.jpg)
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 placed in the right of way. Trucks are making several passes, so not all debris will be picked up at the same time. Debris should not be placed in black trash bags; crews need to see debris to categorize it for proper handling.
Private Property Debris Removal Program: a program to allow for debris removal on eligible private properties will open to Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and Black Mountain residents, on Tuesday, November 19. There will be an online application option, in-person application opportunities, and a special call center option for all debris related questions. By collecting rights of entry from private properties, contractors can scope properties to begin debris removal. This will be a long-term process. More information on this program coming early next week.
Waterway Debris Removal: FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are conducting waterway assessments to determine eligible debris for removal which include those that pose an imminent threat to public infrastructure and improved property. This is happening in counties and cities that have requested waterway debris removal. The debris will be picked up by contractors after assessments.
Water Restoration Updates
North Fork Reservoir: Results for the lead and copper sample taken from source water at North Fork show negative for lead and a trace amount of copper below the action limit. As of early Friday morning, the turbidity reading at North Fork was 15.5. This is a tenth of a point increase in the highest level recorded on Thursday. The third round of in-reservoir treatment continues today. North Fork’s capacity to push treated water into the system has risen to a little more than 20 million gallons per day.
Concurrent Pre-Treatment Project: The private contractor for The Army Corps of Engineers continues constructing the system for the pre-treatment project. Materials and equipment are arriving daily.
DeBruhl Treatment Plant (Bee Tree): Water Resources is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, USGS, and others for the removal of debris from around and within Bee Tree Reservoir along with the rebuilding of key access roads while the facility remains offline.
Boil Water Notice: Every City of Asheville water customer remains under a Boil Water Notice. In the absence of bottled water or water that has been purified, any water intended for consumption should run through faucets for 30 seconds to two minutes and then boiled for a minimum of one minute. Due to reduced turbidity levels in the North Fork reservoir, Water Resources has been able to feed a sufficient amount of filtered water into the distribution system, without blending it with raw water, to meet demand. The use of treated water, combined with customer usage, indicates that the system has turned over, and the vast majority of raw water has been replaced with treated water.
Because of this, crews can begin the sampling process, which Water Resources developed in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency and the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, to potentially lift the boil water notice. Lifting the Boil Water Notice will allow residents to resume normal domestic water use, and for businesses to operate unrestricted.
Homeowner Grant Program
Qualified Buncombe County homeowners can receive financial assistance for housing-related costs such as property tax bills and homeowners' insurance. The Buncombe County Homeowner Grant program application period closes today but there is still time to apply. Applications can be obtained at buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant or?by calling (828) 250-5500.?Phone support is available in any language.
A reminder that the Homeowner Grant Program is not a hurricane disaster relief program, its a program that is in its fourth year and is open to any eligible homeowners. We reopened applications for this program to give people more time to submit applications as the original deadline was on Sept. 30, shortly after the hurricane.
Hazard Mitigation Grant
Buncombe County residents can receive funding to make their homes more resilient through home projects that reduce the long-term risk and impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and storms.
Through the program, there are three home or property projects including elevation, home mitigation reconstruction, and acquisition.
1. The elevation project raises the home as is and builds a new foundation that raises the first floor above the 100-year flood elevation.
2. The mitigation reconstruction project demolishes the old home, builds a new, higher foundation and a new home on the foundation.
3. The acquisition project buys the property from the homeowner at the value of the property the day prior to the disaster, the home is demolished, and the property remains as greenspace into perpetuity.
In all 3 of these programs, FEMA provides 75% of the cost and the State pays the 25% match; there is no cost to the homeowner.
Applications are open now and can be submitted online.
To apply online, watch this 8-minute video and complete the 5-minute Grant Information Request. Online applications will be open for a year.
FEMA
FEMA funding is available to support repairs on private roads and bridges, even if the owner’s home is not damaged. These funds are available through the agency’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs.
To apply for this and other FEMA assistance go to disasterassistance.gov, call 1-800-621-3362, or visit the Disaster Recovery Center open every day at the Asheville Mall from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. A mobile disaster recovery center, which can help with status updates and new registrations, is at the Buncombe County Sports Park through Monday, Nov.18 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Asheville-Buncombe Rebuilding Together Grant Fund
For-profit businesses in Buncombe County and the city of Asheville are eligible to receive grants of up to $25,000 to support recovery expenses not covered by insurance or other funding sources.
Applications are open today through Nov. 27 and are also available in Spanish. Click here for the application.
There is no annual revenue threshold for this grant. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 200 employees and priority will be given to the most impacted areas and companies.
Applications for the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are open until this Sunday. $5,000 grants to 1,000 eligible small businesses across the Southeast are being distributed. Click here for the application.
Water distribution, laundry and showers at Community Care Stations. The community can get bottled water, showers, laundry, hot meals, and more at several locations. Our Community Care Stations are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Community Care locations are:
- At Home Store parking lot on Brevard Road
- Big Lots/Innsbrook mall
- Buncombe County Sports Park
- Bethel United Methodist
- Fairview Ingles
- Swannanoa Ingles
- Owen Pool
- Morgan Hill Baptist Church
Water and meals ready to eat are available at distribution sites daily at:
- Sky Lanes Bowling Alley
- Black Mountain Ingles
- Swannanoa Ingles
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
- Pack Square Park
- Buncombe County Sports Park
- Fairview Ingles at 225 Charlotte Highway