Updates from Blue Ridge Public Radio 10-3-2024

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.

Drivers should not go into restricted areas because it endangers the driver’s life and that of first responders who are busy at work with rescues.

A total of 12 counties in Western North Carolina have confirmed Helene-related deaths, including: Buncombe (61); Ashe (1); Avery (3); Burke (1); Haywood (4); Henderson (6); Macon (1); Madison (3); Polk (1); Rutherford (2); Watauga (2); Yancey (9).

Haywood County has opened a supply center which will offer both a shower facility and food for local residents. The new supply and distribution center is located at the IP Sports Complex, 305 Silkwood Drive. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please bring bags or boxes to carry items.

A water distribution center is now open at the Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center. The site is in addition to the other two centers at Asheville Middle School and Pack Square.

The Jewish Community Center at 236 Charlotte St. will allow residents to fill containers with water from the center’s pool on Thursday and Friday starting at 10 a.m. This water can be used to flush toilets.

More than 50 AdventHealth physicians will be seeing patients at the Medical Office Building at 50 Hospital Drive in Hendersonville. AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine at Biltmore Park will also be open today, October 3, 2024.

Mission Health System has set up a website to share facility updates, community resources and the status of each hospital and office in the system. Go to www.missionhealth.org/helene.

Henderson County Resource Hub locations will be open today beginning at 9 a.m. for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.

The Resource Hub locations:
– Etowah Elementary, 320 Etowah School Road, Etowah, NC 28729
– Rugby Middle, 3345 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
– East Henderson High, 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, NC 28726
– North Henderson High, 35 Fruitland Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
– Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
– Fletcher Town Hall, 300 Old Cane Creek Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732

Free hot meals to go are served around noon and 5 p.m. at these Henderson County locations:
– Etowah Elementary, 320 Etowah School Road, Etowah, NC 28729
– East Henderson High, 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, NC 28726
– North Henderson High, 35 Fruitland Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
– Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River, NC 28759

Beware of scams! People are knocking on doors and pretending to be accepting donations for charity.

Mountain Bizworks, a regional nonprofit that provides loans and training to small businesses, is working to help local businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. For information about how to apply for state and federal support, go to www.mountainbizworks.org.

Rural Organizing and Resilience has begun aid distributions at 1685 Hwy. 213 in Marshall. ROAR is open from 2-6 p.m. every day. ROAR typically organizes against racism in Madison County through education and outreach. Since Hurricane Helene swept through the region, it’s responded to needs for emergency supplies in the community.

There was already a housing crisis in western North Carolina. After Tropical Storm Helene, it’s likely that huge numbers of tenants will experience difficulty paying their rent and fixing their homes. Tenants can apply for individual assistance on disasterassistance.gov. Individual assistance doesn’t just cover housing repairs, but also gas, food, utility bills, hotel stays, and other disaster-associated costs.

If tenants are confused about their rights or suspect that a landlord may be taking illegal actions against them, Pisgah Legal Services can be contacted by email to [email protected] or call 828-253-0406.

Listen to iHeart Media Asheville radio stations for live reports at:
– 99.9 Kiss Country
– Star 104.3
– The Brew 97.7
– Rock 105.1
– Throwbacks 101.1
– 570 WWNC-AM
– 92.9 & 880AM ESPN