Updates from Blue Ridge Public Radio 10-2-2024

Blue Ridge Public Radio is providing updates on conditions in WNC via their blog at www.bpr.org/live-updates/live-blog-hurricane-helene-wnc.

FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams are bringing law enforcement and military partners together to comb Western North Carolina for people who may be trapped.

– Across the region, there are more than 3,500 federal responders on the ground; more than 1,000 of those are from FEMA.

55,000 Duke Energy customers in Henderson County, 79,000 in Buncombe County, and all 8,600 customers in Polk County, are without power. Customers no longer need to report outages. Duke Energy hopes to restore most power by Friday.

A new shelter is open in Buncombe County at 1815 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. The shelter will provide power, water, food, and a place to sleep. The shelter is being operated by Novant Health and the local Red Cross.

Health and Medical Issues

57 people have died in Buncombe county from Hurricane Helene. Notification of next-of-kin continues to be a challenge because of lack of communications in the region.

ABCCM Medical Clinic at 155 Livingston St.in Asheville is offering medical care to anyone in need. The facility is also accepting donations of medicine from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday.

HCA Healthcare, which owns Mission Hospital System, announced that it will contribute $250,000 to the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County to support people affected by Hurricane Helene. HCA will also give $250,000 to the American Red Cross of North Carolina to support its shelter locations. An additional $500,000 will be donated to other community partners that provide direct support for hurricane-related issues.

Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) urges those who are pregnant (36+ weeks) and families with newborns to evacuate Western North Carolina. Families with newborns are also strongly urged to evacuate due to the unsafe water situation.

Schools

– There is no estimated date for Buncombe county schools to resume. All functional school buildings are being used to house emergency personnel and first responders.

– Haywood County Schools will be closed for both staff and students for the remainder of the week.

Black Mountain

A distribution site for food, water, and public restrooms will open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ingles in Black Mountain at 550 NC-9. Hot meals will be served for lunch and dinner at the site.

Public restrooms are available at the Visitor Center/Chamber of Commerce parking lot at 201 East State Street.

Montreat has no water and no clear timeline for when water will return. Three bridges were damaged during the storm, including Shenandoah Bridge and Lookout Road Bridge. Montreat College has been evacuated.

Haywood County Resources

Medical Care: The First Aid Bus, located at Jukebox Junction, 6306 Pigeon Road, Canton, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering services such as first aid for cuts, scrapes and burns, as well as blood pressure checks, blood sugar monitoring, and basic medical assistance.

The following Community resource centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They will have nonperishable food and water. Hot meals will be available at no cost for children 18 and under from 9-6 (weekdays only; curbside pickup).
– Jonathan Valley Elementary, 410 Hall Dr. in Waynesville
– Bethel Elementary, 4700 Old River Road in Canton

Supplies can also be picked up at Woodland Baptist Church at 545 Crabtree Road.

Water is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at:
– Jukebox Junction, 6306 Pigeon Road in Canton
– Crabtree Ironduff VFD, 99 Susie Noland Road in Clyde

Each person is limited to 1 gallon per day, and you must bring your own containers.

– The Pigeon Community Center, 450 Pigeon St. in Waynesville, is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food will be served daily at 2 p.m. The center has water, power, charging stations, shovels, trash bags, and pet food available.

– First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, 566 S. Haywood St., is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon for food, clothing, and shower access.

– Fines Creek Community Center, 190 Fines Creek Road, Clyde, is available to assist community members in need as a welcome center as well.

– Springdale Golf and Country Club, 190 Golfwatch Road, Canton, is offering free lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Yancey County & Burnsville

Fire stations across the county are operating as points of distribution to provide food, water, and tarps as supplies last. Resupply efforts take place daily.

A shelter has been set up at Blue Ridge Elementary School, staffed by the Red Cross to provide support for those in need.

Hwy 197N just past Roland Hills Rd. will be closed indefinitely due to collapse of roadway. Detour via Green Mountain Dr.

Voting

The state BOE has set up a website for voters who are impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Go to www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election/helene-recovery-and-voting for information about Postal Service disruptions, resources, and more.