New PPDR Intake Center, USACE Storm Debris Updates, & Issue Tracker Form Launch

Private Property Debris Removal Program 
A new intake center for the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program is now open at the Black Mountain Library, Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This program is for homeowners who cannot take their debris to the right of way (ROW) for pickup and who do not have debris removal insurance or have inadequate debris removal insurance. More than 1,200 applications have been submitted and property inspections for debris have started. 

Residents able to move storm debris to the ROW are encouraged to do so, ensuring items are separated and placed within 10 feet of the ROW but clear of overhead lines. Crews have already removed 476,289 cubic yards of debris in Buncombe County, Black Mountain, and the City of Asheville combined.  

U.S. Corps of Engineers Updates 
The U.S. Corps of Engineers is in the region providing assistance including public right-of-way debris pick up. USACE is tasked with removing 1.5 million of storm-related debris from several counties, cities and Lake Lure. As of today, Dec. 12, USACE has removed about 594,000 cubic yards of debris and 24,000 tons of soil. Removing debris from Western North Carolina is especially difficult due to the mountainous terrain. “Just getting to these places is harder, it takes more time,” David Connolly with the Wilmington District Corps of Engineers said during Thursday’s community briefing. 

Debris removal at the waterways is an even more complicated task. The process for this includes USACE being tasked for the waterway debris removal from FEMA, USACE then receives applications for this removal, conducts reconnaissance of the sites to define where the waterway begins and ends, and obtains right of entry. The waterway debris removal work at Lake Lure has a completion date of at least April. There is currently no timeline for debris removal at waterways in Buncombe County. 

USACE is also working on projects at the North Fork Reservoir and the Bee Tree Reservoir for water treatment and with UNC Asheville on a reverse osmosis project. 

Code Purple Emergency Shelter in Effect 
Due to cold weather, Code Purple is active through Friday, December 13. This initiative provides overflow shelter with fewer barriers to access for individuals experiencing homelessness. Participating shelters will increase capacity during this period. 

Issue Tracker for Solid Waste 
Buncombe County has launched a form where County residents can submit concerns related to the transition from Waste Pro to FCC Environmental Services as well as report any hot spots of debris in the public right-of-way that may be causing public safety risks. Residents can use this form as follows: 

• Residents in unincorporated areas of Buncombe County who have previously tried to contact FCC and/or Waste Pro and still have outstanding issues. 
• Residents can also use this form to report right-of-way debris piles that are posing public safety risks. Please note: This is to report public right-of-way debris located in unincorporated Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Town of Black Mountain and must be in the public right-of-way. This is not for private property debris removal. 

The Solid Waste Department will use the information provided to triage and respond to issues appropriately.   

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Extended 
The North Carolina Department of Commerce has extended Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) application deadlines to January 7, 2025. If Hurricane Helene disrupted your employment, you may qualify. Visit des.nc.gov/dua or call the DUA hotline at 919-629-3857 (English) or 919-276-5698 (Spanish) for more information. 

FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadlines and Resources 
The deadline to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance is also January 7. Visit disasterassistance.gov or the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Asheville Mall. A Mobile Disaster Recovery Center is available today and tomorrow at Weaverville Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

FEMA may provide funding for repairs on private roads and bridges. For more information, residents can call 800-621-3362. Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) remains available for disaster survivors whose homes are uninhabitable or inaccessible. 

Grant Opportunities 
Two recovery-related programs are currently open in Buncombe County: 

• Helene Recovery Housing Assistance Grant: Provides up to three months of support for rent, mortgage, or utility bills. Applications close December 18 at 5 p.m. at buncombecounty.org. 
• USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program: Offers assistance for debris-clogged waterways, erosion, and other safety risks. Apply via the County’s Property Damage Form at buncombecounty.org.

Community Care Stations 
Community Care Stations offering showers, laundry, bottled water, and more, remain open in highly impacted areas everyday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at: 

• Morgan Hill Baptist Church 
• Bethel United Methodist Church 
• Owen Pool 
• Fairview Ingles by Reynolds High School 

Residents with Helene-related or FCC transition questions or who would like to apply for the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program or report their property damages to the County can contact the One Buncombe Call Center at 828-250-6100, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.