City of Asheville Helene recovery update for Friday, Nov. 15

Press release from City of Asheville:

The City of Asheville continues to provide Tropical Storm Helene recovery resource updates on a daily basis.

Focus Areas of Recovery Efforts

City of Asheville staff are organizing an operational framework to respond to the short, medium, and long-term recovery needs of our community. This operational framework is intentionally developed to be reassessed in a regular cadence so it can remain nimble and responsive to the unmet needs of the community and the City of Asheville’s Council priorities as they change throughout the recovery process.

The operational framework includes seven key focus areas:

1. Housing

2. Storm Debris Removal

3. Economic Recovery

4. Water Recovery

5. Infrastructure

6. Arts & Cultural Resources

7. Functional Support, which includes cost recovery, community capacity building, administrative support, data management, and communication.

Water Distribution & Meal Sites

As of today, the City has distributed over 3 million bottles and cartons of drinking water, 22,389 gallon jugs of potable water, and more than 205,000 meals. Our distribution sites remain open to serve the community, and we continue to monitor and respond to water turbidity issues in the North Fork Reservoir.

Water Distribution Sites:

• Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza

• Sky Lanes Bowling Alley, 1477 Patton Ave

• Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd (Note: no bulk water available at Shiloh location)

Community Care Stations (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.):

• 980 Brevard Rd (At Home store parking lot)

• 85 Tunnel Rd (Innsbruck Mall parking lot)

Both locations provide ADA-accessible showers, restrooms, and are equipped with televisions displaying important updates throughout the day.

Storm Debris Removal Update

As of November 13, over 81,732 cubic yards of storm debris have been collected. Our teams are focused on debris removal along public rights-of-way, and residents are encouraged to continue sorting and placing debris curbside.

Debris Collection Zones for Today:

• Zone 1: West Asheville

• Zone 2: West Asheville (north of Haywood Rd)

• Zone 3: Downtown Asheville

• Zones 4 & 5: North and Northeast Asheville

• Zones 6: East Asheville

• Zones 7 & 8: Southeast and South Asheville

Debris collection will continue until all storm debris has been removed from the public right-of-way.

Rental Assistance Program Update

On October 22, City Council authorized the allocation of $1M in City resources for rental assistance. The City is partnering with Eblen Charities to administer these funds, and Eblen has been working to expand its staffing by 42% to manage the high demand for assistance. The program ensures equitable access for all residents, including undocumented individuals and those impacted by the storm who may have difficulty providing typical documentation.

Holiday Jamboree Announcement

While our community continues to recover, we want to honor the holiday season in a way that supports both our recovery efforts and the spirit of the season. Due to limited resources, we have made the difficult decision to forgo the traditional Holiday Parade this year. Instead, we are excited to announce the Holiday Jamboree, a community gathering at Pack Square Park on Saturday, November 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Holiday Jamboree will provide a joyful, community-centered experience featuring entertainment, food, and holiday festivities while reflecting the current demands of our recovery work. We hope to bring back the traditional parade next year when our resources are less constrained. This year’s Jamboree will celebrate the resilience of our community and allow us to come together in a meaningful way.