UPDATE 10/10/2024 - Transylvania County Unified Emergency Response to Hurricane Helene

Issued by:  Jaime Laughter, County Manager/Emergency Mgmt Public Information Officer

SPECIAL NOTE- NC Emergency Management and FEMA have notified of false information being spread on hurricane response on social media and this is happening locally as well.  Be advised to read releases provided from trusted sources carefully.

State EM has issued a state level fact v rumor info sheet: Hurricane Helene: Fact vs. Rumor | NC DPS

Emergency Services Update

• FEMA Individual Assistance teams have been door to door today helping those impacted from flooding and will continue tomorrow. FEMA Individual Assistance Representatives will join Habitat for Humanity for a FEMA application assistance clinic at the Rogow room in the library on October 11, 10 am-4 pm.  Free, walk up with no appointments required.
• Transylvania County continues to work with neighborhoods impacted by floodwaters to remove flood water contaminated household items and other flood debris with dumpster boxes placed to assist. 
• Solid waste is accepting natural vegetative storm debris at the landfill for free.  This includes trees, brush, etc.
• Transylvania County Solid waste is offering financial assistance for victims of Hurricane Helene with disposal fee waivers for building materials, clothing, furniture and other household items damaged by flood or trees.  The county is already working directly with impacted neighborhoods with centrally placed boxes, but anyone requiring a building damage assessment can also request a waiver for disposal fees by clicking on the following link:  https://forms.office.com/r/UFbEWSFtzE
• Regular household or business waste does not qualify for FEMA reimbursement or waiver of fees.  Solid waste convenience sites remain open with sticker fees for household trash and the landfill site is open for all other items.  The City of Brevard will resume normal trash pickup schedules this week.
• Shelters remain open at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Center and the Ag Center at the Asheville Airport operated by the Red Cross.  
• The Housing Assistance Corporation has been performing critical home repairs and creating safe, affordable workforce housing in WNC since 1988. They serve Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties. Housing Assistance plans to offer housing relief to those in our community who may not qualify for other services. To apply for assistance, please call 828-692-4744 ext. 107, or visit www.housing-assistance.com to complete an application in English or Spanish. If you can offer temporary housing for rent or for free, call 828-692-4744 ext 100 or email [email protected]. Contractors interested in working with Housing Assistance Corporation to rebuild our community can call 828-692-4744 ext 100 or email [email protected]. They pay market rates for contracted work.

Public Safety Update

• All law enforcement in the county has ID and badge with them.  If you have personnel arrive at your home, they can and will provide proper ID. 

Infrastructure Restoration

• Duke Power is reporting 496 customers in Transylvania still without power and Haywood electric reported 441 customers out in the county as of today.  The restoration map online is now updating, but may still have inaccuracies.  If your location is showing as having power and it does not, please report the outage again.  Both are working to restore power to those still without it by the end of the week. Thank you to all our linemen that have been working non-stop to restore power to our community.
• I-40 is closed toward Tennessee. I-26 is open toward Johnson City. NC 280 and US 64 are open.  See Off, Becky Mountain and lower end of East Fork at Rooster Cove is closed.  NCDOT planning to open 276 to traffic Thursday, 10-10. The Blue Ridge Parkway has announced they will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

County Services and Rebuilding After the Storm

• County Parks and Recreation remain closed due to the shelter operations. 
• City of Brevard has reopened their offices and is resuming regular trash pick up.  Please do not use dumpsters at businesses or commercial locations.
• Damage assessments have begun.   County Building Inspections is supporting the City of Brevard on damage assessments for properties damaged in the city.  An estimate of damage will be available later this week.  IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY:  If you have had flood damage that went over outlets, meter bases or other electrical components or other storm related damage including structural damage you will need to turn off the main breaker before power is restored to prevent a fire. Contact the County Building Department at 884-3209 if you have had any storm related damage so they can make sure your assessment is completed for FEMA. 
• FEMA staff have arrived and are working with County Emergency Management to establish services to citizens.  Disaster assistance for individuals will be visiting neighborhoods starting tomorrow morning. Our area has been declared a federal major disaster area.  Individuals and businesses can start processing requests for aid from FEMA’s website.  The county will share links to forms on the county social media.  There are additional resources for unemployment available under the declaration.  To apply for Disaster UI must apply through des.nc.gov or the DUA Hotline 919-629-3857, Deadline to apply is Dec 2, 2024, Visit des.nc.gov for FAQs and information on Disaster UI.
• Transylvania Public Health is offering free tetanus vaccines to disaster survivors and emergency response workers with puncture wounds, cuts, lacerations, or other skin injuries that can be contaminated with flood waters. Call 828-884-3135.
• Health department has information on well contamination due to floods, food and water safety and other flood related public health issues on their website. Public health and Anchor Baptist are working on support for testing and treatment for wells that have been flooded.

Schools

• Transylvania County Schools will be closed this week and expect to be open to students October 14.
• Childcare for ages 6-16 is being provided this week at 340 Greenville Highway next to the Boys and Girls Club thanks to Project:Camp. Lunch will be provided and service is from 9-3.  
• Blue Ridge Community College is closed this week and plans to open October 14. 

Resources lists for immediate and ongoing needs at www.transylvaniacounty.org and click on Disaster Resources