Buncombe County will begin distributing food and water to people at four locations Monday afternoon, and distribution will continue as long as supplies remain, County Manager Avril Pinder said.
Distribution will take place via drive-through or walk-ups from 2 p.m.:
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William W. Estes Elementary School, 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
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Sand Hill Elementary, 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
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North Windy Ridge Intermediate School, 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
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Fairview Elementary School, 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview
More than a hundred deputies from areas outside Buncombe County have arrived there to assist with the post-Helene devastation. Helene has killed more than 35 people in the province, and officials are struggling to get people food and water.
The sheriff said looting and clashes have occurred due to the lack of supplies.
Pinder said three tractor-trailers with drinking water had arrived and the province was taking steps to obtain an unlimited supply of drinking water from a private company.
Pinder made her announcement at 10 a.m. Monday during a news conference streamed on Facebook. Buncombe County officials will hold press conferences each day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Diapers would be available at the locations, but not baby food, Pinder said. Additionally, district leaders are trying to figure out how to provide food and water, she said.
An unknown number of people are missing in Buncombe County, the sheriff said.
How do you get water in Asheville?
In addition to the four locations, the City of Asheville Fire Department said water would be distributed to residents of Pack Square Park beginning at 1 p.m. Monday and continue until dark or when supplies run out. Everyone must bring their own container to 70 Court Plaza, where they will receive one liter of water, with a maximum of five liters per family.
Buncombe County spokesperson Lillian M. Govus said nearly every resident in the city’s water system is without water. People with wells and septics have also been affected by power outages, she said.
A sheriff’s deputy who assisted with the storm response died, Miller said.
“Devastation doesn’t even describe how we feel,” he said.
The Associated Press reported that at least 107 people have died in six states affected by Hurricane Helene.
Nearly 88,000 customers were still without power in Buncombe County on Monday, according to Duke Energy.
Some homes and roads in the region were completely swept away by the storm, and the Lake Lure Dam was on the verge of collapse. North Carolina Emergency Management has instructed people not to attempt to travel to western North Carolina.
“It’s really the worst storm we’ve had to deal with, and not just us, but our friends on the other side of the mountains,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said. “The word I keep coming back to… is apocalyptic.”
Officials warn against misinformation
The Bumcombe Sheriff asked people not to spread misinformation because it will delay needed help.
Pinder said some people showed up at the Swannanoa Fire Department to say an engineer told them a dam was about to break Sunday night. The province evacuated hundreds of people, but discovered it was a hoax.
“We had to take time away from searching and rescuing people to go out and investigate if that was true,” Pinder said. “The dam is not about to fail; there was nothing in that report other than it was malicious.”
During the livestream press conference Monday, people posted comments on Facebook asking for friends and family they couldn’t contact. They said places that are open only accept cash, but not many people have cash on hand, and they asked how much water they could get. Others asked how they could donate supplies.
Pinder said a tentative agreement had been reached between Asheville and Verizon to install a temporary satellite for cell phone service in the parking lot of 35 Woodfin Street. It will provide cell phone reception for several blocks, Pinder said.
How to volunteer in Buncombe
Drew Reisinger, register of deeds, said the county has organized door knocks to check on people. People can submit a request via a Google Form about loved ones they have been unable to contact.
People can volunteer if they are interested, he said. The province has received more than 11,000 requests for welfare checks so far.
He also asked people to email the registration office to let them know if they have been in contact with friends or family so they can help expedite welfare checks.
Pinder said because shelters are getting busy, the province is in the process of opening a third shelter. Shelters provide overnight accommodations, food and water. The state website ReadyNC.gov lists all shelters open in western North Carolina.
Efforts are also underway to get non-potable water to the county, as well as to the port, Pinder said.
Additionally, provincial officials announced:
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Signs will be printed to inform residents of the distribution locations.
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The daily news conferences will be translated into Spanish and the county is working with community partners to reach Spanish-speaking residents.
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Interstate 26 is now fully open.
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Hospitals, nursing facilities and the detention center are all powered by generators, and the province supplies diesel to keep them running.
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Shelters also have consistent power from generators and backup generators.
Donations can be made to helenedonations@buncombecounty.org
People can contact volunteer opportunities by emailing helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org
To let the registry office know if loved ones have been contacted, please email register@buncombecounty.org
