Emergency Shelters
During extreme winter storms or flood events,
HHS
works with the Red Cross to open shelters in impacted areas of our community where needs are identified. The shelters are staffed by social work, economic services, and public health workers to ensure that the basic life safety needs of those impacted are met with an experienced and knowledgeable human services worker. To find out when a shelter opens near you be sure to follow Buncombe County Government and HHS on Facebook, sign up for BCAlert, or call 2-1-1.
Immunizations & Mass Medication Distribution
Vaccinations are a critical aspect of community preparedness. Preventable diseases like Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Hepatitis, and Meningitis are still prevalent today. Be as safe as possible by getting yourself and your family fully immunized. Talk to your doctor or call the Immunization Clinic at (828) 250-5096.
In the event of a massive outbreak of a dangerous and contagious illness,
HHS
would work with community partners to stand up Point of Dispensing (POD) sites to provide protective medication to our community.
POD
exercises are conducted yearly to test and improve this important response event.
Boil Water Advisories
Residents who use a municipal water supply should contact their water provider for details regarding any boil water advisories. If you are in Buncombe County or the City of Asheville and you do not use a private well system for your water source, visit the City of Asheville’s water advisory alert page for scheduled outages and boil water advisories. You can also sign up for AVL Alerts to receive boil water advisories via text.
Residential, Business, and Special Events
When addressing the impacts of flooding, residents and businesses should be aware of the dangerous health impacts of flooding. Floodwaters can impact septic and well systems, exposing the public to infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries both during and after a weather event. Proper assessment of wells and septic systems as well as cleaning and moisture removal remain key to eliminating threats to the public’s health. Please reference ‘What to Do After the Flood' by the EPA to learn more about considerations for well and pump safety after a flood event.
Power outages can also create food safety issues for homes and businesses. When the refrigerator goes out and you are concerned about food safety, you can reference the Environmental Health Preparedness Manual to learn more about food safety before, during, and after a weather event.
Businesses and special events can use the Buncombe County Inclement Weather Plan of Action as a reference guide in the event of adverse weather. You can also contact Environmental Health at (828) 250-5016 for assistance with food safety concerns.
Recreational Water Use Advisories and Communications
HHS
works with partner agencies to issue recreational water use advisories when a spill event has occurred. The impacted area will be posted with signage and press releases will be issued. We also partner with local businesses and media to spread the word about potential hazards of spills and advisories. Sign up for BCAlert to receive recreational water use advisories.