City of Asheville Daily Information Sheet — Tuesday, Oct. 15

Press release from the City of Asheville:

Tropical Storm Helene Recovery Resources: This is the latest information available as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct 15, 2024

City Offices and Parks will be closed until further notice. Curfew hours are 11 p.m. – 6
a.m. We continue to encourage our community – if you see something, say something & report illegal activity to 911.

LOCAL UPDATES
Public officials are holding news briefings each day at 11 a.m. The briefings are streamed live at
facebook.com/buncombeGov and broadcasted on Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM. You can also listen on the Asheville
Media Group stations at 105.9, 96.5, 98.1, 105.5 and 97.3 (Spanish) and iHeart radio stations at 99.9, 104.3, 105.1, and
570 AM.

STORM DEBRIS COLLECTION
City staff and contractors are actively working to remove storm debris, starting with critical infrastructure areas. Due to the volume of debris, we cannot provide exact times and locations for collection. Collection will be ongoing.
● The community can begin to place storm debris to the curb in the right of way.

● Debris should be separated at the curb by category: construction, appliances, electronics, vegetative, and
hazardous materials.
● The contractor cannot collect directly from private property. However, if your pile starts at the curb in the right-of-way
and stretches into your yard in a continuous manner, their equipment can reach about 18’, as long as there are no
overhead lines or obstructions.
● Do not place or lean debris near or on trees, poles or other structures including fire hydrants, meters, and curbside
trash carts.
● Do not block the roadway. Ensure access for large trucks & emergency vehicles.
● There will be multiple passes at collection – you do not have to have it all out at once.
● Do not attempt the cleanup process without proper protective equipment: long pants, safety glasses, gloves and
sturdy shoes are recommended.

HOUSEHOLD TRASH COLLECTION

The City has resumed collection of household trash & recycling on a regular schedule. Trash should be placed in the trash container and recycling should be placed in recycling containers. Download the AVL Collects app (Apple Store or Google Play Store) to receive notifications about household trash and recycling pickup in your area. This is for City of Asheville curbside sanitation customers only.

WATER UTILITY SERVICE
Downtown began receiving water on Monday, Oct. 14. The service area downtown will expand as pipes are pressurized. Areas of South Asheville in higher elevations also began to get service on Monday. We are *hopeful* North Asheville will start to receive water service beginning today. It is of utmost importance to note: This water IS NOT SAFE for drinking from the tap. Water must be vigorously boiled for at least one minute before consumption. The water is safe for laundry, showering (do not swallow water while showering), handwashing, washing dishes and flushing toilets. Service restoration will continue to move generally westward.

On Monday evening, Water Resources issued a Boil Water Notice to call customers, including those served by Mills River. This was done out of an abundance of caution, now that North Fork is online and there are zones where water from the two plants can potentially mix. The practical effect for all customers remains the same: Any water intended for consumption (drinking, cooking, brushing teeth) should be boiled for at least one minute beforehand.
The City of Asheville is not assessing late fees for water bills, sending delinquent notices, creating new bills, or doing any cuts-offs for non-payment at this time. We are still accepting payments online, IVR, and by mail for anyone that is trying to pay an existing bill. Please contact customer service at 828-251-1122 if you have billing concerns.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE WATER SERVICE RETURNS
1. Flip off the breaker to your water heater.

2. Turn off water to your water heater.

3. Turn off hot water under your sinks.

4. Remove aerator (it unscrews) on faucet.

5. Turn off the ice maker.

6. Turn off water to your whole house filter, if you
have one.

7. Flush your water pipes periodically using the bathtub faucet when water returns.

8. Turn off water to toilets when not in use. Turn on water only to flush.

FEMA DISASTER DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER
A Disaster Recovery Center is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, and apply with the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more. The Buncombe County center is located at: A.C.
Reynolds High School, 1 Rocket Dr. Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily.

FIRE SAFETY
AFD continues efforts in heavily affected areas and canvassing neighborhoods for needs. Burning yard waste and
debris is not allowed within city limits due to many safety concerns. Report any hazardous materials to
ncdwmspills@deq.nc.gov.
BUS SERVICE
● Weekday and Saturday bus service hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday hours will operate on a normal schedule.
● The following routes are now back in service: N1, 170 and S4.
● All routes have flag stop service, allowing passengers to signal the driver and board at their preferred location along
the route (same side of road the bus is traveling) in addition to designated stops.
● Paratransit services have resumed where possible. Call (828) 250-6750 to schedule Paratransit transportation.
COMMUNITY CARE STATION
A Community Care Station is now set up at 980 Brevard Rd from 7a.m.- 7p.m daily. The Care Station provides showers (bring your towels and toiletries), laundry, porta-johns, handwashing, charging, Starlink, Red Cross, Novant Medical, and food and water distribution.

FOOD & WATER DISTRIBUTION
Food in the form of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), drinking water and water for flushing toilets are available at the below
listed distribution sites. Distribution hours are 9 a.m – 7 p.m. or until supplies run out. Bring your own containers for
flushing water. These sites also have printed daily updates of important information and resources. Locations are
shifting this week to allow schools to transition into regular operations.
● Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza
● Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave
● Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd (no bulk water for toilet flushing at Shiloh)
● 980 Brevard Rd in the At Home store parking lot (relocated from Lucy Herring Elementary School)
● Oakley Elementary School, 753 Fairview (last day, will reopen at 85 Tunnel Rd tomorrow)

HOW TO HELP
Visit HandsonAsheville.org for volunteer information.
The most impactful way to donate to the recovery effort at this time is monetary donations to recognized disaster
relief organizations. Visit ncvoad.org/donate-2 for more information. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts, and if possible purchase with businesses local to the disaster which supports economic recovery.

SHELTERS
● General public shelter at WNC Agricultural Center (pets accepted) – 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher
● General public shelter at AB Tech – 6 Fernihurst Dr, Asheville (use Victoria Road entrance)
● Medical emergency shelter at AB Tech – 10 Genevieve Cir, Asheville
● General public shelter at the Old Gold’s Gym – 1815 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville

ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened an assistance center at the Chamber of Commerce (36
Montford Ave). The focus is on relief in the form of low interest loans for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters impacted by the storm. Visit sba.gov for more information or visit SBA representatives in person at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. **Disclaimer:** The information provided in this sheet reflects the current services and resources available from the City of Asheville following the recent
storm. Please note that these services are subject to change based on ongoing assessments and community needs. We encourage residents to stay informed through media outlets and official city channels for the most up-to-date information.