Transylvania County Storm Update October 1, 2024

Transylvania County -- October 2, 2024: Storm Update: Transylvania County Unified Emergency Response to Hurricane

Helene

October 1 12 PM - Effective October 1, daily media briefings will be held at 12 PM at 153 Public Safety Way

Issued by: Jaime Laughter, County Manager/Emergency Mgmt Public Information Officer

• Weather update- Emergency Management receives National Weather Service Updates. There are no forecasted impacts from weather in the next five days.

• Emergency response has not had the ability to reliably call or email until yesterday so all emergency briefings for the last several days have been in person or by distributing paper updates to fire departments and our two in-county radio stations.
Emergency Services Update
• Transylvania County is fortunate that there have been no storm related deaths reported and there are currently no missing persons reports pending. There were over 150 specialty rescues including structural failures and swift water. Communications staff fielded 3 times the volume at the height of the storm and are seeing a sharp increase in calls as phone service is being restored.
• Shelters remain open at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Center and the Ag Center at the Asheville Airport. The Shelter is NOT a distribution site for supplies and does not have food, fuel, medical supplies or water to distribute. Those in need of medical supplies are encouraged to reach out to their providers or pharmacies and to the ER in a medical emergency. Gordon’s pharmacy is willing to fill prescriptions. Bring your prescription or labeled bottle to the pharmacy and they can fill and accept cash or check.
• Food distribution is being coordinated and will be announced for the public with times and distribution sites soon. Emergency Management will be delivering pallets of water and MREs today to all fire departments to meet immediate needs and is supporting our fire department’s with fuel for chainsaws to support continued clearing. Transylvania County Schools has supported our fire departments with diesel fuel to keep emergency services moving. Smoke On will be providing free meals from 1-4 PM at Rosman Town Hall on Tuesday. The Hunger Coalition is doing a food distribution at the Family Place Tuesday including a hot meal and food boxes until 2 PM. Distributions will continue at Family Place all week from 1-2 PM.
• Dispose of any food that has been in contact with flood waters or not properly refrigerated. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Please remember, there is not a general shortage of fuel or food. Citizens are encouraged not to hoard fuel or food to prevent localized shortages from occurring.
Public Safety Update
• Public curfew will expire at 5 PM on October 1.
• The Brevard County, Florida Sheriff Wayne Ivey is sending a delivery of water to our community today.
• We have additional law enforcement from our State Troopers assisting with traffic around fuel stations. Please be advised there is not a fuel shortage and exercise patience.
Infrastructure Restoration
• Duke is reporting over 600 technicians in Henderson and Transylvania today. Power is expected to be restored to a majority of locations by Friday at midnight. Be wary of downed lines that may become active again as power is restored. If water has covered outlets, plugs or the power meter, electrical components and wiring will need to be replaced before re-energizing.
• Please continue to use water conservation measures. Power has been restored to the Brevard water treatment plant. Water service has been partially restored to the Town of Rosman, but is under a boil water advisory. Bottled water has been delivered to Rosman Town Hall. Be sure to boil water or use bottled water if your well or spring has been contaminated by flood water. Wells that were in flood waters should not be used for cooking or drinking until tested and treated.
• I-40 is closed toward Tennessee and headed east. I -26, NC 280 and US 64 are open.
County Services and Rebuilding After the Storm
• The county is working to restore non-emergency services. The landfill is open effective October 1 and can accept natural vegetation storm debris. Solid waste disposal sites for debris and spoiled food are available. Locations include Anchor Baptist, Convenience Sites, Zion Church in Rosman, and the parking area between County Tax Office and Library in Brevard.
• Damage assessments have begun with teams on the ground and with flights thanks to the support of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. An estimate of damage will be available later this week.
• Health Department is working on a website with information post flood for food, water and other health related information.
• A wide variety of organizations are collaborating in the emergency response for our community from federal, state and local government agencies, nonprofits, faith community and private businesses. Anchor Baptist is coordinating volunteer efforts and is accepting donations to support those efforts. Please reach out to Anchor directly with donations or volunteer availability. They will be coordinating to help distribute public resources of food, water and other supplies.
Schools
• Transylvania County Schools will be closed for the remainder of the week. Transylvania County Schools is coordinating with Emergency Management partners to offer feeding for routes for children.
IT Update
• As of 3:30 yesterday, county offices were able to restore internet services through ARC and they are currently working to confirm connectivity throughout county service infrastructure so that non-emergency county functions can resume.
• ERC Broadband and Comporium have committed extra bandwidth to dedicate free public wifi at Brevard downtown county office campus and will establish a point in Rosman once power is restored there. Citizens can park at the library to access free public wifi.
• County IT is working with Transylvania Schools and MCNC to retore connectivity for schools so that school can resume.
• Comporium is working around the clock and this morning the Comporium was able to re-establish connectivity outside of the county that will enable them to restore service as power is available and data lines are intact.
• County IT would like to thank our service providers who have been working around the clock to restore communication for our citizens.