Buncombe County briefing updates for Wednesday, Oct. 16

Last night, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to delay the 2025 reappraisal until January 1, 2026. At this time, it is unknown how market values across the county will be impacted by the damage to real estate and personal property. The Property Assessment team is in the data collection and analysis phase and will be spending the remainder of the year working diligently to ensure damaged properties, whether real estate or personal, are assessed as accurate and equitably as possible.

Missing Persons  

Urban Search and Rescue or “USAR” teams are continuing their work in Buncombe County. To report a missing loved one in the Asheville city limits, call Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110. In the County, call the non-emergency line at 828-250-6670 to start that report. For emergencies, always call 911.

Early Voting  

Early voting starts Thursday running daily through November 1 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Need a voter ID? Visit the Elections Office at 59 Woodfin Place and get one in 10 minutes. Early voting locations include:

• Black Mountain Library
• East Asheville Library
• Enka-Candler Library
• Fairview Library
• Leicester Community Center
• South Buncombe Library
• UNCA Health & Counseling Center
• Weaverville Community Center
• Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center
• West Asheville Library

Cold Weather Preparations  

Our area is experiencing extremely low temperatures. Our shelters have space and are available at:

• AB Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Drive
• Former Gold’s Gym (now Novant), 1815 Hendersonville Road (kid-friendly)
• Medical Emergency Shelter, 10 Genevieve Circle
• WNC Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road (allows pets)

Eblen Charities is providing gasoline vouchers, warm winter clothing and other essential items such as hygiene and cleaning supplies, menstrual products, diapers, etc. Eblen is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 23 Hamilton St. in Asheville. They continue to help people with rent and mortgage assistance, medical needs, and other essential items. Currently, donations are not being accepted by Eblen.

Goodwill is accepting clothing donations and providing vouchers for those in need. Bounty & Soul is also accepting donations of warm clothing and blankets. Financial donations can be made to the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County at www.unitedwayabc.org.

Water Restoration Updates  

As of this morning, the water resources department has substantially restored water to the distribution system into the western and northern parts of the County.

At the Eastmoor River Crossing, a single 6-inch line will need to be temporarily replaced for the roughly 75 homes this pipe services while repairs are being done. River redirection is needed to be able to add the line.

Aluminum sulfate has been delivered to the North Fork Reservoir for the in-reservoir treatment process to reduce the high turbidity level of the water. The applicator was also delivered this morning and treatment of the water begins today. On Friday, staff will have a better idea of how long this treatment will take.

Bee Tree’s service line will require backfilling for stabilization before it can handle water pressure. Water Resources crews should complete that either late today or first thing tomorrow.

All City of Asheville water customers are under a Boil Water Notice, which requires the water to be boiled vigorously for one minute before consuming.

Town of Black Mountain should still only use their water for flushing toilets. Even if boiled, it should not be consumed by pets or people

What to do before water service returns: Flip off the breaker to your water heater. Turn off water to your water heater. Turn off hot water under your sinks. Remove aerator (it typically unscrews) on faucets. Turn off the ice maker. Turn off water to your whole house filter, if you have one.

What to do when your water service returns: Flush your home plumbing by running the bathtub’s cold-water faucet. Your water heater may be turned back on once your home’s plumbing has been flushed. It’s safe to flush your toilet after completing steps 1 and 2.

Report Asheville water main breaks to the Water Customer Service Line at 828-251-1122.

Community Care Stations

Community Care Stations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily offering hot showers, laundry, wi-fi, bathrooms, charging stations, water and meals. All amenities are free to the public. Please bring your own towels and toiletries for showering.

Community Care Station locations:

• 980 Brevard Road in the At Home Store parking lot
• 85 Tunnel Road in the Innsbruck shopping center parking lot
• Swannanoa Community Care Station – 2319 Hwy 70
• AC Reynolds High School – 1 Rocket Drive
• Morgan Hill Baptist Church – 594 Barnardsville Highway
• At Home store facility (old Kmart) – 980 Brevard Rd.
• Big Lots – 85 Tunnel Road
• Well Water Testing

French Broad Riverkeeper is offering well testing equipment with instructions on Thursday, Oct. 17 at various locations.

If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, disinfect the well, then test it for bacteria pollution. Well testing kits can be picked up from 9 a.m.-noon and returned by 3 p.m. at the following locations:

• Fairview – Food Lion parking lot (1350 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC)
• Barnardsville Fire Station (100 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC)
• Hendersonville – Jackson Park (801 4th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC)

Power Update  

2,040 customers remain without power in Buncombe County as of this morning.

Spectrum  

Unfortunately, Spectrum experienced a major cut to an underground fiber line in Marion last night that was helping to connect customers in this region, so as of this morning, 31,500 customers remain offline. Their crews are out and working on repairs and still expect to make all repairs to locations that have power and are accessible by Saturday, Oct. 19.

Open Burning Guidelines 

Many residents and businesses are turning to open burning as a means of disposal, but as our region dries out, our fire chiefs and our Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency urge community members not to burn. Storm debris collection is beginning, so please use the collection services that are offered. Today, debris collection trucks will be in Swannanoa, Barnardsville, and outside of Woodfin.

For storm debris that is being gathered with the intention of conducting open burning including the use of air curtain burners, permission is required by the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency and there are certain requirements that must be met. Please contact the Agency at 828-250-6777, airquality@buncombecounty.org, or abairquality.org. Never burn synthetic materials or trash.

If you determine that you absolutely must burn, our fire marshal shared this guidance:

• Keep debris burning to small, three-foot piles.
• Do not ever leave a fire unattended.
• Have a method of extinguish a fire: water, dirt/sand, motorized equipment, or fire extinguisher.
• Keep all burn areas clear of any combustible debris or vegetation.
• Stay 25 feet or more from structures and all wooded areas. We have increased this recommendation from 15 feet based our current conditions.
• Reminder that burning debris is never allowed in municipalities.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  

People impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or D-SNAP. To apply, visit epass.nc.gov or call 1-844-453-1117.

Buncombe County N.C. Cooperative Extension  

The Buncombe County N.C. Cooperative Extension received a huge outpouring of people from all over the country wanting to lend their support to the region through donations, volunteering, and youth leader support. Early on in the storm, extension staff worked on meeting the immediate needs of the community through assistance at the water and food distribution sites. Staff have reached out to farmers and partners to check on their status and immediate needs and they have been providing hay, livestock feed, fencing materials, human needs, and more. The NC Farm Help Line is available 24/7 at 844-325-3276.