Buncombe County officials give update on Helene's impact in western NC
Right
Right
Ok
Uh Good morning
Uh My name is Stacey Wood
I'm Public information Officer for Buncombe County Government
Thank you for joining us for the September 29th hurricane
Helene Briefing
Um This is our 10 a.m. briefing
We'll be back again at 4 p.m. Today
Today we have um several partners from the community here
to provide updates
Uh We have County manager Pender Sheriff Miller and we
also have representatives from Swana Noa Black Mountain and Weaverville
So to get us started with the briefing we'll kind
of start with remarks from County manager Pender
Thank you
Good morning
It's Sunday morning and clear skies are going to help
our crews continue our intensive rescue and recovery operations through
mud slides flooded areas and stranded individuals
We are still not in a space where we can
do wellness checks
We are still trying to save every single person we
can
I've got representatives here from Weaverville Swanning on Black Mountain
to tell you more about efforts in those areas
From the northeast to the southeast parts of the county
that have been hardest hit
As a reminder Buncombe County government regular operations will be
closed Monday and Tuesday to focus on emergent res response
Buncombe County's courthouse will be closed on Monday
Our landfill will be open on Monday but anyone traveling
to the landfill must take caution
Alternate routes will be required as highway 251 is not
fully accessible
Unfortunately our transfer station at Hominy Creek has been compromised
and will be closed until further notice
We are working with ways bro to provide what residential
collection will look like but we don't have any information
about that at this time
Folks can we remind the Buncombe County Register has developed
a web a web based form to assist people in
finding and connecting with residents of Buncombe County County manager
Can we pause Would be www dot bun ready.org to
find that information are called 828
I think the line is gone
So we need to restart
Sorry we're gonna have to raise about um Steve
We're having some technical difficulties with our Facebook um feed
So we're gonna restart the briefing
Thank you
We get the good deal
You're doing so good for vengeance
Stand by
We are we are fixing some technical difficulties
Stand by please
RRR
32 good morning
Sorry for the good morning and sorry for the delay
We had some tech technical difficulties on our end
Um Today is September 29th
Thank you for joining us for the hurricane Helene uh
Buncombe County Briefing
We have several community partners here with us today
To provide updates from what they're seeing in their communities
Um We also have County Manager Avril Pender and Sheriff
Miller with us today as well
Um my name is Stacy Wood
I'm the public information officer for Bunkum County government
Um to get us started we'll uh start with remarks
from County manager Pender
Thank you
Good morning
Here
It's Sunday morning and clear skies are going to help
our crews continue our intense rescue and recovery operations through
mudslides flooded areas and stranded individuals
We're still not in a space where we can do
wellness checks
We're still trying to save every single person we can
I've got representatives here from Weaverville Swano and Black Mountain
to tell you more about efforts in those areas
From the northeast to the southeast parts of the county
that has been hardest hit
As a reminder Bunkum County government regular operations will be
closed Monday and Tuesday to focus on emergency operations
Buncombe County courthouse will be closed on Monday
Our landfill will be opened Monday but anyone traveling to
the landfill must take caution
Alternate routes will be required as highway 251 is now
is not fully accessible
Unfortunately our transfer station at Hominy Creek has been compromised
and will be closed until further notice
Yeah working with way bro to provide to determine what
residential collection will look like but we don't have any
information about that at this time as a reminder that
also a reminder that the Buncombe County Register has developed
a web-based form to assist people in finding and connecting
with residents of Buncombe County
Go to www dot bunkum ready.org www dot Buncombe ready.org
to find out information or call 828820262761
Again that number is 828 8202761
If you have found your loved one we also want
to know so we can update our records
We have more than 1000 reports
So far there are two shelters available at A B
tech one for the general population at the A B
tech conference center 16 Fernie Hurst Drive in Asheville 28801
That's Fernie Hurst F er Nihurst Ferns Drive in Asheville
Please use the Victoria Road entrance
We also have an Ame a medical emergency shelter for
individuals who are dependent on medical equipment requiring power that
is located at 10 Genovese Circle
That is Genevieve Genovese Circle in Asheville 28801
The shelter at the AG center is full
Please do not go there
We are working to set up food and water distribution
sites throughout the county
We share those as soon as they are available
We know individual organizations are providing support
We don't have a list of those but we know
that for Buncombe County to get through this we are
all going to need to lift each other up and
fill in those gaps as I mentioned today we have
representatives from Weaverville Black Mountain and Swana Noa to give
updates on the risk and recovery work in those spaces
So first I'll turn it over to Weaverville
Thank you Avril
I'm Patrick Fitzsimmons
Mayor of We will and I'm joined here by our
interim manager and fire chief Scotty Harris
Uh our fire department and public works department have been
on duty since Wednesday evening
And as a result most roads are now passable in
Weaverville but many remain partially blocked either by downed trees
or down C lines
So uh people can get around but we urge people
to take great caution and quite frankly stay off the
roads if at all possible
One of our biggest problems is our water plant was
flooded by 8 ft of water
So there is no water service in Weaverville or in
the areas around the city uh that are serviced by
our water plants
There's also unfortunately no commercial or retail water available at
this time in Weaverville
Um The good news is we have just been notified
The electricians are en route now to uh assess the
damage at the water plant and hopefully make uh some
solutions uh to our water problem
Uh Our as I said our public boards fire department
and police departments have been on duty uh since Wednesday
night and they performed 15 water rescues and evacuated a
few neighborhoods
There is no power in Weaverville anywhere
Um town offices are currently closed and will remain closed
until further notice
Uh The prescription pad pharmacy is uh is going to
be opening today though to make um available to people
who have immediate medical needs or medication needs available
So the prescription pad is open today until five pm
but through the drive-through
Thank you
Do you have any more to have gone Uh No
sir mayor I appreciate the um just the public's um
engagement through all this
I mean the public has been a tremendous asset
Um Our community partners as the county managers always put
out as one Bunkum
Um and as one community as well we've come together
from uni standpoint we've seen neighbors helping neighbors and we
appreciate that support that has allowed uh the fire service
and public work to get out and clear roads and
assist you as we come together in this community and
and face these challenges
They have we appreciate your support
Thank you
And we will turn it over to Swan and Noah
I wanna know
Are you on the call Yes good morning
Um We're out this morning with um doing some uh
search
OK
I'm I'm I'm I'm muted
Can't hear you
I'm sorry I I I'm talking it says I'm talking
I'm using the mic but I don't know what's going
on
Um While Chief Finland uh works on his audio we
will trans transition to Black Mountain Black Mountain
as you can imagine communications are very difficult in our
area right now
So we appreciate your patience
Black Mountain
Are you on the call Ok
Oh do we have Black Mountain Yeah this is Chief
panel
Can you hear me now Yeah
All right chief we're working
The group can hear the chief
We can't hear the chief is our current issue
Ok
That's the important part that the group is here Ir
And the water
What that now that hm this is Chief Pendley
Can you hear me Hey p we can hear you
loud and clear
It's great to hear you
Got you chief
So you came here
Yes
Go ahead Steve
Oh ok
Um I don't I only way to start is we've
been uh on duty here since since Wednesday um devastation
throughout the main part of Swan and uh parts
I'm sure it's the same way in the county
But uh what we're doing on car train on today
is sending crews up uh old 70 to uh do
some search and uh rescue efforts
Um but part of old 70 is is it's it's
not there anymore
Uh so that's what we've got
Uh we're working on that
We're trying to work on some places uh where we
know that some roads are out and trying to just
get up in there
We've got a task force team here helping us out
But um it is good to see people helping others
and that's gonna have to continue for us to get
get through this
We do have uh two private helicopters dropping uh food
Uh one at the Harley Davidson shop and one at
the uh First Status Church here by the fire department
I don't know if you could hear one just was
getting ready to come in
Now uh people are coming in and saying that you
know we've got equipment we've got track codes and all
that and we're um they they want to help
Thank you Chief
We appreciate you being on the call
Um One last call for Black Mountain
Are you with us Ok
So at this point we're going to transition to Sheriff
Miller for his remarks
Thank you yesterday we shared the this event that turned
fatal this morning
I can confirm that we have lost 10 of our
friends family and neighbors in this disaster
We will not be releasing names at this time without
more phone and internet access
We cannot share those names without being absolutely certain that
we've given their loved ones and this information our hearts
are broken with this news and we ask that folks
give our community the space and time to grieve this
incredible loss in closing
I will assure you we will continue to be here
for our community in this event as well as provide
our normal services as best we can to the Buncombe
County again
Um We must continue to uh through recovery
And if those numbers increase we'll provide that information as
soon as we possibly can
Thank you
Thank you Sharon Miller
Um With that we will open it up to um
questions from the media
You can either unmute yourself or you can type the
questions in the chat
Good morning everybody
Can you hear me Stacy Got you Kim
OK
First of all thank you all for being here today
We are working the best we can here at WL
Os
And I would ask all of you also to let
the community know that we are here working and we
can broadcast online at BL os.com and I encourage anyone
who wants to see what is going on in our
community to know that we have crews in the field
We will be coming uh Mr Pendle today and I'm
so sorry for the search and rescue to see you
in Swan
Know we have heard about the devastation and sheriff
Uh I'm very saddened to hear this that we have
lost 10 people
My first question to you is are these members of
law enforcement or are these members of our community And
where exactly in Buncombe County Do you know where these
losses have taken place These deaths The first I can
confirm that they are not law enforcement
And secondly I cannot tell you exactly the locations
This has been a challenge as you well know of
you know being out in so many different areas
So we're doing recovery throughout the entire county
And again we will give you that information as soon
as we have it
Do you have some type of idea Is this in
low lying areas Is this in the River Arts Uh
can you give the public and you know we've now
into this I think 72 hours
But again this time I cannot but I will tell
you that as soon as we have that because we
want to be absolutely certain when we report the loss
and give us the opportunity to notify the families
And then as soon as we get that done we
will notify the public
Thank you
Next question
Yes I'm Patricia Serrano from La Latino NSA
We are a Spanish media and I don't know if
I can ask my question in Spanish if there is
interpretation uh available
Uh But my question is I was trying to Patricia
stand by we're gonna bring an interpreter
It's OK
It's OK
I can I can make my question in English
No worries
Well you tell me you can tell me if you
can understand me we'll have a Spanish broadcast after this
We'll post that to our Facebook page
But if you can do English that'd be great
That's good to know because I I can like communicate
to the community that uh my question is uh as
you know there is a a big Latino community in
this area and there is people that don't speak English
there is people that maybe don't feel safe to go
to ask for help or go to shelter uh because
the migration situation
So I know we are like making effort now or
still saving life
My my question is are you in any way are
touching base with this community Most of us on the
trailer parks and what you know about that in Bong
County and in the area
So do you like to address We have been searching
all of bunk and clothing including trailer parks
We have been broadcasting in the Spanish broadcast and briefing
throughout the process
So we have been diligent in trying to reach out
to all of our community including our Latino friends and
families
But yes we have been searching every part of Bunkum
County
We have not excluded anyone and equities are not what
we do
We're trying to make sure we focus on equity as
well
So we have been very diligent in trying to reach
all of our community and Patricia as you might imagine
Um We've you know staff has been stretched um during
this response
Um What you see here is is happening minute to
minute and we have tried to do the best we
can with very limited resources and staffing
And just today our staff are starting to return um
into the EOC and um they are able to be
a bigger part of the coms response Um And we're
glad to see see some familiar faces around the EOC
today
Yeah thanks so much
Thank you
Let's see
We have some questions popping up in the chat
Have some of the resources reached us Where are food
and water being distributed And when might it be available
We have received some resources
The state has been very generous in sending to us
We have had a couple of helicopters that has been
able to drop some resources in the hardest hit areas
You heard Chief Pennant earlier said you could hear one
in the background coming into the Swan Noa area
We don't have the distribution sites yet for the water
and food distribution
The intent was to have that up sometime today
Our la our latest estimate of water getting here
We were told this morning that they're now on the
other side of Dae County coming on trying to get
up to Old Fort Mountain
So we intend to have some water services if you
will bear with us and be patient one more day
I hate to say that because I know how desperate
water is in our community but we are pushing as
hard as we can to get them up the mountain
Um Laura Hackett I see that you have a question
Would you like to unmute Yes hello
Um I'm just a little confused
When are the distribution spots for the food and water
going to be shared I feel like the timeline has
been moving on that
So is there a concrete date when we're gonna know
where those distributions stops are and how folks can get
you know food and water
Florida That's a great question to your point
It has been a moving target
It's been very frustrating for us as well
But we are we have been working with our state
senators with our state emergency management folks and they have
been pushing to get us water as soon as we
get water
We we've been identifying sites we've been identifying the staff
that could be working to help that water distribution go
as quickly as possible
We would get out to as many media partners as
we can so that that message can be broadcast
I appreciate Kim and I appreciate you guys being here
this morning to tell us that you can get this
message out for us
So as soon as we know the eta or of
the water getting in here or any food getting here
we would put that out
I hate to spit up some sites and people show
up and there's no product
So we've been pushing really hard to get the product
And as soon as we have a a time that
product is gonna be here we can announce and people
can start lining up
Awesome
Thank you Avril
And just to follow up what specifically is the hold
up in getting water here I think it has been
the transportation the roads to get here
The state did release water
We were told there's gonna be several tractor trailer loads
of water coming into our community
So the the tractor trailer themselves I think getting up
old for it and getting that one I 26 and
every other way they can get here has been the
biggest hold up one more follow up
Do we not have any existing water supplies on hand
We do and it's actually on the other side of
the river in Swan Noa
So that has been cut off for us as well
Thank you
Ok
Just one more follow up
Appreciate all you're doing
Um We just wanted to get a little more clarification
on what specifically is wrong with the water system in
Asheville
So what what has broken the line Like what's kind
of the what's the extent of the damage Maybe that's
more of an Asheville question but wanted to ask that
Thank you
That's Asheville
And we would we would try to get that answer
for you today
Wendy was on yesterday
He told you that they lost some of the lines
but we would try to get a more definitive answer
from Asheville for you
Ok thank you
Thanks Laura
Um just to clarification is the 10 confirmed fatalities figure
county wide
In other words does it include municipalities in the county
It's county wide this time and again um is that
number increased we'll be back to inform you
And again I'm just asking that we be respectful to
giving us the opportunity to notify families
I have no problems with not giving you the number
count but the names and giving us the opportunity to
contact those family members and to um you know and
their friends
So we just ask that we please be a little
patient and give us the opportunity to not about the
families
Um How is the county coordinating with Fe Ma and
their relief efforts Where is F MA working in the
county Yeah the order is we go through state emergency
first there are some federal crews coming in but we
coordinate through the state and then the state brings those
resources to our community
So we are very the state has been 100% with
us since Wednesday
The state has been here and the state has they
would contact the federals and they would contact and tell
us who and where to put those
So everything is connected through the A OC and the
state
So I can't tell you specifically where crews are working
It is all connected together
Another clarification request on the death toll
The state has reported 10 fatalities as well
Do you know how many of the Balham County deaths
are included in the state Total I do not I
don't know
to what extent are there Areas of the county that
emergency workers have been unable to reach so far
Are there many people who can't leave their homes I
was just simply tell you there are areas in the
county that we have been unable to reach
Um we're doing the best we can as far as
you know getting there
And also just to ask the community if they have
contact with some of the people we can't to utilize
the county services to reach out and get that information
to us
But again I know that communication is challenging at this
time
But again I I really uh ask that we continue
to work together to get through this disaster
And um I just wanted to ask you a question
There are still areas that we have not been to
get been able to get to
and the county recommend any specific places where residents without
water and access of at this time
We're not aware of any at this time
That's why we're really pushing the state to get that
water here
We cannot confirm any specific access points for LA at
this time
Laura we cannot confirm that either
Laura we do not know of any nonprofits with water
No the one nonprofit that we've been working with is
on the other side of just Wanto River
And that's that's the local source that we have
just confirming
The county has received more than 1000 reports of missing
people
We know that that's a duplicate number
That's what has come into our website that we set
up with the registered yesterday
Um that people have not heard from I don't know
if they're missing but that's what people have not heard
from them yet
And due to cell service and internet that number as
soon as we get cell phone on I believe that
that number would come down
And just as a reminder you can find that link
to the form and the phone number at Bunkum ready.org
a question from Patricia knowing that so many people do
not have access to internet phone or even radio
Are there any plans to distribute written information about water
food et cetera Great idea
And I can confirm Patricia that when those sites open
coms are already ready and we will be pushing that
information out in every single corner of Buck County that
we can get to in various formats
Thank you for the question
Are there any additional questions
uh as a reminder for our operational our our rhythm
here with media briefings we'll be back again at 4
p.m. We will continue this uh cadence uh for as
long as it takes to get information out to our
community 10 a.m. four PM
And we will also be issuing um press releases throughout
the day as developments occur
Um We will also be like um broadcasting a Spanish
version of this briefing um on our Facebook page
So check back later um after we're able to complete
that package and push it through our Facebook page as
well
Um I want I wanna add that we're also utilizing
hand radios and they would have this briefing and they
would also put a note on hand radio as well
So as any communication tool that we have available we've
been working to use that
I have a just a final question if I can
Stacy go ahead Kim
Um Forgive me if this has already been answered how
are we going to see the National Guard here What
is your expectation for federal assistance I understand that you
have to go through the chain of command but we
are on the ground
People are extremely nervous
There are lines for miles for gasoline
When is the time that the call is made by
the governor or by you guys at the county level
to ask and have that happen That question that we've
already asked for National Guards and they're already here in
our community
We've actually on our call yesterday we shared at the
National Guard we're using local National Guards headquartered here and
we're also bringing in a National Guard
So the governor has already authorized and we've already asked
for National Guard troops in our community
They've been they had been doing more civil work as
far as getting getting resources out helping to cut trees
and clear roads
So those have been but they've been here working the
whole time
Kim thank you for the question
Um are you worried at all about these lines with
the gas I I've just we came into where the
TV station is on the south side and I saw
some arguments breaking out what get what happens and uh
maybe sheriff or or someone with law enforcement and you
Avril can tell us what happens as tensions continue to
rise for the demand for basic goods
And one I will tell you that we were now
look at posting deputies at those sites just to ensure
the you know people being remain civil
But as the power comes back to you're seeing more
and more more and more stores are being open and
facilities are opening
So yes but we have been talking this morning around
those crowds that now that stores are coming up their
lines going up and we are talking about how do
we start to send more troops or more law enforcement
to help patrol that situation But yes Kim that is
on our docket for the day as well
Thank you
Um Well since Kim got to ask an extra question
um what we'll just ask Mark's question here
Um What are your folks hearing from NC dot About
interstate access I I 26 towards Breer in South Carolina
was open yesterday and um they're working on these the
other side of I 26 they get that open towards
the Tennessee border and I 40 is proven to be
much more difficult but there's one lane for emergency crews
to come through I 40 to get here to the
mountains to bring those supplies
And they're not opening up I 40 broadly until they
can do a full assessment
But there's one tiny lane that they have opened on
I 40
So we can get access to services and supplies coming
up the mountain
Do we have any idea Have they communicated any timelines
for opening 4026 to Tennessee They have not the priority
has been to get supplies here
Ok
All right
We are officially ending the 10 a.m. ok one more
for Chief Pendle since he is on the call and
has made some time to speak with us today
We wanted to bring our communities to this briefing because
we've heard you we see your comments and we understand
that you want updates from Swan and no of Black
Mountain Weaverville
And so that's why we have these reps here
And so Chief Pendle there's a comment in the chat
here
A question for you
Chief Pendle
Could you elaborate more on what you're seeing in Swana
Noa and any additional details about search and rescue Yeah
What what I'm seeing is the main part of Swan
and no around the old Beacon Eye is completely devastated
The bridge is uh the main bridge is it will
have to be repaired
The old highway 70 is gone
Highway 70 businesses are they're they're almost in in what's
left of of the river
Uh The thing will have to be replaced
The road is is gonna have to be probably dug
up and redone
Um That's just that's just what we can see right
here in front of us
Uh through our search and rescue efforts we've had you
know complete neighborhoods that are are no longer there
Um So we're just trying now to go to where
these neighborhoods used to work and just try to do
do some search and rescue in some of the houses
that did are still there or if they did move
another place we're just trying to go into them and
just do a search and rescue
Thank you Chief
OK
And thanks to our media partners for being on this
call and for helping us share information
You've been great throughout this whole response
And again we are trying as hard as we can
to keep you updated
We'll be back 4 p.m. today
Um Same time I mean same Avenue Facebook Live
Um And we'll see you then and thanks to all
the partners on the call today
Thanks for honey