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Update as of 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
Catastrophic Flooding Imminent, Resources are Available for Residents
As the local state of emergency continues, resources are available to help residents looking to evacuate. It's anticipated that 15,000 individual residences may be impacted.
To see if your residence falls in the floodplain, click here. Please note that this tool is not a confirmation that a property will not flood, it simply shows that it is not historically prone to flooding.
Shelters are available and open now at First Baptist Church in Swannanoa and Trinity Baptist in West Asheville. Buncombe County is working with Henderson County and other partners to establish larger shelters and also shelters that can help community members with medical devices like home ventilators and other specialized equipment.
Explore Asheville has worked with local hotels to make rooms available for residents who are seeking shelter from the storm. Those rates are available here.
Residents, businesses, visitors, and employees in Fletcher and Biltmore Village near the rivers should self-evacuate before anticipated crests overnight Friday and into Saturday morning.
Code Purple sheltering is available through ABCCM for unhoused residents, and transportation on ART is free to Code Purple shelters.
Please refer to these useful numbers for roads and utilities. For non-emergency support, call 828-250-6650.
Update as of 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
Buncombe County Officials Warn Residents of Historic Flooding
Following projections from the National Weather Service, catastrophic and historic flooding is anticipated in Buncombe County along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. Residents, businesses, visitors, and employees in Fletcher and Biltmore Village near the rivers should self-evacuate before anticipated crests overnight Friday and into Saturday morning. Flooding is expected to rival and/or surpass flooding from the 1916 flood.
“If you are in an impacted area, you should leave now,” said Emergency Services Director Taylor Jones. “It’s possible we may get to a point where our crews will not physically be able to perform rescues. We cannot emphasize how much you should take this seriously.”
First Baptist Church Swannanoa has opened community sheltering, and Trinity Baptist Church will open a shelter at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Buncombe County is working to develop GIS mapping of the projected impacts, but those in the Biltmore Village and Fletcher areas along the river should plan to evacuate now.
Buncombe County Government administrative offices and buildings, including the landfill and transfer station, will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27. The Buncombe County Courthouse also will be closed. All County libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Waste Pro customers who get services on Friday can expect delays in collection due to weather-related complications with Hurricane Helene. We will continue to share additional details on further delays in collection in the coming days.
Buncombe County will hold a virtual media briefing at 4 p.m. Email prteam@buncombecounty.org for the Zoom link to participate. It will be streamed live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/buncombegov.
Update as of 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene Preparations and Situation Update
Buncombe County continues to prepare and respond as Hurricane Helene approaches the region with forecasted potentially catastrophic flooding, high winds, and landslides.
As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024, emergency crews are actively responding to community members impacted by flooding caused by pre-hurricane rain. The County’s emergency operations center (EOC) is open and facilitating strong coordination between Buncombe County Emergency Services, local leaders, first responders, sheltering operations, and healthcare providers.
The County is under a local state of emergency, which includes Asheville, Weaverville, Woodfin, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Biltmore Forest. This declaration allows the County to quickly access resources from state and federal agencies. The local state of emergency is currently set to expire at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Significant flooding has already occurred, and conditions are expected to worsen. Residents should take immediate action to protect themselves and their families.
The Asheville Airport has already received 7.74 inches of rain, with an additional 9 to 14 inches expected over the next 48 hours. The most severe weather, including rain and wind gusts up to 64 mph, is predicted to impact the area later tonight. The French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers are currently at minor flood stages but are expected to rise to moderate flood levels by tomorrow evening.
Water rescues have already been conducted. We advise residents to avoid driving through flooded roadways to prevent further incidents.
Sheltering
Residents in low-lying areas near rivers should evacuate to higher grounds.
The county is prepared to send evacuation alerts through the iPaws system if needed, and residents are reminded to take their pets with them should they evacuate. Please keep phones charged and heed warnings from officials should you receive a notification to evacuate.
Code Purple sheltering is in place for the unhoused population. The County is working on opening shelters in the region. Currently, one shelter is open in Swannanoa at 503 Park St., Swannanoa, NC 28778. We will provide updates as more shelters open.
Closures
While most County operations have not been impacted, two library branches—Leicester and Skyland/South Buncombe—are currently closed today due to flooding. Swannanoa Library will close today at 1:30 p.m.
In terms of infrastructure, several secondary roads are closed due to mudslides, including U.S. 25 in the Reynolds Mountain Area.
There are approximately 2,500 power outages, with more expected as high winds move into the region. Residents should prepare for potential power outages by securing enough water, food, and supplies for 72 hours.
"We cannot reiterate enough – this is serious. If you don’t need to be out, please stay home,” said Buncombe County EMS Director Taylor Jones.
Importantly, the National Weather Service has used terms such as “catastrophic” to describe the situation, urging the community to take the warnings seriously. As such, Buncombe County Officials are issuing strong warnings to the community to take action now to prepare for power outages, flooding, landslides, and strong winds.
For updates, visit buncombecounty.org. The next media briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m. today.
Update as of 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25
All Buncombe County Parks Closed Due to Significant Rainfall and Flooding
Effective immediately, all Buncombe County Parks are closed until further notice due to significant rainfall and flooding. All of Buncombe County is currently under a Local State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene. Based on information from the National Weather Service, County officials expect catastrophic rainfall, high winds, flooding, landslides, and power outages.
Emergency Contact Information
- For Emergencies: Dial 911
- Buncombe County Emergency Services Non-emergency line: (828) 250-6650
- Report Downed Trees (not posing immediate danger): Call (828) 250-6670
- Report power outages: 1-800-419-6356
Update as of 3 p.m. Wed., Sept. 25
At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners declared a Local State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene’s anticipated impacts. The Local State of Emergency applies within the municipal limits of the City of Asheville, the Town of Weaverville, the Town of Woodfin, the Town of Black Mountain, the Town of Montreat, and the Town of Biltmore Forest. With the declaration, Buncombe County Emergency Management personnel will implement plans for the prevention of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from any and all emergency situations that may result from the impacts of the storm.
The implementation of such emergency management plans will allow sufficient personnel to be mobilized and positioned in order to:
- Reduce vulnerability of people and property of Buncombe County to damage, injury, and loss of life and property;
- Prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of threatened or affected persons;
- Coordinate with state and federal agencies for the orderly rehabilitation of persons and restoration of property; and
- Provide for cooperation and coordination of activities relating to emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery among agencies and officials of Buncombe County and with similar agencies and officials of other counties, with state and federal governments, with interstate organizations, and with other private and quasi-official organizations.
The emergency management plan will remain in effect until the declaration expires at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29 or is rescinded. See below for an attachement of the Local State of Emergency.
Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle late Thursday and move northward, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the area Thursday night into Friday. Prior to Helene’s arrival, widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected, with 2-3 inches of rain possible by Wednesday night, leading to a heightened risk of flash flooding. Additional heavy rain from Helene may bring total rainfall amounts exceeding 10 inches in some areas.
Based on information from the National Weather Service, County officials expect heavy rainfall, high winds, flooding, landslides, and power outages. It is anticipated that rivers including the French Broad and Swannanoa will flood. In preparation, Buncombe County Government has engaged in assigning resources to this event, including chainsaw crews, swiftwater rescue teams, and planning for the possibility of standing up emergency shelters for those who cannot safely shelter at home or with others. Buncombe County is working closely with counties across North Carolina to coordinate 911 call center overflow and to ensure prompt emergency responses.
- Stay Informed: Monitor local news, weather channels, and www.buncombecounty.org for continuous updates. Sign up for BC Alerts by texting “BCAlert” (not case sensitive) to 99411.
- Prepare for Flooding and Landslides: If you live in low-lying or mountainous areas, prepare to evacuate with loved ones and pets at short notice. Have an emergency kit ready for you and your animals, including food, water, and essential medications. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you.
- Secure Outdoor Objects: High winds can send debris flying. Secure items such as outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and other loose items that may become hazardous.
- Avoid Travel: Stay off the roads if possible, especially during the height of the storm, to avoid floodwaters and debris.
“We are preparing for the significant impact of Hurricane Helene,” said Avril Pinder, Buncombe County Manager. “Flooding, landslides, and high winds pose serious threats to our community, and we urge all residents to take every precaution necessary to protect themselves and their families.”
Emergency Contact Information:
- For Emergencies: Dial 911
- Buncombe County Emergency Services Non-emergency line: (828) 250-6650
- Report Downed Trees (not posing immediate danger): Call (828) 250-6670
- Report power outages: 1-800-419-6356
There is a Code Purple starting 10 a.m. on Thursday due to the weather system. This will allow coordination among Asheville and Buncombe County shelters and other organizations to provide emergency overflow shelter to people experiencing homelessness.
Buncombe County will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Residents are urged to stay alert, follow official guidance, and prioritize safety during this storm.