City of Asheville Helene Recovery Update October 8, 2024

Asheville -- October 8, 2024: Press Release: City of Asheville: Helene Recovery Update October 8, 2024

Water Distribution: Drinking and Toilet Flushing  

Food and water distribution locations in Asheville continue to provide bulk toilet flushing water in addition to drinking water. Drinking water is provided in bottles. The public will need to bring their own containers for flushing water.

City of Asheville food and water distribution site locations, open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.:

Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza 
Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave
Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
Lucy Herring Elementary, 98 Sulphur Springs Rd
Oakley Elementary School, 753 Fairview Rd

These sites also have printed and posted daily updates of important information and resources. 

Trash Collection Resumes

Trash pickup resumed Monday, starting with Monday and Tuesday regular routes. Due to roadway challenges, crews were unable to complete all planned trash routes and will pick up where they left off today (Oct. 8). Updates for remaining routes will be provided as information is available. 

The Buncombe County Transfer Station (190 Hominy Creek Rd) will be open starting Wednesday Oct. 9 for residential bagged trash drop-off only. Fees will be waived temporarily. Commercial or large vehicles are not permitted at this time. Hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday.

City of Asheville Sanitation customers can download the AVL Collects app to receive notifications about trash and recycling pickup in your area. (This does not apply to WastePro customers; only customers with City carts.) There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational. Residents should use both recycling and trash carts for household waste. 

Do not put limbs, yard debris, construction debris, carpet, concrete, or other bulky or hazardous items in your trash cart.  These materials will be collected separately by a contractor at a later date.

Assistance for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened an assistance center at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. The center is focusing on providing disaster relief in the form of low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters impacted by the storm. Visit sba.gov for more information or visit SBA representatives in person at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Ave). Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The City of Asheville worked with the SBA to create an informational video with further details.

FEMA Disaster Assistance (DSA) Team locations for Tuesday, October 8, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

DSA teams will be able to register survivors for FEMA assistance. Alternatively, download the FEMA app or call toll-free 800-621-3362. The below sites may change daily, in coordination with local Emergency Management, in order to accommodate the areas of greatest need.

Black Mountain, 550 Hwy 9 
AB Tech Shelter, 16 Fernihurst Dr between parking center and parking deck 
Park Square Park, 80 Court Plaza 
Community of Emma (Spanish Speaking), 528 Emma St
New Bridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave 
Laundry Use Trailer, Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St 
Walmart, 60 Airport Rd

ART Bus Service

ART is now operating a modified schedule on select routes where road conditions have improved. These routes will run on a modified Sunday schedule, with all outbound trips ending at 5 p.m. ART services will be free of charge until further notice. 

The modified routes will have flag stop service, allowing passengers to signal the driver and board at their preferred location along the route instead of at designated stops. 

ART Paratransit services are resuming where possible. Paratransit customers should call (828) 250-6750 to schedule transportation.

Find more information on the routes in operation here

Donations

Three donation sites have been established for drop off of small donations from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily.

Harrah’s Cherokee Center - 87 Haywood St
West Asheville - 1298 Patton Ave
Arden Presbyterian Church - 2215 Hendersonville Rd

The most impactful way to support the recovery effort at this time is monetary donations to recognized disaster relief organizations. Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery. 

Water Service Restoration

The beginning of water restoration is contingent on two important things happening:

Completion of North Fork’s 36-inch bypass line rebuild, which we hope to accomplish later this week.
the ability to put water into the system. Pushing the sediment-filled water through our filters would damage them beyond repair, and set back the process.

The City is working with the Environmental Protection Agency on turbidity-reducing measures. Once water is able to leave the North Fork, city crews will have to fill tanks, repair pipe leaks, and remove air locks from the distribution system. Mills River treatment plant, which serves South Asheville, is operating at normal output. While most of the service area has been pressurized, there are still pockets that have not received water service. Water Resources maintenance staff is working to bring water to the entire service area as quickly as possible. A boil water advisory remains in effect for those whose water has returned. We are also asking customers with water service to conserve it as much as possible. Water restoration will occur slowly and incrementally. As we have said from the beginning, full operation of the system could potentially be weeks away. 

Those who have water are asked to conserve. 

Board and Commission meetings are suspended until further notice.