Hendersonville NC Helene update. ***Thanks, all, for the updates***

[NewHendoLib]

*** First *** THANK YOU for reading and responding to my updates. I've been on DU for over 20 years and feel as if you are all very much my extended family.

______

It's a gorgeous Sunday morning. We're out on the deck listening to the soundtrack of this sort of disaster - chainsaws Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are everywhere.

Our daughter and her boyfriend dropped in - they made it from their own disaster zone in Fletcher. We are using a neighbor's outdoor plug - she has a whole house generator) to charge our phones, and me to grind our coffee beans. We had pumpkin waffles and blueberry pancakes that were thawing in our freezer. We're now 48 hours powerless. It could be many days yet. We are thankful for our gas stove, and running water.

The Red//blue divide impacts the "neighborly" feel of the area. It felt very different in 1996 when Fran hit Raleigh - much more cooperation.

We got out for a brief drive yesterday - couldn't get far. So many trees down. So many power poles snapped. Still areas of deep flooding. Long..as in LONG - lines for gas.or ice.

The main shortage is news, with just occasional web access on Verizon on our phones. We are fine - and this is bad. We are lucky - and I am sure many are not.

I'll try to monitor this thread - please ask anything! And if you can, please provide news updates! Not links, but actual texts. No videos either. I can't get links reliably, and no pics or vids.

Main interests - power, water and road updated info.

[Fla Dem]

1. Stay safe and don't get discourage.

Last edited Mon Sep 30, 2024, 08:30 AM - Edit history (1)

As you well know from previous experience, it's going to be a long haul until life gets back to normal.

Peace and hope to you.

[Siwsan]

2. My nephew's sister in law said FEMA is handing out food in Hendersonville?

Not first hand information but info from my niece via FB.

He and his family are vegan and eat a lot of fresh food so I doubt they had much stocked up. He said he can get to a store in Hendersonville, from Mills River, should they need anything. He's painting a much brighter picture than his sister in law, who lives in Hendersonville.

[cilla4progress]

3. Hang in there, friend.

Empathy from afar.

We survived a forest fire that took our home in 1994. It's a community. Cash helps most.

Thinking of you!

[Lochloosa]

4. Last two updates from the City of Hendersonville website. Don't try to go anywhere.

DO NOT TRAVEL IN OR TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed and non-emergency travel is prohibited.
I-40 is impassable in multiple locations. I-26 is closed at the Tennessee state line.
Travel in this area for non-emergency purposes is hindering needed emergency response.

Resources:
Henderson County Emergency Operations Center Phone Number: 828-771-6670
Henderson County/Hendersonville Road Closures: https://sheriffhendersoncounty.com/

Road Updates: www.drivenc.gov
Duke Energy: https://outagemap.duke-energy.com or call 800POWERON (800-769-3766)
City of Hendersonville Updates: www.hvlnc.gov/flooding


9/28/24 1:30 PM
Critical City of Hendersonville infrastructure at the Water Treatment Plant and water distribution system have been impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.

The following update is provided to customers on Hendersonville’s water system:

Portions of the water system are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increase the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system. Interruptions of water service requires the issuance of a System Pressure Advisory.

When water service is restored, consumers who have electric or alternative power are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation). Those without power are advised to use bottled water for the purposes mentioned above.

When water systems experience low pressure or loss of pressure, there is an increased risk of contamination. This does not mean that the water is contaminated, but that the possibility exists, and customers are notified.



9/27/24 11:00 PM
Critical City of Hendersonville infrastructure including the Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant have been impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.

The Hendersonville Water Treatment Plant is not operating at full capacity. Once the flooding recedes and crews are able to safely access the Mills River intake, they will evaluate and determine when the intake can be brought fully back online and restore production to regular levels.

There are multiple line breaks and leaks throughout the distribution system. Due to the challenges of navigating through the county, crews have been unable to fully assess damaged lines and infrastructure.

We are aware of two large sections of the system that are without water. Customers east of I-26 are without water due to breaks in the system and depleted eastside storage tank. Saluda customers are without water due to a break in the transmission line. There is the potential for additional customers to lose water. Staff are continuing to assess the situation and will evaluate the water loss levels to determine if additional portions of the system need to be isolated.

Customers who have experienced low pressure or no pressure are advised to follow the City’s System Pressure Advisory protocols. This includes utilizing bottled water or boiling water before consumption if the customer has that option.

[cally]

7. Stay safe

Henderson County
SUBSCRIBE
LOGIN

Sunday, September 29, 2024


Food and water on the way; utility and road crews at work

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 28, 2024

Potable water and food, fuel for first responders is on the way and more than 1,500 state workers have deployed to Western North Carolina to help reopen roads closed because of tree and debris obstruction or flooding, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards said in a news release Saturday.

SCHOOLS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
City issues boil-water advisory
City, county impose nighttime curfew
Lake Lure dam could be at risk
Here are closed or impassable roads
"Hurricane Helene hit our beautiful mountains with a ferocity unmatched by any storm in our district’s history," he said. “But I have been encouraged by the number of neighbors I’ve seen helping neighbors, and I know our community will persist. Mountain folk are resilient. We will make it through this, together.

"To keep you informed, I am committed to sending you a daily update on the steps being taken to respond and recover from Hurricane Helene.”

Here’s the first update.

Food and water

Far and wide, the biggest need of every county in NC-11 is access to food and potable water.
A total of 37 water systems are on a systemwide boil water advisory across North Carolina, with 31 systems awaiting results to hopefully allow for the water to be turned back on.
Potable water and meals are actively en route from central North Carolina to Western North Carolina.
Air operations for food and water deliveries begin this afternoon in areas without roadway access.

Power and Gas

Power outages are widespread but accessibility for repairs is limited.
Currently, there is no established timeline for restorations.
More than 700,000 North Carolinians lost power due to the storm.
Power for 281,000 of the initial 700,000 has been restored, but Western North Carolina faces a unique challenge due to the high number of road closures throughout the district.
Duke Energy warns that Western North Carolinians should be prepared for potential multi-day outages, though energy providers are doing everything they can to restore power quickly.
Duke Energy has 11,000 workers working quickly and safely on repairs, including additional crews from 19 states and Canada.
Fuel planning is ongoing for both rescue operations and communications resources.
Fuel contracts have been activated. A fuel contract provides a steady fuel reserve during an emergency.
For local governments in need of fuel for their vehicles
Ensure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and gasoline delivered.
Gasoline can also be delivered via air if road access is limited.
Roads

North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued a “DO NOT DRIVE” message for Western North Carolina.

Unless it is an emergency, please do not try to travel.
Roughly 400 roads are closed in Western North Carolina, with the majority being in Henderson (50), Buncombe (25) and Jackson (21) counties.
73 of these are primary routes including I-40, I-26, U.S. 74 at I-40 in Asheville, and dozens of U.S. and N.C. routes.
Most of the current closures are due to high water where the roadway is impassable or flooded, land/rockslides, downed power lines, pipe failures, and fallen trees.
More than 1,500 employees from across the state have deployed to Western North Carolina to address road closures related to the storm.
Crews are actively working to clear trees and rock/landslide debris throughout Western North Carolina to reestablish accessibility, including clearing efforts along the I-40 and I-26 corridors.

Asheville Regional Airport

Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day due to flooding.
The airport was expected to reopen Saturday.


Cell Service

Western North Carolina has seen severe cell service outages due to the severe weather.
Madison County is worst affected, with less than 8 percent capacity available through Verizon.
Service providers have deployed Compact Rapid Deployables throughout Western North Carolina, including to Hendersonville, Lake Junaluska, and Waynesville, with more en route. Compact Rapid Deployables are a transportable cell tower and internet access point, that can generate wired internet and wi-fi coverage anytime and anywhere.
Service providers have deployed SatCOLTs throughout Western North Carolina, including to Asheville and Hendersonville, with more en route. SatCOLT stands for “Satellite Cells on Light Trucks” and are vehicles with mobile cell sites that connect via satellite and do not rely on commercial power supply.

North Carolina National Guard

410 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
This includes the deployment of 146 vehicles and 12 aircraft.
The Asheville National Guard armory has relocated to East Flat Rock due to lost power so they may continue operations and providing support to Western North Carolina.
Shelters

For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of September 28:

Buncombe
WNC Agricultural Center
1301 Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732
Henderson
Henderson County Recreation Center
708 S. Grove St, Hendersonville, NC 28792

This is all from an article posted yesterday in the Lightning. About 20 hours ago.

Here is the link but I know you can’t open it: https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/news/14390-edwards-update.html

[Hekate]

5. All the best to you -- stay safe, be well

[FakeNoose]

6. Clean running water is more important than electricity, when the chips are down

Drinking and cooking water will keep you alive until the power and other services come back.

Suggestion: if you have a 5 gallon bucket or carboy handy, save an extra supply of drinking water in case the municipal water stops running.

Stay well and best of luck to you and your family!

[uppityperson]

8. Thanks for checking in again. I'm glad your daughter is ok too

And you have coffee. I had to hammer some in a bag once when power was out because....coffee. I hope they get roads more open soon, but know they are working hard.

Take care, my best to you and family and doggies.

[central scrutinizer]

9. Thanks for the on the ground updates

My sister lives in Hendersonville and I haven’t heard from her (understandably) since the day before Helene made landfall. It looks like it’s going to be a while.

[barbtries]

10. Here is what the city has on their webpage:

Highlights: yesterday they issued a no drive directive except for need
the water situation is dire. For people with a generator, they are asked to boil water before using it.
Nothing today or yesterday about power. I googled and only learned that crews are out. There was also a headline on google about cell service being out in Western NC. It was from 2 hours ago.

Here is the text from the webpage:

UPDATES:
9/28/24 1:30 PM

Critical City of Hendersonville infrastructure at the Water Treatment Plant and water distribution system have been impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.

The following update is provided to customers on Hendersonville’s water system:

Portions of the water system are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increase the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system. Interruptions of water service requires the issuance of a System Pressure Advisory.

When water service is restored, consumers who have electric or alternative power are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation). Those without power are advised to use bottled water for the purposes mentioned above.

When water systems experience low pressure or loss of pressure, there is an increased risk of contamination. This does not mean that the water is contaminated, but that the possibility exists, and customers are notified.


9/27/24 11:00 PM

Critical City of Hendersonville infrastructure including the Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant have been impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.

The Hendersonville Water Treatment Plant is not operating at full capacity. Once the flooding recedes and crews are able to safely access the Mills River intake, they will evaluate and determine when the intake can be brought fully back online and restore production to regular levels.

There are multiple line breaks and leaks throughout the distribution system. Due to the challenges of navigating through the county, crews have been unable to fully assess damaged lines and infrastructure.

We are aware of two large sections of the system that are without water. Customers east of I-26 are without water due to breaks in the system and depleted eastside storage tank. Saluda customers are without water due to a break in the transmission line. There is the potential for additional customers to lose water. Staff are continuing to assess the situation and will evaluate the water loss levels to determine if additional portions of the system need to be isolated.

Customers who have experienced low pressure or no pressure are advised to follow the City’s System Pressure Advisory protocols. This includes utilizing bottled water or boiling water before consumption if the customer has that option.

System Pressure Advisory Information is at www.hvlnc.gov/wateralerts.

Customers who are fortunate enough to have water are asked to conserve water for only essential uses until the system can be repaired and water restored to all customers.

The City of Hendersonville’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is completely down at this time. The City of Hendersonville’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is completely down at this time. Once floodwaters recede at the plant, assessments will be made in order to bring the plant back online.
9/27/24 11:15 AM

Due to the historic impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, the City of Hendersonville is responding to many urgent situations including operating the Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants under extraordinary circumstances.

Hendersonville water customers are asked to voluntarily reduce non-essential water use. The water treatment plant is currently operating, but intake capacity has been reduced, due to the Mills River intake being disabled by the storm. Personnel will work to restore the intake once crews can safely access the infrastructure.

Learn about water conservation
9/27/24 8:00 AM

Do Not Drive Alert

Henderson County and the City of Hendersonville have issued a Do Not Drive Alert for any non-emergency travel during this time. Consider all roads in Henderson County as closed until the major storm impacts have passed and the threat of falling trees and flooded roadways have subsided. Henderson County has hundreds of active calls in our dispatch system, and it is currently unsafe to travel.

Do not enter flooded roadways or try to drive. The only reason you should be travelling is if you are evacuating to higher ground due to flooding.

Hope it helps Craig! Does Caitlin still have a home? I'm glad you are all together and healthy regardless. So sorry this disastrous storm has hit you so hard.

[NewHendoLib]

11. Thx. Yes, she and her boyfriend's house are fine.

No water though

[calimary]

12. WOW! What an ordeal! Thanks for keeping us posted.

I’ve never been through a calamity like that and I’m beyond grateful, hearing about the challenges in the aftermath.

Just glad you’re okay! Just heard on the news:
- an Israeli strike killed another Hezbollah leader, and Biden’s urging a ceasefire. Iran vows retaliation.
- 600+ rescue missions in the aftermath of the hurricane. Biden issued a disaster declaration for Florida. Bigtime storm mess has extended northward.
- is Kamala taking a big risk re: the border wall? And now leading 54-40% with Latino voters.
- and Ellen and Portia are selling a line of skin-care products. (Hey, THAT’S what we need in a major disaster! Firming syrup!)

Oddly enough, very little stops the commercial breaks.

[nolabear]

13. I so wish y'all were getting more national media.

CNN was on the ground all the time after Katrina. Kept us all sane. My hubs family is all up in those mountains. We think they’re all okay but hardly any contact. I can’t believe Boone and Blowing Rock are just wiped out.

Stay safe. Keep checking in. We’re all here for you. Sorry we can’t do more!

[KS Toronado]

14. I gather your house was not directly impacted by the flooding

That's a good thing. When we moved into town I looked for higher elevation from the flood prone farm,
bought a place 28 feet higher in elevation, pretty sure we never have to worry about flooding again.

[NewHendoLib]

16. No water damage - we're at 2500ish feet,

Water runs downhill through our yard down to a creek near the being built Ecusta Trail.

[senseandsensibility]

15. Thanks for the update

and I'm glad that you still have running water and a generator to charge your phone, as well as a gas stove. I didn't quite understand your post about neighborly co-operation. Are you saying it was better in 1996 or worse? Hope it's the former.

[NewHendoLib]

17. Much better in Raleigh in 1996

Worse now these days - we are surrounded by red.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Oh, sorry.

Good luck, NHL. I hope your power comes back soon.

[Duncan Grant]

18. Citizen-Times Update (essentials): 9/29, 3:00 pm EST

Food and Groceries

Food Lion: 179 Paragon Pkwy, Clyde, NC
Trader Joe’s: 120 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Ingles Markets (Cash Only): 575 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC
Walmart: 1636 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC
Publix: 165 Weaver Boulevard

Water Sources

Lowe’s: 95 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, NC
Home Depot:
795 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC
127 Acton Cir, Asheville, NC
Pisgah Brewing Company: 2849 US 70 (Water available from 2 to 5 p.m., BYO sanitary container)
Publix: 165 Weaver Boulevard

Food Distribution

Monte Vista Hotel (Food and WiFi): 310 W State St, Black Mountain, NC
Bears Smokehouse: 135 Coxe Ave, Asheville

Gas Stations

Arden Quality Plus: 2273 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC
Sheetz: 5440 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC

Construction Supplies

Ace Hardware: 800 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC

Wi-Fi Locations

Buncombe County Health Department: 40 Cox Ave, Weaverville, NC
Citizen Vinyl: 14 O’Henry Ave, Asheville, NC
DoubleTree Hilton Downtown: 199 Haywood St., Asheville
Asheville Shelter, Ferguson Building: 340 Victoria Road, Asheville

[NewHendoLib]

20. Thx for this. If you can find similar in for Hendersonville

That would be great.

[Duncan Grant]

21. Haven't found specific Hendersonville updates since yesterday, 1:30 pm (9/28)

No updates on Twitter, Facebook, city of, police dept.

Checking state resources for Henderson county/Hendersonville but found nothing but Citizen-Times info above.

Will keep looking. Check back.

[NewHendoLib]

22. Very kind. Thank you.

[Duncan Grant]

26. You're welcome. Happy to do it.

Wish I had something a little more substantive to offer. All good wishes to you and your community. I have nice memories of a visit to Hendersonville about 20 years ago.

[yardwork]

29. Thank you so much, Duncan.

I just texted it to my son in Asheville.

[Duncan Grant]

23. Facebook: Hendersonville NC City Gov't (12:00 pm today)

HENDERSON COUNTY UPDATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29,
12:00PM
• Henderson County residents, the State of Emergency continues in the County and the mandatory countywide curfew from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM daily continues until conditions improve.
•Our Emergency Management continue to be in rescue mode, as we try to get to residents who still need our help.
• Conditions are improving, but there are still areas of the County dealing with flooding and blocked roads due to trees and debris.
•Power outages and cell phone issues continue in the County. We ask for patience from all County residents as these issues get resolved.
• Henderson County Public Schools will be closed until further notice to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Once essential services are restored, the School System will make a determination on when we can safely reopen schools and communicate this to County families.
• Many Hendersonville water customers are experiencing water outages and periods of low pressure in the distribution system. Customers remain under a system pressure advisory and are recommended to use bottled water or boil water before drinking. We understand how challenging this guidance is to our community, but we are asking customers who have water to actively conserve. Conservation tips are posted at www.hvinc.gov/helene. City staff, alongside additional response partners, are working 24/7 to assess the damage to the water infrastructure. By conserving water, you are allowing the system's pressure to increase - ultimately speeding the restoration of water service.
• As residents travel, we ask that drivers treat intersections without power as 4-way stops to prevent additional emergencies.
• We also remind the public that as Duke Energy begins the challenging process of restoring power, avoid driving over or coming into contact with downed power lines.
• Please call 9-1-1 for emergencies only. We have an Emergency Operations Call Center open at 828-771-6670
for any non-emergency calls.
• For more information visit, www.hendersoncountync.gov and click on the red banner title "State of Emergency
Declared"

[NewHendoLib]

24. Thanks

[Quixote1818]

25. My Uncle lived in Hendersonville but died at 92 last year.

He lived on Mountain Valley Dr.

[MaryMagdaline]

27. My sister would like to get out of Asheville to GA via

441. Technically the roads are clear but NC website says that non-emergency traffic is prohibited.
My sister just finished radiation treatment following chemo and is strong enough to drive to my brother’s house 2.5 hours away. She will run out of drinking water in a few days. Has only Gatorade after that.
Are the state troopers turning private cars away?

[NewHendoLib]

28. They don't seem to be enforcing anything about driving

People are quite out and about.

[MaryMagdaline]

33. Thank you! I appreciate the update

I will let my sister know.

[MissB]

30. Glad to hear you're okay

Really glad!! You’re my favorite tomato farmer, lol.

I still grow the dwarf speckled heart tomatoes from seeds you gave me years ago. I also tried dwarf big green and wild Fred this year and will add those to the “must grow” each year.

Hope you are all stocked up and can wait out the worst of it.

[crickets]

31. So glad to hear the you & yours are okay!

Stay safe and I do hope that conditions improve soon.

[malaise]

46. How are you?

Any damage?

[roamer65]

32. Get ready for a Hurricane Ian style insurance fiasco across the Southeastern states.

It’s coming.

Wouldn’t surprise me if we see a few insurance companies file for bankruptcy.

There are a lot of uninsured properties in FL since Ian and the state agency Citizens is woefully undercapitalized.

[soandso]

34. Random news blurbs

Thirty people have died in Buncombe County, North Carolina, Sheriff Quentin Miller said on a Zoom call with reporters today.

At least 89 deaths have been confirmed as a result of the storm. A third of them were reported in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

More than 2 million customers remain without electricity across several states.

In flood-damaged Tennessee, 153 people are unaccounted for amid cellphone and other communications outages, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said today.

Twenty-five people have died in South Carolina as a result of Helene, Gov. Henry McMaster said at news press conference this afternoon.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Good Grief! That's where my grandmother lived - Black Mountain - and I got to know so many of her friends

[soandso]

36. I've never been to that part of the US

but from what I've been reading, lots of favorite little towns are pretty close to wiped out or have taken on severe damage. The situation with the mountain roads, washed out and/or with landslides, looks really bad. I don't know how roads get fixed where the very earth they were on in washed away. Cutting deeper into a mountain to move those roads when the the mountainside is so unstable doesn't seem feasible. Whatever they do, it will cost insane amounts of money.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. It's a beautiful area, Blue Ridge Mountains - and also a more liberal part of the state

Basing that on those I got to know there. And they already don't deal well with even a "dusting" of snow. They don't know how to drive in it and many call in to work. When my cousin lived there (after graduating from college in the area), I asked her what they'd do if they got a real snowfall - and she told me that they'd wait for it to melt. What happened in this lovely historic town is heartbreaking.

[malaise]

47. Many more deaths to come

Last edited Tue Oct 1, 2024, 04:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Over 600 people are unaccounted for in one state.

[soandso]

48. I think you're right

I've been hoping that most of the missing have simply been out of contact with cell towers out and being in areas where the roads are impassible but after a few days, it's looking less promising.

[mnhtnbb]

38. Duke Energy issued a statement

Sunday afternoon providing information on power outages by county. They listed Henderson County as 100% without power.
They also predicted a majority of customers would have power returned by Friday evening, Oct 4th, but because outages are so widespread, they aren't assigning power restoration predictions to specific areas at this time.

Sounds like you should probably not expect power back for at least several more days. With so many roads having been damaged, and such widespread damage from flooding and tree debris, it's going to be a real challenge to access areas in order to restore power.

From an article in the Asheville paper:

As of Sunday afternoon, Sept. 29, counties in WNC ranged from roughly 15-100% of Duke Energy customers without power. The company issued a statement addressing the potential repair timeline - but the details are still blurry.

In a statement, Duke Energy said a majority of customers are expected to have power returned no later than Friday evening, Oct. 4. However, repair efforts are so widespread that very few areas have been assigned estimated times of restoration.

How many people have power?

As of roughly 12:30 p.m., Duke Energy reported the following numbers in WNC counties:

Avery - 60% (805) of customers without power
Buncombe - 64% (95,182) of customers without power
Burke - 75% (17,012) of customers without power
Caldwell - 72% (17,423) of customers without power
Catawba - 24% (18,412) of customers without power
Cleveland - 85% (28,211) of customers without power. Estimated time of restoration Sept. 29, 11:45 p.m.
Haywood - 35% (8,837) of customers without power
Henderson - 100% (69,195) of customers without power
Jackson - 30% (8,329) of customers without power
Macon - 15% (4,044) of customers without power
Madison - 62% (404) of customers without power
McDowell - 93% (18,443) of customers without power
Mitchell - 84% (4,700) of customers without power
Polk - 32% (11,451) of customers without power
Rutherford - 90% (25,843) of customers without power
Transylvania - 79% (13,246) of customers without power
Wilkes - 32% (9,615) of customers without power
Yancey - 73% (472) of customers without power

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/09/29/asheville-nc-flood-duke-energy-statement-on-western-nc-power-outages/75441906007/

[mnhtnbb]

39. USPS Service Alert 9/29

From the USPS website:

All retail and delivery operations for facilities in the 286, 287,288 and 289 3-digit zip code areas are temporarily suspended until further notice due to Hurricane Helene impacts.

USPS has also posted a list of facilities in other zip codes in NC that have temporarily suspended operations due to Helene, with no alternate sites. I have copied that list and posted it in the NC Forum.

If you had requested an Absentee ballot by mail, it may be in limbo.

[cally]

40. 9/30 "The Lightening" Update

Also city issued an alert to boil water!

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 30, 2024

Hendersonville City Manager John Connet provided these updates on the storm response.

City of Hendersonville Offices are closed on Monday, September 30.
All special events are suspended during the State of Emergency.
City of Hendersonville residents – garbage, recycling and brush collection is currently suspended due to crews completing critical infrastructure tasks.
"Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. We want to assure you that your safety and recovery are our highest priorities," Connet said. "Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville and partnering agencies are continuing to complete rescues and are mobilizing all available resources to support our community during this challenging time."

The following response efforts are underway:

Emergency Services: Our first responders are actively completing rescue and recovery efforts. Please stay home if you can to keep roads clear for these efforts and as utility crews work to restore critical services.
Resource Hubs: Henderson County and partners are in the process of standing up six resource hubs stationed throughout the County. Details will be announced as soon as the centers are ready.
Utility Restoration: Crews are working around the clock to restore power, water, and other essential services. Portions of the Hendersonville water system are experiencing outages and periods of low pressure due to damage. Crews and treatment plant operators are working around the clock to identify line breaks and make repairs. Customers should use bottled water or boil water before consumption. Fortunately, many of our customers still have water service, but we ask them to conserve and use only for essential needs.
We remind you that 911 should only be used for emergencies
The Henderson County Emergency Operations Center Phone Number can be called at 828-771-6670 for information and resource connection.

Our emergency management teams are working tirelessly to continue rescue operations and provide resources. We know this has been a devastating event, but we will make it through this together. Check on your neighbors, know that additional resources are coming, and we are here working alongside you to restore Hendersonville and Henderson County.

[Niagara]

41. I'm happy to hear that you and yours are safe

And that you have access to phone charging, coffee, food, gas stove and running water.



Keep hanging in there!!

[Nittersing]

42. From Henderson County website 9:30 9-30-24

Current Situation
Henderson County has declared a State of Emergency due to Hurricane Helene. The State of Emergency is also proclaimed at the request of the Mayors in the Town of Fletcher, Town of Laurel Park, Village of Flat Rock and Town of Mills River. The City of Hendersonville has also declared a State of Emergency as revoking all special event permits until the end of the state of emergency.

Henderson County has announced a curfew is in effect from 8 pm to 8 am until conditions improve.

Resource Hubs
Henderson County is mobilizing six Resource Hub locations for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.
Distribution will start at noon, Monday, September 30th. The hubs will close at 6 pm.

The Resource Hub locations are:

Etowah Elementary, 320 Etowah School Road Etowah, NC 28729
Rugby Middle, 3345 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28791
East Henderson High, 150 Eagle Pride Dr, East Flat Rock, NC 28726
North Henderson High, 35 Fruitland Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Drive. Mills River, NC 28759
Fletcher Town Hall, 300 Old Cane Creek Rd Fletcher, NC 28732
Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day's meal and water as it is available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through Resource Hubs and remain in their cars unless instructed otherwise by volunteers, to ensure an efficient process.

In order for the Resource Hubs to function smoothly, efficiently and safely. We ask for the public's patience while waiting for their supplies.

****At this time, the Resource Hub operation are planned for today only. Details on future resource distribution, as well as donation acceptance instructions from the general public, will be communicated by the county as information is available.

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43. More from the county

The Henderson County Transfer Station will open Monday, September 30th, at 7 a.m. and will accept storm debris with the normal fees. Cash, check, or established accounts are only accepted.

Yard debris and bulk debagged leaves = $48/ton
Construction and demolition debris = $63 ton
See the full fee schedule on the Solid Waste website.
We are working on a free storm debris site that will be available soon.

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44. This is a Google Docs link from the county of road closures

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZJYXkWRzsMccdVzwjSkZaTFDdUFP1sGPWJMEPfJxkqs/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0

I couldn't figure out a way to cut and paste it.

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45. And I believe this is a text only link to their 9:30 post this morning 9-30-24

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/print/em/page/emergency-information