Buncombe County gives grant updates at Tropical Storm Helene briefing Nov. 13

Qualified homeowners can receive financial assistance for housing-related costs such as property tax bills and other housing costs including mortgage, or homeowner’s insurance.

There are several new aspects to this year’s program including new eligibility requirements, and now mobile-home owners may receive the grants.

Hazard Mitigation
Buncombe County residents can receive funding to make their homes more resilient through home projects that reduce the long-term risk and impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and storms.

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and applications can be made online or in-person.

In-Person Application: Hazard Mitigation staff from North Carolina Emergency Management will be available in Buncombe County to assist property owners:

• Location: Asheville Mall (former Gap store), 3 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805
• Dates: November 12–15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Staff will be on-site to answer questions and accept applications. No appointment is necessary. Property owners are encouraged to complete the Homeowner HMGP Application before meeting with staff. Please note that all individuals listed on the property deed must sign the application.

To Apply Online: Homeowners must follow three steps to apply online.
1. Complete the 5-minute Grant Information Request.
2. After receiving an email from a Hazard Mitigation team member, complete and return the application as instructed in the email.
3.  Be approved by the local government (town or county) for inclusion in their application to FEMA.

Water Restoration Updates
North Fork Reservoir: As of early Wednesday morning, the turbidity reading at North Fork Reservoir had fallen below 15. The third round of in-reservoir treatment will begin today, after the contractor was delayed arriving at North Fork Reservoir. North Fork’s capacity to push treated water into the system has risen to a little more than 20 million gallons a day.

Army Corps of Engineers Interim Pre-Treatment System: The private contractor for the Army Corps of Engineers interim pre-treatment system conducted a site visit Monday. Materials and equipment could start to arrive as early as this weekend. This concurrent, backup project still has a completion timeline of late November/early December.

DeBruhl Treatment Plant (Bee Tree): Water Resources is coordinating with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, USGS, and others for the removal of debris from around and within Bee Tree Reservoir along with the rebuilding of key access roads. The facility remains offline.

Boil Water Notice: Every City of Asheville water customer remains under a Boil Water Notice. In the absence of bottled water or water that has been purified, any water intended for consumption should be boiled a minimum of one minute beforehand.

Business Grants
The Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund is designed to provide direct grant awards to small businesses in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County that have been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Businesses may apply for a grant up to $25,000 to support recovery expenses not covered by insurance or other funding sources. Applications open today and close on Nov.27. Click here for more information.

Storm Debris
Crews continue to collect between 12,000 and 15,000 cubic yards per day in Buncombe County and are out and about at in the eastern part of the county. Starting today, they will be in all zones in the County.

It takes thousands of truck loads to gather 100,000 cubic yards, which means major truck traffic in these zones. We ask residents to be mindful of traffic and large trucks.

Community Care Stations and Water Distribution
Our Community Care Stations are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with showers, laundry, and more. All Community Care Stations now have ADA accessible showers and bathrooms. The locations are:

• At Home Store parking lot
• Big Lots/Innsbrook mall
• Buncombe County Sports Park
• Bethel United Methodist
• Fairview Ingles
• Swannanoa Ingles
• Owen Pool
• Morgan Hill Baptist Church

Water and meals ready to eat are available at distribution sites daily at:

• Sky Lanes Bowling Alley
• Black Mountain Ingles
• Swannanoa Ingles
• Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
• Pack Square Park
• Buncombe County Sports Park
• Fairview Ingles

Free Vaccines

Our Buncombe County Public Health Mobile Team out this week providing free vaccines. Their schedule this week is:

• Wednesday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – Big Ivy Community Center.
• Thursday: 2-5 p.m. at the Bounty & Soul market at the former Bi-Lo in Black Mountain.
• Friday: Noon-6 p.m. – Swannanoa Ingles Community Care Station and Tunnel Road Community Care Station.

Solid Waste
We are continuing to work on the transition to FCC Environmental from Waste Pro effective Jan. 1. FCC Environmental will host a hiring event next week on Tuesday, Nov. 19^, and Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 309 College St.

Waste Pro will be running regular routes for trash and recycling today where available. Drop off sites for bagged household trash are open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on:

• Wednesday: Hearts with Hands – 850 Warren Wilson Road in Swannanoa
• Thursday: Ingles Fairview
• Friday: North Buncombe Pool