Buncombe County Hurricane Helene Briefing - November 6, 2024

Buncombe County Hurricane Helene Briefing Recap - November 6, 2024

On November 6, 2024, Buncombe County held a briefing to update residents on recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene and provide an overview of the recent election. The meeting, attended by key county and city officials including County Manager Avril Pender, Director of Elections Corrine Duncan, Police Chief Mike Lamb, City Manager Deborah Campbell, and Clay Chandler from the City of Asheville's Water Resources Department, focused primarily on providing information rather than formal decision-making. No votes were taken during the session.

The briefing began with a recap of the election, where Director of Elections Corrine Duncan highlighted its successful operation despite occurring during active hurricane recovery. County Manager Pender then shifted the focus to ongoing recovery efforts, emphasizing gratitude for the dedication of poll workers and election staff who persevered through challenging circumstances. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to updates on critical infrastructure and services, including debris removal across the county (with specific drop-off locations announced for Swannanoa, Ingalls Fairview, and North Buncombe Pool), the resumption of city parks and recreation services, and free ART bus service for transportation. Residents were reminded to utilize community care stations and distribution sites for essential services like showers, laundry, water, and meals.

Addressing concerns about the city's water supply, Clay Chandler reported substantial improvements in turbidity levels at North Fork Reservoir thanks to ongoing treatment with aluminum sulfate and caustic soda, with continued treatment planned for next week. Police Chief Lamb underscored the importance of public safety and cooperation with recovery efforts, noting restricted access to damaged areas and urging residents to heed road closure signage. A concerning spike in overdose incidents within a specific zip code was also addressed by Lillian Govis, who highlighted the availability of test strips and encouraged community partners to mobilize.

Looking ahead, several key action items were outlined for residents. Political signs can be recycled at Kirby Management’s facility, and debris pickup continues to prioritize public roads. The transfer station remains closed due to a road closure. Importantly, the Board of Elections will conduct an audit over the next 10 days and hold a public meeting on November 15th to certify election results. Procurement is underway for an Army Corps of Engineers project, with construction anticipated in late November or early December. Finally, community briefings will continue daily at 11 a.m., providing ongoing updates on recovery progress.

This briefing served as an important opportunity for residents to receive firsthand information from county and city officials regarding the ongoing recovery process. For those impacted by Hurricane Helene, residents are encouraged to visit disasterassistance.gov for FEMA resources and to remain vigilant regarding safety precautions in affected areas. The dedication of local officials and the resilience demonstrated by Buncombe County residents were consistently acknowledged throughout the session, highlighting a collective commitment to rebuilding and restoring normalcy following the storm.