ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — City of Asheville staff in all departments is working around the clock on recovery efforts from the catastrophic flooding that has swamped the area, demolishing homes, buildings and roadways and killing at least 10 people.
The National Guard is also on the ground in the area.
Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller confirmed 10 storm-related fatalities from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Water and food have been ordered and will be coming into the area soon, officials said in a Sunday morning news conference. Distribution sites will be identified when supplies are on site.
Residents are urged to stay off the roads and conserve fuel.
“This will allow emergency response vehicles the quickest access to do their jobs,” a news release from the city said.
However, lines for gas were wrapped around parking lots and into roadways across the county. Those lines are also impacting travel.
Tropical Storm Helene severely damaged the production and distribution system of the city of Asheville’s water system. Extensive repairs are required to treatment facilities, underground and aboveground water pipes, and roads that have washed away, preventing water personnel from accessing parts of the system.
“Although providing a precise timeline is impossible, it is important to note that restoring service to the full system could potentially take weeks,” the city’s news release said.
A curfew is still in effect from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. within the Asheville City Limits.
Information sources
Find rolling storm-related information on the homepage of the City of Asheville website.
Sign up for AVL ALERTS and to continue to follow our social media channels throughout the storm.
Follow the Asheville Fire Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow the City of Asheville on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Monitor the WAZE app for real-time closure and hazard information. Additionally, DriveNC.gov provides road information across the state.
Click here for county information.
Buncombe County has established a NON-Emergency line for community reports of things such as downed trees and debris: 828-250-6650.
Please call 911 for life-threatening situations including down power lines.
