone lines and relieve staff members that have been working nonstop since Wednesday.

Curfew remains in effect for the City of Asheville from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be no trash or recycling collections, or bus services until further notice. Damage to water system infrastructure has been catastrophic and crews are working 24/7 to bring water service back to residents. A boil water advisory remains in effect for those who still have water.

Food and water distribution sites are open again today. They are distributing water and food as it is available at these sites. Please bring your own containers for water as the only water at these locations is potable water from tankers. Locations can be found here and listed below:

William W. Estes Elementary School - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School - 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School - 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview

They are still working on a way to deliver these resources to those who cannot get to the distribution sites.

Drinking water will be distributed from Pack Square Park (70 Court Plaza) beginning at 9 a.m. today until dark or when the supply runs out. Each person will be provided 2 gallons of water per person, with a maximum of 5 gallons per family. You must bring your own container. More portable bathrooms are being set up downtown.

The city has also added a second location at Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave. The site will be open until dark or when the supply runs out. Cases of bottled water will be available for pickup. This location is designed for drive-thru pickup in the first bus loop. One case per family is allowed per day.

Cell service is continuing to improve and more Wi-Fi hot spots are being added. Here are a few we know about:

Verizon cellular satellite trailer | Family Justice Center, 35 Woodfin St.
T-Mobile cellular satellite trucks | Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave.; Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St.
Free public Wi-Fi in the parking lot at 90 Southside Ave in the South Slope area of Asheville.

A timeline for restoration of service for the majority of Duke Energy customers has been established for Friday, October 4. Customers that are in inaccessible areas or are dependent on infrastructure that has been destroyed may see additional delays.

Crews have been mobilized across the state and country to secure more resources to restock stores and provide drinking water and food.

As of yesterday, commercial service at the Asheville Regional Airport resumed limited service. If your car was at the Airport lot, great news-none of the airport lots flooded, and cars are all ok.

Additional National Guard personnel, vehicles, and air assets continue to arrive.

As a reminder, all GreenWorks events this week through October 5 are cancelled, including volunteer workdays at the Sand Hill nursery and any scheduled and DIY clean-ups. If you have purchased a tree in our tree sale, we will send an update when it is safe to pick up after we have been able to reach and fully assess our nurseries. We will be happy to process refunds if needed, but we ask that you allow us to first assess the full situation at our nursery. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

We know you want to help, and Asheville GreenWorks will be ready to help our community clean up and rebuild when it is safe and responsible to do so. If you would like to donate to Asheville GreenWorks to help with future cleanup efforts, donate here. Thank you for your support.

Help each other and be safe. We love you all. Sign up for our emails here.

Update #2: Monday, September 30

We received word that our Sand Hill nursery is intact. Thank you all so much for the outpouring of love and support. We are taking things one day at a time and we will keep you updated as we learn more.

Food and water distribution sites are open again today. They are distributing water and food as it is available at these sites. Please bring your own containers for water. This is intended to be a drive through event but walk ups will be accommodated. Locations can be found here and listed below:

William W. Estes Elementary School - 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary - 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School - 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School - 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview

They are still working on a way to deliver these resources to those who cannot get to the distribution sites. There is additional assistance available from the City of Asheville at Pack Square Park. Drinking water will be distributed beginning at 1 p.m. until dark or when the supply runs out. Each person will be provided 1 gallon of water each, with a maximum of 5 gallons per family. Each person who accesses the water distribution at Pack Square must bring their own container. For the safety of everyone involved, traffic will be directed around the park and the distribution site will be walk-up only.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds office is assisting in performing well checks on folks as requested. At this time, they are prioritizing 150 households with elderly residents and those who need immediate medical attention. Their web form is available to request a well check, click here to access the form. You can also call 828-820-2671 and follow the prompts. If you have submitted a well check to Buncombe County and have since spoken to your missing person, please email register@buncombecounty.org to let them know.

Western North Carolina is still on a DO NOT TRAVEL advisory from the NCDOT. Unless it is absolutely necessary, please stay off the roads and stay home.

A timeline for restoration of service for the majority of Duke Energy customers has been established for Friday, October 4. Customers that are in inaccessible areas or are independent on infrastructure that has been destroyed may see additional delays. Please be patient and kind and help your neighbors if you are able.

Crews have been mobilized across the state and country to secure more resources to restock stores and provide drinking water and food.

As of today, commercial service at the Asheville Regional Airport is resuming limited service. If your car was at the Airport lot, great news-none of the airport lots flooded, and cars are all ok.

Cell service is continuing to improve.

Additional National Guard personnel, vehicles, and air assets are arriving today.

Help each other and be safe. We love you all. If you would like to receive this information in our emails, sign up here.