News release from Buncombe County:
Buncombe County continues to prepare and respond as Hurricane Helene approaches the region with forecasted potentially catastrophic flooding, high winds, and landslides.
As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024, emergency crews are actively responding to community members impacted by flooding caused by pre-hurricane rain. The County’s emergency operations center (EOC) is open and facilitating strong coordination between Buncombe County Emergency Services, local leaders, first responders, sheltering operations, and healthcare providers.
The County is under a local state of emergency, which includes Asheville, Weaverville, Woodfin, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Biltmore Forest. This declaration allows the County to quickly access resources from state and federal agencies. The local state of emergency is currently set to expire at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Significant flooding has already occurred, and conditions are expected to worsen. Residents should take immediate action to protect themselves and their families.
The Asheville Airport has already received 7.74 inches of rain, with an additional 9 to 14 inches expected over the next 48 hours. The most severe weather, including rain and wind gusts up to 64 mph, is predicted to impact the area later tonight. The French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers are currently at minor flood stages but are expected to rise to moderate flood levels by tomorrow evening.
Water rescues have already been conducted. We advise residents to avoid driving through flooded roadways to prevent further incidents.
Sheltering
Residents in low-lying areas near rivers should evacuate to higher grounds.
The county is prepared to send evacuation alerts through the iPaws system if needed, and residents are reminded to take their pets with them should they evacuate. Please keep phones charged and heed warnings from officials should you receive a notification to evacuate.
Code Purple sheltering is in place for the unhoused population. The County is working on opening shelters in the region. Currently, one shelter is open in Swannanoa at 503 Park St., Swannanoa, NC 28778. We will provide updates as more shelters open.
Closures
While most County operations have not been impacted, two library branches—Leicester and Skyland/South Buncombe—are currently closed today due to flooding. Swannanoa Library will close today at 1:30 p.m.
In terms of infrastructure, several secondary roads are closed due to mudslides, including U.S. 25 in the Reynolds Mountain Area.
There are approximately 2,500 power outages, with more expected as high winds move into the region. Residents should prepare for potential power outages by securing enough water, food, and supplies for 72 hours.
“We cannot reiterate enough – this is serious. If you don’t need to be out, please stay home,” said Buncombe County EMS Director Taylor Jones.
Importantly, the National Weather Service has used terms such as “catastrophic” to describe the situation, urging the community to take the warnings seriously. As such, Buncombe County Officials are issuing strong warnings to the community to take action now to prepare for power outages, flooding, landslides, and strong winds.
For updates, visit buncombecounty.org. The next media briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m. today.
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