Press release from Buncombe County: Storm Debris Update Over 174,000 cubic yards of debris have been collected in Buncombe County. Currently, there are 39 trucks Running in Buncombe County, removing debris from all zones in the County. The Private Property Debris Removal program is active with an official launch on Tuesday, November 19. The online […]
News Bulletins
Victim assistance centers aid those impacted by Helene
Press release from North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has announced that two Victim Assistance Centers (VAC) have been scheduled to open in Macon and Buncombe counties to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. A VAC will open in the Macon County town of Franklin on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The […]
Community leaders call for eviction moratorium in Western North Carolina
Press release from Just Economics: In an open letter addressed to Governor Roy Cooper, the Council of State, Chief Justice Paul Newby, and members of the North Carolina General Assembly, over 400 elected officials, clergy, business and nonprofit leaders and concerned individuals from 20 counties across western North Carolina are urgently calling for immediate action […]
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office looking for breaking and entering suspects
Press release from The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify and locate the people in this picture. They are suspects in a vehicle breaking and entering in Bent Creek and credit card fraud in Arden. Please contact Detective Ward at 828-250-4636 if you have any information.
Tropical Storm Helene recovery updates – Nov. 18
Press release from the City of Asheville: Boil Water Notice Lifted The City of Asheville has lifted the Boil Water Notice for all water customers as of 11 a.m. today, November 18. Water Resources lab staff finished sampling the distribution system early Sunday afternoon, and results have confirmed that the water supply is free from […]
Asheville police make drug trafficking arrest
Press release from Asheville Police Department: Asheville Police Department officers arrested a man on drug trafficking charges early Saturday morning while investigating a reported breaking and entering in west Asheville. Officers responded to a report of someone breaking into a motor vehicle on Crowell Road around 3:00 a.m. on November 16th. Upon arrival, officers located […]
Asheville has potable water
Press release from Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer: I am relieved and grateful to share that as of today, the Boil Water Notice has been lifted for all customers. This means customers can now resume normal water usage—a major step forward in our recovery efforts. Getting to this point was no small feat. It required the […]
Air quality forecast – yellow and green
Press release from Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality: Monday, November 18, 2024, is a code YELLOW air quality forecast day for the valleys of Asheville and Buncombe County. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. For the ridge tops, it is a code GREEN air quality forecast day. No health impacts are expected when air […]
Western North Carolina veterans receive over $2 million in benefits
Press release from U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs: The Winston-Salem Regional Office (WSRO) has stepped up to support recovery initiatives for Western North Carolina by mobilizing resources and providing targeted assistance following recent natural disasters. We have prioritized claims for Veterans in the Western North Carolina region as they recover from the effects of Hurricane […]
Board of Elections certifies election results for Buncombe County
Press release from Buncombe County: In accordance with NCGS § 163-182.5, the Buncombe County Board of Elections met today to complete the certification of votes cast in the Nov. 5 presidential election. Results on election night are unofficial, canvass is the official process of determining whether the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly, resulting […]
Buncombe County Schools board briefing for Nov. 14
Press release from Buncombe County Schools: Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for November 14, 2024. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder. In a Special Recognition segment, we honored: · Peggy Buchanan, Owen District Representative and Dr. Glenda Weinert, At-Large District Representative In our […]
Progress at North Fork Reservoir, debris removal on private properties, water distribution
Press release from City of Asheville: Storm Debris Right of way removal: current debris removal has been focusing on the public right of way and in highly impacted areas including the eastern portion of the County. Storm debris should be separated into categories including large appliances, construction debris, vegetative debris, hazardous waste, and electronics, and […]
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 […]
The Refuge emergency shelter shifts focus to long-term recovery
Press release from Western Carolina Rescue Missions: (Asheville, NC) On Sunday, November 10th, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) responded to an urgent call for help by stepping in to operate the Gold’s Gym Emergency Shelter for the next 8 weeks. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Red Cross, FEMA, City of Asheville, Buncombe County, […]
Holiday Jamboree comes to Pack Square Park Nov. 23
Press release from City of Asheville: This year, Asheville’s Annual Holiday Parade will take on a fresh twist as it transforms into a vibrant Holiday Jamboree at Pack Square Park, presented by Bojangles! Produced by the Asheville Downtown Association in partnership with the City of Asheville, the Jamboree is a family-friendly celebration of holiday cheer and community spirit, […]
City disbands homelessness committee, transitions to Continuum of Care approach
Press release from City of Asheville: Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee has convened community members to respond to homelessness together as appointed by Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commissioners. In January 2023, the community received a set of recommendations from the National Alliance to End Homelessness about how to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. A […]
Craft futures fund surpasses $1 million
Press release from Center for Craft: ASHEVILLE, NC (November 14, 2024) – The Center for Craft is thrilled to announce that the Craft Futures Fund has raised over $1 million to support craft artists in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. Since reactivating the Fund, the Center for Craft has quickly mobilized resources, disbursing over […]
Asheville Police asking for public’s help locating missing woman
Press release from Asheville Police Department: Asheville, NC (November 15, 2024): The Asheville Police Department is requesting the public’s help in their continued efforts to locate a missing person. This week marks the third anniversary of the disappearance of Bethany Collins Buckles. Bethany Buckles, 50, failed to return to her residence on Ravencroft Lane in […]
UPDATE: NCDMV services restored; NCDIT to continue monitoring systems
Press release from North Carolina Department of Transportation: As of 3:15 p.m., NCDMV’s connection to the NCDIT mainframe was restored and NCDMV was able to resume processing transactions in-person, online and at its self-service kiosks. NCDIT will continue to monitor its systems. ROCKY MOUNT – N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles operations are being severely impacted by […]
Additional Western N.C. state parks to reopen Nov. 15, three state parks face long-term closures
Press release from North Carolina State Parks: Elk Knob, Lake James, New River, and Stone Mountain state parks will reopen at least partially on Nov. 15, the Division of Parks and Recreation announced. These parks have been closed entirely since Sept. 27 due to Hurricane Helene. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is anticipated to reopen […]
Tropical Storm Helene water recovery updates
Press release from The City of Asheville: Water Resources launched an investigative sampling program focused on testing for lead and copper from 25 locations across the distribution system, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lead exposure is particularly hazardous to pregnant women, breastfeeding […]