New Helene Resource Center Now Open

The opportunity to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance and NC Disaster Unemployment Assistance ended on April 7, 2025.

To date, FEMA has provided over $132 million in Individual and Household Assistance to Buncombe County residents recovering from Hurricane Helene.

The financial assistance provided:

• Over $46 million in housing assistance (repairs, replacements, rental assistance, direct housing, and transitional sheltering)
• Over $85 million in other needs assistance (personal property, transportation, moving and storage, cleaning, and more)

For those needing help with existing FEMA applications, FEMA representatives will be available beginning Monday, April 14 at the new Helene Resource Center (HRC) at 94 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville. Any resident is welcome between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; free parking is available across the street, and no appointment is needed.

The HRC offers access to:

• FEMA Individual Assistance
• Private Property Debris Removal
• NC Disaster Case Management
• SBA Disaster Loans
• Additional recovery support services
• Debris Removal Updates

As of April 1, right-of-way debris removal is complete in Buncombe County. Residents should no longer move debris to the roadside. However, contractors will continue to remove debris in hotspot areas as identified by County staff.

If residents still have storm debris on their property, they should apply now for the free Private Property Debris Removal program—open to both residential and commercial property owners—by Tuesday, April 15. Apply online at www.buncombeready.org, by phone at (828) 250-6100, or in person at the Fairview Library or Helene Resource Center.

To apply, residents should make sure that they bring all the required paperwork:

• Insurance documentation (if applicable)
• A copy of your ID
• Proof of ownership
• A simple sketch of the property showing debris locations (hand drawn is accepted)

If residents have questions about the status of their application, they can call the One Buncombe Call Center at (828) 250-6100 before submitting a new application. Concerns about debris removal work completed on private property can be sent to the US Army Corps of Engineers at [email protected].

NC Private Roads and Bridges Program

The NC Private Road and Bridge Program (NC-PRB) was launched to assist property owners across WNC with damages from Helene. The program will prioritize repairs to private roads and bridges that provide the sole access for emergency services to residential properties occupied by the property owner for over six months of the calendar year, and to roads and bridges providing access to multiple residential homes, recreation, or commercial facilities. An interest form is now available at www.ncdps.gov/Helene/PRB.

Residents can apply at www.ncdps.gov/Helene/PRB if their private road, culvert, or bridge was damaged—even if they have applied for FEMA assistance.

Assistance is also available for those who qualify through the Agriculture Crop Loss Program. You must apply by May 2. The Buncombe County Cooperative Extension can answer questions and help with applications at (828) 255-5522.

For the NC Disaster Case Management Program, residents can connect with a case manager by calling (844) 746-2326 or filling out the intake form at buncombeready.org.

The Owen Pool Community Care Station, with showers, laundry, water, and restrooms, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Litter Sweep is taking place April 12-26, 2025. Litter Sweep is the NCDOT’s biannual statewide roadside litter-removal initiative. Volunteers are provided cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves, and orange safety vests, from their local NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office. Learn more at www.ncdot.gov/littersweep.

For help or more information on Helene recovery resources, visit www.buncombeready.org, engage.buncombecounty.org/buncomberecovers, or call the One Buncombe Call Center at (828) 250-6100.

Follow Buncombe County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/buncombeGov.