Town of Lake Lure Helene Storm Recovery Update

Lake Lure -- October 10, 2024: Town of Lake Lure: Lake Lure Storm Recovery Updates:  The following are Lake Lure

Storm Recovery updates and information for Wednesday, 10/9/24.

Take a moment to follow the link and see more of the Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Response Team Volunteers working with our neighbors to clean and restore their homes after the flood. We can never properly thank these remarkable people for their time and for the work that they are doing here in our community. They are truly one of the bright spots among the devastation here in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

HURRICANE HELENE UPDATES

~ Lake Lure remains under a State of Emergency and a curfew is in place from 7:30PM - 7:30AM.
~ 1,075 individuals have been confirmed safe, up from 1,021 yesterday!
~ 30 active missing persons investigations underway.
~ Sadly, 3 total deceased in Rutherford County
~ Active welfare checks are in progress.

To report a missing person, please email EOC@rutherfordcountync.gov.
Follow the link on this post for the NC Dept of Public Safety Hurricane Helene Fact vs Rumor web page and the Hurricane Helene Question and Answer web page.

RESOURCES
FEMA ASSISTANCE: A new FEMA Resource and Information web page has been established with a library of information shared by our FEMA representatives.

The Office of the State Fire Marshall is in town to take photos of the damage to land and property to assist with FEMA applications.

FEMA representatives are working closely with Town Officials and daily meetings are taking place to ensure coordination.

~ FEMA representatives will be going door-to-door offering assistance for those who live in areas most impacted by the storm. ~ If a FEMA representative comes to your home, they will show their ID to confirm their employer.
~ FEMA representatives are available at the following locations to assist anyone in the community from 9:00am-5:00pm
+ Lake Lure Baptist Church: 6837 US-74 ALT, Lake Lure, NC 28746
+ Ingles in Lake Lure: 276 NC-9, Lake Lure, NC 28746
+ Rutherford County Library: 255 Callahan Koon Rd, Spindale, NC 28160
~ FEMA App: Use the FEMA app to apply directly from your smartphone.
~ Online: Visit www.disasterassistance.gov to apply.
~ By Phone: Call 1-800-621-3362 to speak with a FEMA representative.

LAKE LURE RESOURCE CENTER: Ingles on Highway 9

~ Ingles is now open - cash only.
~ Christian Aid Ministry Rapid Response Team is serving 300+ meals to all who come between 11:30-1:30 and 4:30-6:30.
~ Shower trailers, restrooms, and a hand washing station available.
~ Charging station available (near the food trailer) but please bring your charging cords.
~ Public Starlink WiFi (LL Starlink) available with no password.
+Turn on WiFi on your phone.
+ Turn your phone to airplane mode.
+ Under WiFi, click on LL Starlink and you should be good to go.
~ Tool trailers and workers available to assist with home repairs and yard clearing for free.
~ Fairfield Mountains Chapel is also available for spiritual support as needed.
~ Lake Lure Baptist Church provides showers, restrooms, and meals daily from 12-5PM.

 Available at the Rutherford County EMS Station on Bill's Creek Road, next to the Library from 9:30-4:30.

POST OFFICE: The Lake Lure Post Office is now operating under their regular schedule.

VOTER INFORMATION: www.rutherfordcountync.gov
~ Ballots: https://www.rutherfordcountync.gov/.../board_of.../index.php
~ Voters impacted by Hurricane Helene: https://www.ncsbe.gov/.../upco.../helene-recovery-and-voting

LIBRARY: Our beloved Mountains Branch Library is now open again!

DONATIONS/RESOURCES/VOLUNTEERS

MONETARY DONATIONS: The best way to support the relief efforts is through monetary donations with checks payable to Town of Lake Lure (Storm Recovery), PO Box 255, Lake Lure, NC 28746. The Town is working to identify an online resource for donations.
RHI Legacy Foundation will match any donation up to $50,000 at www.rhilegacyfoundation.com
United Way of Rutherford County at www.unitedwayofrutherford.org
Hurricane Helene – Força Foundation https://forcafoundation.com/hurricane-helene/

DONATION STATION: A Donation Station has been established at the Parks, Recreation, and Lake Office at 658 Memorial Highway (64/74), next to the Lake Lure Fire Department for those with a need.
~ The station will be opened from 10AM - 3:00 PM Monday – Friday
~ Additional Donation Substations include Chimney Rock Fire Department, Chimney Rock Baptist Church, Lake Lure Baptist 

Church, and Temple of Jesus.
~ If you are in need of these items, they will be distributed from these locations as long as supplies last.
~ You may also visit Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach (Monday- Friday 10-2) for additional food and toiletry items.
~ We are so very grateful for the tremendous amount of donations received and we are working to disperse what we have to those with a need.

VOLUNTEERS: To support disaster recovery efforts, please email volunteer@rutherfordcountync.gov.

UTILITIES/INFRASTRUCTURE
POWER:
IMPORTANT: Breakers should be off in your home until the power is restored.
~ Duke Energy and REMC have made significant progress restoring power throughout the Hickory Nut Gorge area.
~ Crews are working through the night to continue to restore power to every home and they made significant progress overnight.
+ Duke Energy: Power has been restored for 93% of customers (including parts of Boys Camp Road). Less than 2,063 customers are without power.
+ REMC: Power has been restored for 91% of customers. 604 without power at this time.
~ Fiber optic lines were damaged by downed trees and power lines and this has impacted our cell service. Carriers are working to make repairs.
~ We appreciate everyone's support and caution driving through areas where crews are working.
UTILITIES/INFRASTRUCTURE

WATER/SEWER SYSTEM:

~ Tows made an Offical
~ Water has been restored in the Town Center area and the Firefly Cove well is working.
~ The water system has been restored in the Boys Camp Road area. ~ The goal is to restore water to Town Center tomorrow.
~ A BOIL ADVISORY remains in place for Town and well water. We are awaiting water quality test results and hope to have good news soon!
~ A NO FLUSH order is in place for those on the Town system.
~ Emergency repairs are being made to the lift station which will enable the sewer system to be utilized.

The electrical system in the WasteWater Treatment Plant is being redone.
~ Crews have made good process restoring the road behind the dam.
~ The pump is in for a temporary lift station and the design for the permanent station has been received.
~ Crews are working on the sewer line repair and updates will be included in these daily updates.
~ The Town is working with the NC Department of Environmental Quality on all activities.
TOWN ACCESS

LOCALS ONLY PLEASE
~ Town Officials have asked that no one come to Town unless you live here - to decongest the area during this critical time.
~ The NC Highway Patrol and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office are overseeing checkpoints requiring verification to minimize traffic going to Town Center.
TOWN CENTER ACCESS AND BEYOND:
~ Town Hall was flooded during the storm. An engineering assessment has been conducted and we are pleased to report that the building is salvageable.
~ Use caution when driving in the area due to road construction and power trucks. Expect delays from working crews.
~ Through traffic is limited to homeowners in the Town Center area near the Lake Lure Beach, Arcade Center, and the Memorial Highway Bridge.
~ Traffic is not allowed beyond this area unless you are a homeowner.
~ Traffic to Boys Camp Road is currently restricted as the temporary Boys Camp Road Bridge is being built. The plans have been developed and we are awaiting supplies.
~ Traffic to the Village of Chimney Rock is currently limited. CRV Officials have established a pass system for homeowners that allows for one entry/exit per day. Entry is restricted to all others except workers.
INGRESS/EGRESS: The following are currently accessible routes.
~ Highway 9 is now open
~ 64/74 to Rutherfordton from Lake Lure is open.
~ 64/74 to Chimney Rock is not accessible. NC DOT is rebuilding a temporary road to enable access.
LAKE/BOATS/DAM

PLEASE STAY OFF THE LAKE:
~ The National Guard is working with Town crews and contractors to remove debris from the lake as quickly as possible. The Department of Natural Resources will also be working with crews moving forward.
~ The lake is currently unsafe and only approved workers are able to be out on the lake at this time.
~ Booms are in place to prevent large debris from going further downstream toward the dam. A hazmat boom arrived today and will be put in place tomorrow to soak up water, oil, coolants and other materials, preventing these from going downstream.

~ Crews are working to remove debris as carefully and quickly as possible to minimize environmental impacts.
BOATS:
~Contractors have been hired to remove any leaking boats from the lake.
~Boat owners will be contacted by the contractor if your boat has been removed.
~ Drone photos are being taken of the boats in the marina to assist with insurance claims.

DAM/LAKE LEVELS:

The Lake Lure Dam remains stable.

Crews are making progress on the work to repair the erosion on the left side of the dam.
The Lake Level will remain at approximately 985.5, five feet below full pond. Town staff are working to maintain a stable lake level to minimize the risk for debris floating toward the lake.
Questions
For questions, please email Communications@townoflakelure.com