{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-30", "Hurricane recovery update #30", "2024-11-04", "2024", "2024-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Chuck Edwards", "E000246", "edwards.house.gov", "edwards", "https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 4, 2024\n\nDear Friend,\n\nHurricane Helene has interrupted many things in our communities over the past few weeks: water service, internet access and the ability to work from home, and the school calendar, to name a few; but one thing that is continuing without delay is the 2024 general election.\n\nTomorrow is Election Day and voting is the fundamental basis that makes our country a democracy. Casting your vote gives you an opportunity to make sure your views and concerns are reflected in the representation that you elect. It is often referred to as your civic duty, but in the wake of Hurricane Helene, it is much more than that.\n\nYour vote will directly impact the support our mountains receive in the coming months and years as we recover from Helene\u2019s destruction. I encourage each and every one of you to make sure your voice is heard in this year\u2019s election.\n\nDue to hurricane damage, some voting sites have changed. If you\u2019re unsure where your Election Day polling place is located, you can visit this link and input your address to find where to vote. Please note that voting on Election Day is not the same as early voting. You cannot go to any voting site in your county. You must go to your assigned polling place.\n\nFor the love of democracy, get out and vote.\n\nThis week\u2019s update includes a new Disaster Recovery Center in Polk County, waived NC DMV fees and late fees, the new contract issued for permanent repairs to I-40, information related to the status of the Barnardsville Post Office, how to request proof of power outage for insurance companies, account credits for Spectrum customers, Frontier Communications restoration timelines for customers in Marshall and Micaville, and additional open dates for two temporary Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Centers.\n\nToday is update number 30, with more information to follow in the coming weeks. As always, please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.\n\nIndex\n\nClick the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update.\n\nFEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites\n\nLegislative Support\n\nHousing/Individual Assistance Updates\n\nFood and Water\n\nBuncombe County\n\nHaywood County\n\nHenderson County\n\nJackson County\n\nMadison County\n\nMcDowell County\n\nPolk County\n\nRutherford County\n\nTransylvania County\n\nYancey County\n\nTrash Services and Debris Removal\n\nBuncombe\n\nHaywood\n\nHenderson\n\nMadison\n\nMcDowell\n\nPolk\n\nRutherford\n\nTransylvania\n\nYancey\n\nVoter Information\n\nUnited States Postal Service/Mail Services\n\nPharmacy Access\n\nOpen Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services\n\nDialysis Locations\n\nOxygen Locations\n\nResources for Veterans\n\nResources for Farmers\n\nPower\n\nRoads\n\nInternet Access\n\nCell Service\n\nNorth Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense\n\nAsheville Regional Airport\n\nFederal Nutrition Programs\n\nFor NC-11 Medical Providers\n\nFor Local Government Resource Requests\n\nFor Individual Assistance through FEMA\n\nTo Connect with a Loved One\n\nResources for Utility & Other Status Updates\n\nFree Legal Assistance\n\nIRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene\n\nShelters\n\nBuncombe County\n\nHaywood County\n\nHenderson County\n\nMadison County\n\nMcDowell County\n\nRutherford County\n\nTransylvania County\n\nYancey County\n\nCarolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours\n\nFEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites\n\nThe following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene.\n\nBuncombe County - TEMPORARY LOCATIONS\n\nSwannanoa Fire Rescue - Bee Tree Fire Sub Station\n\n510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa, NC 28778\n\nOpen November 2-5 and 11-14, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nBuncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot)\n\n58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nOpen November 6-9 and 15-18, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nBuncombe County - PERMANENT LOCATION\n\nCane Creek Pool\n\n590 Lower Brush Creek Rd., Fairview, NC 28730\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nHaywood County\n\nRegional High Technical Center\n\n112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nHenderson County\n\n2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nJackson County Annex Building\n\n198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nMadison County\n\nMadison County Public Library - Marshall Branch\n\n1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nMcDowell County\n\nA.C. \u201cBud\u201d Hogan Community Center\n\n909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nCounty Senior Center\n\n100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nPolk County\n\nPolk County Recreation Complex (Parking Lot)\n\n235 Wolverine Trl., Mill Spring, NC 28756\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nRutherford County\n\nMountains Branch Library\n\n150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nSwain County\n\nSwain County Technology & Training Center\n\n45 East Ridge Dr., Bryson City, NC 28713\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nTransylvania County: Community Services Building\n\n106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nYancey County\n\nCounty Annex Facility\n\n677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nA Disaster Recovery Center is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster loans, etc.\n\nAdditional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them.\n\nDisaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are also stationed across NC-11 to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.\n\nLegislative Support\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November.\n\nI have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina\u2019s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months.\n\nThe North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed a second round of disaster relief on October 24, known as the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 Part II.\n\nState legislators have stated that this package is still preliminary support, and more will be on the way in another session on November 19, 2024.\n\nThis bill adds another $604 million from the state\u2019s Savings Reserve Fund to the Hurricane Helene Fund. Below lays out where the funds are going and shares a summary of what some of the funds will be used for.\n\n$16.7 million for the North Carolina Community College System\n\n$5 million for a grant program to cover tuition and fees for eligible students at impacted community colleges in WNC for the spring semester.\n\n$10.5 million for an emergency grant program to support students who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene.\n\nStudents will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15.\n\nThe funds must be used on expenses that support a student\u2019s continued enrollment.\n\n$65 million for the Department of Public Instruction\n\n$5 million to increase mental health services to students, families, and school personnel in WNC.\n\nExpands school flexibility by excusing an additional 20 days of missed instruction time due to school closures from Hurricane Helene.\n\n$20 million for the University of North Carolina\n\n$5.5 million to establish a grant program to cover tuition for eligible in-state students at UNC Asheville in the spring semester.\n\n$5 million for an emergency grant program to support students in the UNC system who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene.\n\nStudents will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15.\n\nThe funds must be used on expenses that support a student\u2019s continued enrollment.\n\n$1 million for the same emergency grant program for students at private universities in WNC who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene.\n\nStudents will be eligible for up to $2,500 and the UNC system must start taking applications by November 15.\n\nThe funds must be used on expenses that support a student\u2019s continued enrollment.\n\n$71.4 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services\n\n$1 million to local social services offices for rental assistance.\n\n$56 million to the Department of Commerce\n\n$50 million to Golden LEAF to administer a bridge loan program to qualifying businesses suffering economic distress due to Helene.\n\n$139 million to the Department of Environmental Quality\n\n$100 million to establish an emergency bridge loan program for water infrastructure.\n\n$22 million to establish an emergency infrastructure bridge loan program for commercial underground storage tanks.\n\n$130 million to the Department of Public Safety\n\n$106 million to general government, including the Office of State Budget and Management and the Treasurer.\n\n$100 million to the Local Government Commission to provide cash flow loans to local governments in affected areas.\n\nThe North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024.\n\nThis bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state\u2019s Savings Reserve Fund.\n\n$250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state\u2019s match to federal disaster relief funds.\n\nAnother portion of the funds will be used to establish a revolving loan program to help local government and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for reimbursement from the federal government.\n\n$16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for \u201clost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene\u201d\n\n$2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds.\n\n$5 million to the State Board of Elections, alongside a variety of temporary election law changes such as changing polling sites that were rendered unusable by the storm and establishing a voter hotline, to make it easier for residents of Western North Carolina to vote.\n\nThe bill also:\n\nGrants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed.\n\nIt also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days.\n\nWaives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver\u2019s license, ID card, etc.\n\nWaives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs.\n\nThis provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment.\n\nHousing/Individual Assistance Updates\n\nMore than 243,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA.\n\nThe Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 8,931 individuals\n\nFEMA has distributed more than $203 million in housing assistance to more than 122,000 Western North Carolina households.\n\nFEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors.\n\nInterested WNC property owner or management companies should reach out to FEMA on or before 5:00 p.m. EST, Nov. 6, 2024, via email to fema-direct_lease_dr4827nc@fema.dhs.gov.\n\nThe email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC\n\nFEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors\n\nInterested property owner or management companies should reach out to FEMA no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, Nov. 6, 2024, via email to fema-mlr_dr4827nc@fema.dhs.gov.\n\nThe email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC\n\nHow to avoid scams during the assistance application process:\n\nHomeowners and renters who applied for FEMA disaster assistance in WNC should be aware that FEMA representatives may call from unfamiliar area codes and phone numbers that could show as SPAM or no caller ID.\n\nIt is important to answer the call, but always be alert to these illegitimate practices:\n\nA FEMA inspector calls, and you did not submit a FEMA application.\n\nA FEMA inspector asks for your banking information.\n\nFEMA inspectors are NEVER authorized to collect your personal financial information.\n\nA payment is requested from someone who says they are from FEMA.\n\nFEMA will never request payment.\n\nA FEMA inspector calls and asks for your personally identifiable information such as your social security number.\n\nIf any of these things happen to you, or you receive a call from someone saying they are a FEMA representative and you aren\u2019t sure, call the FEMA Helpline to report the incident.\n\nFEMA Helpline: (800) 621-3362\n\nIf you believe you are the victim of a scam related to the Helene response, you should file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Justice by:\n\nVisiting ncdoj.gov/complaint; or,\n\nCalling toll-free at 877-566-7226.\n\nFood and Water\n\nFree drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department.\n\nJust contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit.\n\nThe department will provide you with an empty bottle along with instructions to collect a drinking water sample and where to drop it off for analysis.\n\nIf you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family.\n\nThe Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments.\n\nContact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit.\n\nNCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts:\n\nPublic Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here.\n\nDEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here.\n\nBuncombe County\n\nBuncombe County has water distribution at multiple sites. Each will be available daily from 12:00-4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Please bring your own container.\n\nBuncombe County Sports Park Complex\n\n58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nBlack Mountain Ingles\n\n550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711\n\nLinwood Crump Shiloh Community Center\n\n121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nPack Square Park\n\n80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nSky Lanes Bowling Alley\n\n1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nDaily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nSwannanoa Ingles\n\n2299 US-70, Swannanoa, NC 28778\n\nDaily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nFairview Ingles\n\n225 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28803\n\nThe following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities:\n\nBiltmore Baptist Church\n\n35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704\n\nDistribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members\n\nSaturday hours: 10:00 a.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m.\n\nCommunity drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies\n\nSaturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m.\n\nFirst Baptist Church \u2013 Weaverville\n\n63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787\n\nHot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.\n\nUnlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container.\n\nSupplies and bottled water.\n\nHot lunch served at 1:30 p.m.\n\nFellowship Asheville\n\n756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803\n\nDaily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday\n\nWest Asheville Baptist Church\n\n926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday\n\nSaint Mary Margaret Catholic Church\n\n102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778\n\nDaily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday\n\nSaturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m.\n\nPlease note: This location is not open during mass.\n\nHot meals are available at the following locations:\n\nWorld Central Kitchen at Ben's Tune Up\n\n195 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801\n\nServes 25,000 hot meals a day.\n\nDaily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.\n\nShiloh Community Center\n\n121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nGrovemont Park\n\n251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nWesley Grant Community Center\n\n285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nWest Asheville Ingles\n\n669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nDaily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m.\n\nNesbitt Chapel\n\n12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730\n\nDaily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m.\n\nGroce United Methodist Church \u2013 also distributing essential supplies\n\n954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805\n\nDaily hours M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nA Community Care Station is available at the following location:\n\n2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778\n\nDaily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.\n\nHot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nCommunity Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling.\n\nHaywood County\n\nThe following locations are providing community members with essential resources such as but not limited to, food, water, cleaning products, baby formula, and pet food, Monday through Fridays:\n\nFines Creek Community Center\n\n190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721\n\nOpen every day until 6:00 p.m.\n\nPigeon Community Center\n\n450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nAlso offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m.\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nCruso Community Center\n\n13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716\n\nDaily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nFirst United Methodist Church\n\n566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nIncludes shower access.\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.\n\nMaggie Valley Pavilion\n\n3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)\n\nWoodland Baptist Church\n\n545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.\n\nNew Covenant Church\n\n767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nIP Sportsplex\n\n305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nBethel Elementary School\n\n4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.\n\nJonathan Valley Elementary School\n\n410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.\n\nMonday through Friday\n\nSt. Barnabas Catholic Church\n\n109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704\n\nDaily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nReynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center\n\n520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803\n\nDaily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.\n\nThis location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill.\n\nMountain Projects\n\n2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nThe Community Kitchen\n\n288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.\n\nHaywood Christian Ministry\n\n150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)\n\nThe following location offers hot meals daily:\n\nMaggie Valley Fire Department\n\n2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751\n\nJukebox Junction\n\n3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nThe following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:\n\nCalvary Baptist Church\n\n2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751\n\nThe following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock:\n\nWNC Regional Livestock Center\n\n474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716\n\nHenderson County\n\nHenderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.\n\n118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nEach family unit will be provided supplies for one day\u2019s meal and water as available.\n\nIndividuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process.\n\nJackson County\n\nIn partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County:\n\nThe Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location:\n\n558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717\n\nThe Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location:\n\n149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783\n\nThe following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need:\n\nMountain Projects\n\n154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779\n\nUnited Christian Ministries\n\n191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779\n\nSt. Mary\u2019s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva\n\n22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.\n\nCornbread and Roses\n\n1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779\n\nDaily hours:\n\nWednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.\n\nThursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nSunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nMadison County\n\nThe following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County:\n\nBeech Glen Community Center\n\n2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754\n\nDaily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.\n\nCenter Community Center\n\n1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nEbbs Chapel Community Center\n\n281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nEnon Baptist Church\n\n174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nOpen Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m.\n\nFreedom Christian Church\n\n7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nThis location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc.\n\nLaurel Community Center - also has supplies\n\n4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily Hours: 8:00 a.m. \u2013 8:00 p.m.\n\nRevere-Rice Community Center\n\n3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat)\n\nSpring Creek Community Center\n\n13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743\n\nDaily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nThis location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay.\n\nWalnut Community Center - also has supplies\n\n46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.\n\nN.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center\n\n258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nThis location is offering drive-thru food distribution only.\n\nLittle Ivy Baptist Church\n\n1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nMcDowell County\n\nMcDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily.\n\nDistribution takes place daily at the following locations:\n\nTom Johnson\u2019s Camping Center\n\n348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nWeekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nCherry Springs\n\n6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762\n\nDaily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m.\n\nCamp Grier\n\n985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m.\n\nRestoration Church\n\n2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nCentro Unido Latino Americano\n\n79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nFirst Baptist Church of Old Fort\n\n203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762\n\nDaily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday\n\nNew Manna Baptist Church\n\n225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.\n\nHot meals are also being provided at the following location:\n\nGrace Community Church\n\n5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752\n\nLunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.\n\nDinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m.\n\nFirst Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices.\n\nCurrent hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday.\n\nPolk County\n\nThe following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.:\n\nMill Spring/Green Creek Community\n\n25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756\n\nColumbus Community\n\n95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722\n\nSaluda Community Bus Parking Lot\n\n214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773\n\nTryon Community\n\n301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782\n\nSunny View\n\n86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756\n\nThe following locations are serving hot meals daily:\n\nTryon Equestrian Center\n\n4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nRoseland Community Center\n\n56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.\n\nRutherford County\n\nThe following two centralized distribution center locations are open from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. for citizens to get food and emergency supplies:\n\nThe Green Space\n\n658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746\n\nWarehouse #7\n\n214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043\n\nTransylvania County\n\nThe following location is providing hot meals to county residents:\n\nBalsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored\n\n8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708\n\nDaily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nBottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at:\n\n3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768\n\nWater filling stations can be found at the following locations:\n\nCity Sports Complex\n\n824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.\n\nRocky\u2019s Grill & Soda Shop\n\n50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nNo posted daily hours\n\nCedar Mountain Outpost\n\n8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nNo posted daily hours.\n\nDD Bullwinkles\n\n60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nNo posted daily hours.\n\nFirst United Methodist Church\n\n325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.\n\nPisgah Forest Baptist Church\n\n494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.\n\nFood, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations:\n\nAnchor Baptist Church\n\n3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nZion Baptist Church\n\n423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772\n\nNo daily hours posted\n\nGrace Brevard\n\n55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m.\n\nMary C. Jenkins Community Center\n\n221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday\n\nYancey County\n\nYancey County has one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address:\n\nFormer Fred\u2019s Store\n\n677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nMobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address:\n\n631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nTrash Services and Debris Removal\n\nAll counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination.\n\nRecycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties:\n\nBuncombe\n\nClay\n\nGraham\n\nHaywood\n\nHenderson\n\nJackson\n\nMacon\n\nMadison\n\nPolk\n\nRutherford\n\nYancey\n\nSome communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection.\n\nIf that is the case for your community, Curbside Management has a drop-off site available for residents who wish to bring their recycling to the following location:\n\n116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804\n\nIf your home has damage and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.\n\nIf Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it.\n\nThis is critically important in getting reimbursed.\n\nTake photos before you begin cleaning up.\n\nMake a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts.\n\nDoing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated.\n\nBefore you start the clean-up process, remember:\n\nWear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes.\n\nStay off damaged structures.\n\nBe aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present.\n\nCall your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials.\n\nIf you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne.\n\nTo reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris.\n\nEmergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires.\n\nPlease discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup.\n\nDebris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property.\n\nPlease place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier.\n\nContact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county.\n\nAdditionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste.\n\nBuncombe\n\nCurbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers.\n\nStorm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County.\n\nSeparate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type:\n\nAppliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics.\n\nDebris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process.\n\nResidents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris.\n\nTrash pickup has resumed on the regular schedule for customers in Black Mountain.\n\nWaste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers.\n\nHaywood\n\nHousehold waste will be accepted at the Materials Recovery Facility at 247 Recycle Rd., Clyde and at Convenience Centers at Jonathan Creek, Beaverdam, Bethel, Hazelwood, Mauney Cove, Jones Cove and Highway 110.\n\nWhite Oak Landfill has reopened.\n\nHenderson\n\nHenderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees.\n\nHenderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service.\n\nThe county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property.\n\nStorm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc.\n\nPlease be patient.\n\nThe county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible.\n\nMadison\n\nThe Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY:\n\nMonday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nWednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.\n\nFriday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.\n\nSaturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nHot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual.\n\nPlease only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself.\n\nThe pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time.\n\nMcDowell\n\nMcDowell County has hired private contractors to facilitate storm debris pickup from public right of ways in the Town of Old Fort, City of Marion, and along state secondary roads in the county.\n\nResidents are asked to separate debris into the following categories:\n\nLarge appliances\n\nConstruction debris\n\nVegetative debris\n\nHazardous waste\n\nElectronics\n\nHousehold waste\n\nPolk\n\nThe Polk County landfill is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.\n\n322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756\n\nDrop-off of residential trash is $10.\n\nGFL trash services will continue the regular schedule.\n\nThe County has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support residents with storm-related debris removal.\n\nCleanup crews are actively collecting debris across the county and transporting it to an approved temporary site on Wolverine Trial in Mill Spring, on Polk County-owned property.\n\nTo ensure smooth and efficient removal:\n\nDebris should be placed within 10 feet of the road.\n\nVegetative debris must be in manageable piles.\n\nLogs can have a maximum length of 15 feet.\n\nDebris should be separated into five categories:\n\nVegetative - Tree branches, leaves, log, branches.\n\nConstruction - Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, plumbing.\n\nLarge Appliances - Refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, and dishwashers.\n\nPlease DO NOT leave doors unsealed or unsecured.\n\nElectronics - Television, computer, stereo, phones, DVD players, etc.\n\nHazardous Waste - Oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas.\n\nDocument the clean-up process with photos before and after debris removal.\n\nRutherford\n\nThe county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads.\n\nResidents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road\u2019s right-of-way.\n\nCut large debris into four to six ft. sections.\n\nThe Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours.\n\nTransylvania\n\nThe City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup.\n\nThe county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free.\n\nYancey\n\nThe Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations.\n\nDaily hours: 7:00 a.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday\n\nThe Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene.\n\n555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday)\n\nResidents should sort storm debris from regular household waste.\n\nHazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste.\n\nVoter Information\n\nThe Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote.\n\nThe site identifies and provides links to various state changes made to accommodate displaced voters and information for folks who have lost their ID cards, had polling sites moved or who are unsure where or how they can vote.\n\nYou can access the website via this link.\n\nTomorrow is Election Day.\n\nYou can use this link to find your polling place.\n\nPlease note: You must vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day.\n\nUnited States Postal Service/Mail Services\n\nMy office has heard concerns related to the Barnardsville Post Office being closed.\n\nThe facility has been deemed unsafe for occupancy until all necessary repairs are completed and the facility has passed the required inspections.\n\nUSPS is dedicated to reopening the facility as soon as possible and I am working with them to make sure there are no unnecessary delays.\n\nRetail services are still being provided via a Mobile Retail Unit that is located on-site.\n\nDelivery operations remain temporarily transferred to the Weaverville Post Office and reliable mail delivery is continuing as it would if delivery were taking place through the Barnardsville location.\n\nSocial Security and FEMA checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up.\n\nFor impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com.\n\nMost USPS offices have reopened under normal operations.\n\nSunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible.\n\nOnly 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed.\n\nOnly one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755.\n\nUSPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices.\n\nThe mobile units are located in the following communities:\n\nAlexander - 28701\n\nBarnardsville - 28709\n\nCedar Mountain - 28718\n\nEdneyville - 28727\n\nHot Springs - 28743\n\nMarshall - 28753\n\nMicaville - 28755\n\nMontreat - 28757\n\nRosman - 28772\n\nSwannanoa - 28778\n\nPharmacy Access\n\nPharmacy Locator\n\nHundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina.\n\nUse this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county.\n\nThe Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response under the Department of Health and Human Services has activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for North Carolinians.\n\nThe EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene.\n\nThrough the program, uninsured residents can:\n\nRequest a free 30-day supply of certain prescription medications at any EPAP-participating pharmacy which can be renewed every 30 days while the EPAP is active.\n\nReplace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics.\n\nUninsured North Carolina residents affected by the recent hurricane can call the EPAP hotline, 855-793-7470, or visit the EPAP website to check their eligibility, determine if their medications or medical equipment are covered, or locate a participating pharmacy.\n\nPrescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location:\n\n730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nOpen Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services\n\nThere is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows:\n\n305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nThe following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries:\n\nLocations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.:\n\nMercy Urgent Care Weaverville\n\n61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787\n\nMercy Urgent Care West Asheville\n\n1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nMercy Urgent Care Waynesville\n\n120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786\n\nLocations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.:\n\nMercy Urgent Care Brevard\n\n22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nLocations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.:\n\nMercy Urgent Care Columbus\n\n140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722\n\nLocations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.:\n\nMobile Urgent Care Clinic\n\n12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711\n\nMental Health & Basic Medical Support Center\n\n130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711\n\nPardee Urgent Care\n\n45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768\n\nOther locations available:\n\nHeart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot\n\n157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721\n\nDaily hours: Not available at this time.\n\nFree mental health services - All available for drop-in\n\nIf you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1 (800) 985-5990.\n\nHelp is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988.\n\nLearn more at 988Lifeline.org.\n\nCare Collaborative for Western North Carolina Clinicians is a partnership among more than 200 mental health professionals volunteering to provide free mental health services for Hurricane Helene survivors.\n\nServices are provided virtually, and you can follow this link to find a professional that fits your needs and their contact information to schedule a session.\n\nHot Springs Elementary School - Art Room\n\n63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m.\n\nThe Pearl Institute\n\n55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC\n\nDaily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)\n\nFree telehealth appointments are also available.\n\nTo book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091\n\nCommunity Support Group\n\nRegular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations:\n\n221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nMary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center\n\nHosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College\n\n9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 28\n\n45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nBlue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140\n\n9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16\n\nAll University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university.\n\nPlease monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services.\n\nThe following orthopedic urgent care locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, physical therapy appointments are also available at each of these locations:\n\nEmergeOrtho Hendersonville\n\n800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791\n\nEmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville)\n\n2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704\n\nEmergeOrtho Waynesville\n\n9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785\n\nEmergeOrtho Brevard\n\n89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712\n\nEmergeOrtho Weaverville\n\n159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787\n\nDialysis Locations\n\nThe following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11:\n\nPardee Hospital\n\n800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791\n\nThis location can dialyze 30 patients a day.\n\nDaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available:\n\nDaVita Greer South Dialysis\n\n3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650\n\nContact Number: (864) 801-2065\n\nDaVita Saluda River Dialysis\n\n8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673\n\nContact Number: (833) 378-2702\n\nDaVita Wofford at Home\n\n8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303\n\nContact Number: (864) 583-4788\n\nDaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis\n\n196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316\n\nContact Number: (833) 458-4809\n\nOxygen Locations\n\nHendersonville High School\n\n1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791\n\nMust be assessed through Pardee Hospital.\n\nLincare is only serving established patients.\n\nPatients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations:\n\nAsheville Lincare\n\n103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804\n\nFax number: (866) 234-6698\n\nGreenville Lincare\n\n355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607\n\nFax Number: (864) 288-0339\n\nThe following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7:\n\nBoiling Springs Fire Department\n\n186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316\n\nReidville Fire Department\n\n7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388\n\nInman City Fire Department\n\n6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349\n\nFirst Presbyterian Church\n\n393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.\n\nGreer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center\n\n113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651\n\nDaily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m.\n\nCroft Fire Department\n\n370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302\n\nArkwright Fire Department\n\n1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306\n\nRoebuck Fire Department\n\n2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\\\n\nNorth Spartanburg Fire Department\n\n8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316\n\nResources for Veterans\n\nOutpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched a new web page with disaster relief resources, providing a single place for veterans and their caregivers to access VA resources on health care, housing, benefits payments, insurance, and more.\n\nYou can access the web site via this link.\n\nThe VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571.\n\nIf you or a veteran you know needs immediate housing assistance after Hurricane Helene, please call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838.\n\nThe call center is open 24/7.\n\nIf you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer.\n\nYou can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.\n\nHome loan servicers are allowed to put a 90-day pause on foreclosures and encouraged to waive late charges for VA-guaranteed home loans after a disaster.\n\nLegionnaires, Sons of the American Legion members and Legion Posts that have been displaced from their primary residence due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene may be eligible for financial assistance through the American Legion.\n\nLegionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000.\n\nLegion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000.\n\nTo learn more or to request assistance, please use this link.\n\nApplications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024.\n\nThe Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville and Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic in Forest City are open for essential and emergency services.\n\nVeterans can:\n\nVisit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or:\n\nCall the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives.\n\nLocal pharmacies in the VA\u2019s community care network will also fill written prescriptions, or prescriptions as they appear on an active VA prescription bottle that is not older than six months and has available refills, to provide a 30-day supply.\n\nHickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly.\n\nDue to the damage and personal losses caused by Hurricane Helene to the staff of the VA, it will take some time to bring staffing to full capacity.\n\nPlease be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce.\n\nResources for Farmers\n\nThe United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members.\n\nIf your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs.\n\nAg supplies can be picked up by farmers in need from any of the following distribution centers (including non-NC-11 locations for farmers who may be closer to an out-of-district distribution center):\n\nAvery County\n\nMitchell-Avery County Center\n\n6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday)\n\nBuncombe County\n\nMills River Station\n\n74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759\n\nDaily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)\n\nCaldwell County\n\nCaldwell County Fairgrounds\n\n2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment\n\nMcDowell County\n\nMarion - McDowell County\n\n188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)\n\nHaywood County\n\nSmokey Mountain Event Center\n\n758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785\n\nDaily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)\n\nWatauga County\n\nWatauga County Extension\n\n5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692\n\nDaily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY\n\n1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY\n\nPower\n\nAlmost 100 percent of all power outages have been restored in impacted areas.\n\nLess than 1,500 customers remain without power across Western NC.\n\n200 Duke Energy customers.\n\nJust over 1,200 electric cooperative customers.\n\nFrench Broad EMC has teams throughout Yancey and Rutherford counties to restore remaining customers.\n\nCrews are working down the Cane River in Rutherford County to get the three-phase line re-routed so French Broad can energize homes down to Elk Shoals Road.\n\nYancey County crews have completed the three-phase build in Pensacola and energized most of the homes in that area.\n\nA portion of NC197S and Ewart Wilson Road is back on as well.\n\nFrench Broad EMC is still trying to find a route into little creek and rebuild their circuits in Huntdale.\n\nThe greatest difficulty is finding space to place energy poles.\n\nCollapsing of roadways has eliminated the area where poles were placed before the storm.\n\nIf your insurance provider is requesting \u201cproof of outage,\u201d you can contact Duke Energy\u2019s Contact Center to request the letter.\n\n(800) 777-9898\n\nMy office has heard multiple complaints of Duke Energy customers being charged for power on days where there was an outage. Duke Energy provided the following information for how billing was calculated, and what will take place to provide a credit if you were over billed due to being a non-AMI account:\n\nAMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure)\n\nBills for customers with an AMI/Smart Meter will reflect actual usage for the billing cycle if the meter is communicating. (For awareness: Duke is monitoring usage daily)\n\nNon-AMI\n\nCustomers without an AMI/Smart Meter may see estimated usage if Duke was unable to obtain a reading prior to invoicing.\n\nOnce Duke Energy can obtain a reading from the meter, your next bill will be adjusted to reflect actual usage and a credit will be applied for anyone who\u2019s usage was overestimated.\n\nDuke Energy also provided the following information for auto-pay and budget billing customers:\n\nAuto-Pay\n\nPayments will automatically draft on the due date for customers signed up for auto-pay.\n\nCustomers have the option to temporarily pause their automatic payment by contacting Duke at 800-777-9898 (DEC) | 800-452-2777 (DEP) or by logging into their account to unenroll from Auto Pay.\n\nIf a customer chooses to unenroll via logging into their online account, they are encouraged to re-enroll when their situation allows to avoid any future missed payments.\n\nBudget Billing\n\nCustomers enrolled in Budget Billing will still be invoiced their set monthly amount.\n\nFor more information on Duke Energy\u2019s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links:\n\nComplex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration\n\nOutage Map: duke-energy.com/outages\n\nOutage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts\n\nGenerator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators\n\nPower restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power\n\nRoads\n\nWestern North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors!\n\nPlease come visit!\n\nNCDOT has now reopened 1,010 roads that were previously closed due to Hurricane Helene.\n\nOnly 298 roads remain fully closed.\n\n102 other roads are open with partial access.\n\n26 roads are open to all traffic except truck traffic.\n\nAmes Construction has been awarded a contract for the permanent repair of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.\n\nThe Federal Highway Administration and NCDOT are working on a two-lane-traffic temporary repairs timeline and reopening date for I-40.\n\nI will share the information as I receive it.\n\nNew sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have officially reopened:\n\nMilepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam\n\nMilepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, N.C.\n\nMilepost 405.5 to 411.8, near NC 151 to NC 276\n\nEmergency roadway repair work continues with the installation of temporary bridges, numerous slide repairs, roadway reconstruction work, and repair of dangerous shoulder washouts.\n\nThe focus continues to be on major corridors and communities with limited access.\n\nNine communities throughout Western NC continue to have limited access.\n\nNCDOT crews are working to restore access in these locations by rebuilding roadways and constructing bridges.\n\nIn light of interruptions in service caused by NC DMV closures due to Hurricane Helene, the following DMV fees have been waived from Sept. 26 through Dec. 31, 2024:\n\nDuplicate or corrected vehicle titles.\n\nDuplicate registration cards.\n\nSalvage certificate of title.\n\nReplacement license plates and/or stickers.\n\nDuplicate driver licenses (including CDLs).\n\nDuplicate state ID cards (note: state ID cards are already free for anyone age 17 and up)\n\nThe following late fees have also been waived from Sept. 26 through Dec. 31, 2024:\n\nLate vehicle registration fees for vehicles that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024.\n\nLate interest payments on vehicle registrations and property taxes that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024.\n\nTitle fees on or after Aug. 31, 2024.\n\nLate fees and interest on limited registration plates and vehicle registration renewals for limited registrations that expired on or after Sept. 30, 2024.\n\nLate fees for dealer plates that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024.\n\nIf you paid any of the above listed fees or late fees prior to notice of the fee waivers, you will be automatically refunded.\n\nCitizens do not have to take any action to receive refunds.\n\nPlease allow four to six weeks (until Dec. 6, 2024) for refunds to be processed.\n\nRefunds will NOT be given in-person at NC DMV offices.\n\nNCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department.\n\nYou can use this link to access the dashboard.\n\nThe dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov.\n\nTo monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov.\n\nThe website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time.\n\nNC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene.\n\nThe following DMV offices are open for walk-in services in or near NC-11, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed between 11:30 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. for a lunch break:\n\nBuncombe County\n\n1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nCherokee County\n\n1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901\n\nHaywood County\n\n290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721\n\nHenderson County\n\n125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791\n\nJackson County\n\n876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779\n\nMacon County\n\n16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734\n\nMadison County\n\n1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753\n\nMcDowell County\n\n3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752\n\nRutherford County\n\n596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043\n\nSwain County\n\n2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713\n\nTransylvania County\n\n50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712\n\nAll but five license plate agencies have reopened.\n\nAir traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC.\n\nNCDOT\u2019s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by:\n\nScheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents.\n\nEstablishing a first of its kind \u201ccorridors in the sky\u201d to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air.\n\nHaving search and rescue partners use short, time and location specific restrictions on air operations to enhance safety when multiple helicopters are engaged in search and rescue efforts.\n\nThe state of North Carolina is NOT turning away civil aviation support so long as it has been coordinated through the proper channels with NC Emergency Management.\n\nIf you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don\u2019t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks.\n\nNCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border.\n\nYou can access the map here.\n\nInternet Access\n\nFrontier Communications has been diligently working to restore service to customers in Western NC.\n\nService is expected to be restored by November 11 for customers in Marshall.\n\nReconstruction and restoration work begins TODAY, November 4, for customers in the Micaville area.\n\nMy office has also heard from numerous customers frustrated that they were billed for a full month of internet through AT&T despite extended outages, and in many cases, service still not being restored:\n\nAT&T Customer Support is providing billing credits and working with customers impacted by Hurricane Helene when they call AT&T customer service, (800) 288-2020.\n\nSpectrum is proactively issuing credit to customers for the time they were without Spectrum service due to the hurricane.\n\nIf you believe your time without service was not correctly identified, please contact Spectrum customer support to identify the correct credit.\n\nThese automatic credits are applied after Spectrum service has been restored.\n\nWaiting until service restoration has taken place to determine the number of days service was out enables Spectrum to calculate an accurate and appropriate credit.\n\nInternet providers are still working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina.\n\nFiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts.\n\nInternet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network\u2019s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process.\n\nAs a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch.\n\nTo mitigate the lack of service, Optimum, formerly Altice USA, has set up an Optimum Wi-Fi Trailer that is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:\n\n717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792\n\n1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792\n\nThe following locations are offering free public wi-fi:\n\nFirst Baptist Church - Weaverville\n\n63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787\n\nDowntown Franklin\n\nThe Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown.\n\nTransylvania County Library - 24/7\n\n212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nThe Yard Brevard\n\n284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nBrevard Visitor Center\n\n175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nAvailable daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.\n\nThe Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee\n\n1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721\n\nAvailable daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m.\n\nCell Service\n\nNearly 100 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service.\n\nUpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location:\n\n470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nAT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location:\n\nSam\u2019s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806\n\nThe Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi.\n\nThe public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones.\n\nVerizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts.\n\nWireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets, and other devices available for use.\n\nVerizon\u2019s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations:\n\nA-B Technical Community College\n\n340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nAsheville YMCA\n\n30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nFamily Justice Center\n\n35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nVerizon also has charging stations at the following locations:\n\nYMCA of Western North Carolina\n\n348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752\n\nTwo charging stations at this location\n\nWNC Agricultural Center\n\n761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732\n\nThree charging stations at this location\n\nA-B Technical Community College\n\n340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nOne charging station at this location\n\nT-Mobile has set up satellite cellular on light trucks (SatCOLTs), providing cellular voice and data along with wi-fi and charging stations at the following locations:\n\nAsheville Middle School\n\n211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nDr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center\n\n285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nFirst Baptist Church\n\n130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711\n\nAdditional T-Mobile satellite cell on trucks are located in Hendersonville and at a Tractor Supply Co. in Asheville, with others planned for Mission Hospital in Asheville, Cherokee County Emergency Operations Center in Murphy, and in Cherokee.\n\nNorth Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense\n\nAs requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas.\n\nMore than 1,600 National Guard soldiers and airmen are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support.\n\nAll active-duty forces have returned to their duty stations, including Ft. Campbell and Ft. Liberty.\n\nThe National Guard has distributed more than 20,000 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina.\n\nHighlights from the last week:\n\nChainsaw crews helped to clear critical areas in Hot Springs, and cleared and hauled 40 tons of concrete and rubble in Marshall Town Park.\n\nSoldiers completed 1,022 humanitarian aid deliveries in Haywood County and are over 82 percent complete with their overall mission.\n\nCrews cleared 200 tons of debris and silt from Rollins Creek, and hauled and spread 52 tons of ABC stone on Duckett Top Tower Road.\n\nDelivered material to support building a bridge on Catawba River Road in McDowell County.\n\nCompleted multiple bulldozer operations in Rutherford County in support of NCDOT.\n\nHere are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG:\n\nHOTLINE: 888-892-1162\n\nEmergency management watch: 919-733-3300\n\nDonated goods: 919-825-2474\n\nThese lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling.\n\nAsheville Regional Airport\n\nAsheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding.\n\nCommercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed.\n\nIf you parked your car in an Asheville Regional Airport lot and could not retrieve the vehicle due to the storm, great news - none of the airport\u2019s lots flooded and all cars are fine.\n\nStay safe and pick up your car when you are able.\n\nPLEASE NOTE:\n\nNo general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel.\n\nSupply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA.\n\nFEMA is not turning away any pilot that has gone through the proper channels to coordinate delivery and ensure the safety of his fellow aircraft and personnel.\n\nFederal Nutrition Programs\n\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.\n\nSNAP\n\nNorth Carolina was granted a waiver for the 10-day reporting requirement for the replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits lost because of the hurricane.\n\nThis waiver provides additional time beyond the standard 10-day time frame for households to report food losses and receive replacement benefits for food that was destroyed and previously purchased with SNAP benefits.\n\nChild Nutrition\n\nThe North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs.\n\nUnder the waiver approval, NCDPI\u2019s local program operators may:\n\nServe meals in a non-congregate setting\n\nAdjust the time of meal service\n\nAllow parent pick-up\n\nAllow service of meals at school sites\n\nFood and Nutrition Services Program\n\nPeople and families in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services program can now use their EBT card to purchase hot food.\n\nThis flexibility will remain in effect until November 3.\n\nSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)\n\nFamilies participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to:\n\nHave a new eWIC card issued\n\nRequest replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps\n\nRequest replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene\n\nFor NC-11 Medical Providers\n\nIf you own a medical practice in NC-11 and are experiencing financial hardship due to Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Medical Society is reactivating its Financial Recovery Program (FRP) to help you recover and open your doors again.\n\nFor more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link.\n\nDetails on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon.\n\nThe Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available:\n\nAccelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene\n\nAdvance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene\n\nFor Local Government Resource Requests\n\nFor county leaders: This is a reminder to make sure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline, food, water, cell service deployables, etc. with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and resources delivered.\n\nMy office stands ready to assist with checking the status of your request if the county or municipality has not heard back from NC Emergency Management within 24 hours.\n\nDisaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)\n\nThe deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties.\n\nSwain County\u2019s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024.\n\nDisaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including:\n\nBuncombe\n\nClay\n\nHaywood\n\nHenderson\n\nJackson\n\nMacon\n\nMadison\n\nMcDowell\n\nPolk\n\nRutherford\n\nSwain\n\nTransylvania\n\nYancey\n\nIf your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.\n\nFile an application for DUA:\n\nFile at des.nc.gov, or\n\nCall over the phone at (919) 629-3857\n\nA toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262.\n\nFor Individual Assistance through FEMA\n\nThe deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time.\n\nNorth Carolina received a Major Disaster Declaration for the following counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.\n\nPeople with damage to their homes or personal property who live in one of the above-listed counties should apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies.\n\nFunds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.\n\nIndividual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST.\n\nFind steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media\n\nIf you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA:\n\nUnderstand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal.\n\nIt could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal.\n\nRead FEMA\u2019s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you.\n\nMake sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include:\n\nA copy of your flood insurance declaration page.\n\nProof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address.\n\nProof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc.\n\nCan\u2019t write the appeal yourself?\n\nI recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you.\n\nKnow your deadline.\n\nYou have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal.\n\nCircle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront.\n\nOnce FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation.\n\nDon\u2019t forget to sign your appeal letter!\n\nOnce signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal:\n\nFax it to (800) 827-8112\n\nSend it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782\n\nUpload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account.\n\nInclude your application number on every page of the documents you submit.\n\nExpect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days.\n\nTo Connect with a Loved One\n\nResidents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state) to report missing loved ones or request a welfare check.\n\nPeople in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).\n\nPlease only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.\n\nIf you are still trying to locate a friend or family member, please complete this form, linked here, to notify local officials of their missing status.\n\nThe form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties.\n\nRegardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form.\n\nBuncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts.\n\nUnited Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests.\n\nText PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form.\n\nResources for Utility & Other Status Updates\n\nFor information on the status of utilities, debris sites, etc., we want to share the following resources. As communications are restored and more information becomes available, these sites will continue to be updated.\n\nDrinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking\n\nDebris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites\n\nNCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System\n\nNCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information\n\nNCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies\n\nHow to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene\n\nFree Legal Assistance\n\nLegal Aid of North Carolina stands ready to provide free advice and legal counsel regarding natural disaster needs, including legal representation if necessary, including for civil legal issues involving:\n\nFiling FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome)\n\nReplacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver\u2019s licenses and identification cards\n\nMedical and insurance claims\n\nHome repair contracts\n\nUtility disputes related to restoration of services\n\nConsumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft\n\nHousing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures\n\nBankruptcy\n\nProbate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title\n\nFamily law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster)\n\nIf you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline:\n\n(866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262\n\nThe hotline is available from:\n\n8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays.\n\nConstituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.\n\nIRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene\n\nExtension of certain tax filing deadlines:\n\nIRS has extended various filing deadlines for taxpayers in impacted areas, including 2024 individual/business returns, certain quarterly estimated income tax payments, and certain payroll/excise taxes.\n\nClick here for the full list of extensions and respective dates\n\nClick here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance\n\nTax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses:\n\nIRS released provided guidance to taxpayers on how to address disaster-related losses in their 2024 tax return, as well as providing guidance on how qualified disaster relief payments - like government assistance payments - are generally excluded from gross income.\n\nClick here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header \u201cAdditional tax relief\u201d)\n\nClick here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses\n\nClick here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments\n\nDisaster payments are usually tax-free:\n\nQualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income.\n\nIn general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for:\n\nReasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses.\n\nThe repair or rehabilitation of your home.\n\nThe repair or replacement of your home\u2019s contents.\n\nYou may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction:\n\nIn some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction.\n\nThe deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund.\n\nTaxpayers can choose to claim the deduction on either the return for the year the loss occurred (in this instance, the 2024 return normally filed next year), or the return for the prior year (the 2023 return filed this year).\n\nFor individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025.\n\nThe IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency\u2019s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227.\n\nShelters\n\nFor those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of today:\n\nBuncombe County\n\nA-B Technical Community College\n\n340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801\n\nGold\u2019s Gym\n\n801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803\n\nWNC Agricultural Center\n\n1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732\n\nHaywood County\n\nHaywood County Government Armory\n\n285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781\n\nHenderson County\n\nHenderson County Recreation Center\n\n708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792\n\nMcDowell County\n\nMcDowell County Senior Center\n\n100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752\n\nRutherford County\n\nRutherfordton Presbyterian Church\n\n252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139\n\nTransylvania County\n\nTransylvania Parks & Rec\n\n1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712\n\nYancey County\n\nBlue Ridge Elementary\n\n910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714\n\nCarolina Cruiser mobile office hours\n\nIn keeping with my office's motto of being \"First in Constituent Services\" and to help constituents post-Hurricane Helene, my office has resumed Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours.\n\nFolks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies.\n\nVisit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here.\n\nWith my warmest regards,\n\nChuck Edwards\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-30"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.927676076069474, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}