url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-chuck-edwards-leads-hurricane-relief-aid-historic-disaster,Congressman Chuck Edwards Leads Hurricane Relief Aid in Historic Disaster Supplemental Bill,2024-12-31,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"On December 20, the House passed H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act of 2024, which included $110 billion in disaster supplemental funding to help states rebuild from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other disasters that have occurred since the end of 2022. Congressman Chuck Edwards was the only co-sponsor of this legislation and crafted the bill as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Given that supplemental disaster funding falls under that committee’s jurisdiction, it is customary that the chairman of the committee be the lead sponsor. The committee only rarely names a co-sponsor for such bills. Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) said, “From the moment Hurricane Helene made landfall, Representative Chuck Edwards has been hard at work ensuring that Western North Carolinians are not forgotten. When Chuck invited me to tour the site of the devastation with him in October, we made a promise that the federal government would do its part to help the families and businesses devastated by the storm, and with the passage of the American Relief Act, we have delivered on that promise. Rep. Edwards was key to getting that critical disaster relief aid across the finish line, and few Members of Congress have ever championed the cause of their constituents as effectively as he has.” “Congressman Chuck Edwards set a precedent of being the singular cosponsor on a disaster relief package that aids multiple states. He used his role as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and experience he gained from nine weeks on the front line of the disaster response to take a lead role in drafting the disaster supplemental package for the American Relief Act,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04). “I walked alongside Congressman Edwards in North Carolina and saw the wreckage that decimated communities and left families overwhelmed by loss. His leadership and steadfast advocacy secured critical disaster aid for his constituents and Americans across this nation.” As a lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, Edwards brought a unique understanding of the challenges residents there are facing in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. “While the legislative process was one with many twists and turns, I am proud that in the end, members from both parties were able to come together and keep the funding package fully intact,”stated Congressman Edwards. The American Relief Act of 2024 will bring several billions of dollars of funding from various federal agencies to Western North Carolina. This includes the resumption of Small Business Administration disaster loans, repair funds for damaged federal highways, Economic Adjustment Assistance funding for economic recovery, and funding for agriculture assistance and the U.S. Forest Service.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-remembers-president-jimmy-carter,Rep. Adams Remembers President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"### Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-foushee-announces-nominees-to-us-military-service-academies,Congresswoman Foushee Announces Nominees to U.S. Military Service Academies,2024-12-27,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"DURHAM, NC (December 27, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), announced eight students from the Fourth District received nominations for admission into our nation's four service academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. “It is an honor each year to nominate students in my district to our nation’s prestigious service academies,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “These next generation of military leaders have demonstrated academic excellence, service to our community, strong leadership, and success in their extracurriculars. I have been impressed by the many accomplishments of these exceptional students, and I wish them the best as they move forward in the military academy appointment process.” Congresswoman Valerie Foushee named the following nominees to the nation’s four service academies: Luke Eward — U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy (Ocen Cove Academy) Evan Gerringer — U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy (Southern Alamance High School) Benjamin Hornstein — U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy (Durham Academy) Wright Kross — U.S. Air Force Academy (Chapel Hill High School) Yikuan Sun — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy (Chapel Hill High School) Jacob Sullivan Robins — U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Jones Senior High School) K'Naya Williams — U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy (Vance County High School) Tyler Wilson — U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy (Camden Military Academy) Receiving a nomination does not guarantee admission to an academy. However, a nomination from an approved nomination source is a requirement to receive an appointment. An academy appointment acceptance comes with a 5-year service obligation after the completion of 4 years at an academy. For further information on eligibility requirements and how to pursue an appointment to a military service academy please visit the website of the academy of choice.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/21/budd-votes-to-support-wnc-disaster-aid/,Budd Votes to Support WNC Disaster Aid,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after voting to support government funding legislation that provides tens of billions of dollars in disaster relief for the people of Western North Carolina. Senator Budd said: “At long last, the people of Western North Carolina will begin to receive the disaster aid they so desperately need and deserve. It is going to take years to fully recover after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the resilient citizens of the western mountains as they undertake the difficult job of rebuilding. They will never be forgotten as long as I have anything to say about it.” Background on Senator Budd’s efforts: On September 28, 2024, Senator Ted Budd received his first operational briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), North Carolina Emergency Management, National Weather Service, and the American Red Cross. On September 30, 2024, Senator Budd took an air tour of the storm damage alongside Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler and received an in-person operational review of the recovery effort. On October 1, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, and Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm. On October 8, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell urging that the Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF) be operationalized to assist in Western North Carolina’s recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. On October 29, 2024, Senators Budd, Thom Tillis, alongside Senators Tim Scott, Bill Cassidy, M.D., and Rick Scott, announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money. On November 18, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis, and Congressman Chuck Edwards led a bipartisan group of members of the Senate and House to send a letter to President Biden requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.” On November 20, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis led a coalition of 18 U.S. Senators to send an oversight letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell demanding answers over recent reports that a FEMA employee advised disaster assistance teams in Florida responding to Hurricane Milton to avoid homes that had yard signs supporting President-Elect Donald Trump. On November 20, 2024, Senator Budd spoke passionately on the Senate floor to honor the heroic individuals in Western North Carolina who helped others during Hurricane Helene. Senator Budd also renewed his call for Congress to act on the supplemental funding bill for long-term recovery for the region. On November 20, 2024, Senators Ted Budd, Tim Scott, Thom Tillis, and Marsha Blackburn introduced the SBA Disaster Transparency Act, which requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make its monthly reporting requirements for the Disaster Loan Account available to the public. On November 22, 2024, Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, Rep. Virginia Foxx and Rep. Chuck Edwards sent a letter to President Biden urging him to “ immediately direct the FEMA to deploy FEMA temporary housing resources – including travel trailers and manufactured homes” to Western North Carolina. As temperatures drop in the region, “this would give homeowners the ability to remain on their own property while repairs and reconstruction continue.” On November 27, 2024, Senators Ted Budd, Thom Tillis, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine sent a letter to Senate leadership urging both the Senate and House “to bring a robust supplemental appropriations bill to the floor”. On December 10, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis published an opinion piece for the Carolina Journal laying out the road ahead for Western North Carolina as they rebuild and recover from Hurricane Helene. On December 10, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation. On December 13, 2024, Senator Budd introduced two bills to cut government regulation and deliver relief to North Carolinians impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Disaster Assistance Fairness Act would provide relief to North Carolina homeowners who are still desperately trying to dig out from the storms by making it clear that debris removal from private roads is in the public interest and therefore eligible for reimbursement under the Stafford Act. The Flexible Compliance for Emergencies and Natural Disasters (FinCEN) Act would help businesses in North Carolina who are currently facing operational challenges and have limited resources in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. On December 19, 2024, Senator Budd spoke at a press conference and laid out his demand that he would not support any continuing resolution to fund the government unless disaster aid for Western North Carolina is passed. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-votes-to-pass-helene-recovery-funding-for-north-carolina,Tillis Votes to Pass Helene Recovery Funding For North Carolina,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate passed a bipartisan government funding bill that includes more than $100 billion in disaster relief for states and communities hit by natural disasters, including North Carolina during Hurricane Helene. “I'm proud to have worked alongside my Senate colleagues to secure this critical funding for Western North Carolina,” said Senator Tillis. “I remain committed to working with the outgoing Biden Administration and the incoming Trump Administration to ensure these resources reach Western North Carolina as expeditiously as possible. This is a significant downpayment to help make Western North Carolina whole again.” For months, Senator Tillis has worked with Congressional leaders and appropriators to deliver on the $100 billion appropriation. Senator Tillis also successfully secured a number of key provisions in the legislation, including mandates to deliver federal assistance to Western North Carolina sooner. Provisions secured by Senator Tillis include: Requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue a Federal Register notice by January 15, 2025, of enactment for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) so funding can flow to North Carolina more quickly. Federal Register notices have often taken 12-24 months after previous authorizations. Replenishing funding for the SBA’s disaster loan program to help homeowners and small business owners rebuild, which Tillis has been pushing since funding expired. There are currently 2,338 applicants waiting for their application to be processed, totaling $172 million. North Carolina is expected to receive at least $9 billion in assistance, and that does not include FEMA assistance, which is likely to be an additional billions of dollars. Assistance coming to North Carolina will include: CDBG-DR funding to help local communities recover and rebuild. Economic assistance and disaster payments and economic assistance for farmers affected by Helene. A significant investment to repair and rebuild the roads, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged by Helene. Major investments in North Carolina’s drinking water infrastructure. While specific funding levels for states will be based on need, the legislation provides the following funding at the national level: Department of Agriculture – $33.5 billion, including: $21 billion for disaster assistance to farmers and producers. $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers and producers. $7.5 million for the Office of the Inspector General to provide funding oversight. $42.5 million for the Agriculture Research Service to repair or replace facilities damaged by hurricanes. $828 million for the Emergency Conservation Program to provide financial and technical assistance to address farmland impacted by natural disasters. $920 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to provide financial and technical assistance to address impaired watersheds posing a risk to life or property. $356.5 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to assist private forest owners restore forests damaged by natural disasters. $362.5 million for the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund to provide assistance to rural communities affected by natural disasters. $25 million for the Commodity Assistance Program to address facilities damaged by natural disasters. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration $1.5 billion for economic development assistance for areas impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – $1.04 billion, including: $244 million for repair and replacement of observing assets, real property, and equipment, including rebuilding the Beaufort, NC laboratory. $399 million for hurricane hunter aircraft and related expenses. Department of Homeland Security – $30.83 billion, including: $29 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, including $4 million for the Office of Inspector General to carry out oversight. Department of the Interior – $3 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of disasters occurring in and prior to calendar year 2024, including: $2.3 billion for the National Park Service, which includes $50 million for the Historic Preservation Fund and $1.7 billion to rebuild the Blue Ridge Parkway. Environmental Protection Agency – $3.3 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Helene, Hilary, and Milton, and Hawaii wildfires, including: $3.25 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, of which $1.2 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, $1.8 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, $85 million for decentralized water systems, $60 million to address water emergencies, $10 million for Clean Air Act Section 103 grants, and $95 million for hazardous waste financial assistance grants. Forest Service $6.4 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of disasters occurring in calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024, including $208 million for State, Private, and Tribal Forestry. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families – $500 million for Child Care, including: $250 million for renovation and repairs of child care facilities that were damaged by natural disasters, as well as temporary services for children in affected areas. Department of Transportation $8 billion for Federal Highways Administration emergency relief to reimburse states and territories for damage from natural disasters to roads and bridges in the National Highway System. Department of Housing and Urban Development $12 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to assist with the long-term housing, infrastructure and economic recovery needs for areas most impacted and distressed by a natural disaster. Background Senator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall. On October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm. On October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation. On October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance. On October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session. On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator. On November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later. On November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. On November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee. On November 21, 2024, Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On December 5, 2024, Senator Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On December 10, 2024, Senator Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation. On December 18, 2024, Senator Tillis committed to filibustering any continuing resolution that did not include disaster aid for Western North Carolina. In addition to Senator Tillis’ legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-helps-billions-disaster-supplemental-funding-pass-us-house,Edwards helps billions of disaster supplemental funding pass U.S. House,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed supplemental disaster funding, which was included in the continuing resolution funding the federal government until March 14, 2025. The supplemental disaster funding contains $110 billion, billions of which will directly help Western North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene recover and rebuild. Edwards said, “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, my priority upon returning to Washington following Hurricane Helene was to draft a framework for disaster funding to help Western North Carolinians recover from the worst natural disaster to hit our mountains. “The citizens of Western North Carolina pulled together in such monumental ways to help one another, and now these additional funds will help folks across North Carolina’s 11th District rebuild communities and put our lives back together. “Just as I have helped funding for disaster relief pass the U.S. House to aid folks in our mountains, I will continue to advocate for the needs of our district in the long road to recovery ahead.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-foushee-votes-to-keep-government-open-deliver-critical-disaster-relief-and-extend-farm-bill,"Congresswoman Foushee Votes to Keep Government Open, Deliver Critical Disaster Relief, and Extend Farm Bill",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 20, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) released the following statement after voting to pass the updated version of H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act, 2025. This legislation provides a stopgap measure to fund the federal government at current discretionary spending levels through March 14, 2025, averting a federal government shutdown. “Despite attempts by Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and the Republican conference to push us to the brink of a government shutdown, I’m glad that House Democrats prevailed and prevented a reckless shutdown that would harm hardworking families across the country,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “Although this stopgap funding bill is not perfect, I was proud to join my colleagues in standing firm on our commitment to the American people and pass critical legislation that will keep our government open, provide urgent relief to our neighbors in Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, extend key agricultural programs, and provide economic assistance to farmers dealing with crop loss. Moving forward, Congress must work to promptly pass full-year appropriations bills that supports the needs of our government and the people we represent.” Specifically, H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act, 2025, would include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/congressman-richard-hudson-named-chair-of-energy-and-commerce-subcommittee-on,Congressman Richard Hudson Named Chair of Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Richard Hudson,H001067,hudson.house.gov,hudson,https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) was named Chairman of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Subcommittee on Communications and Technology for the 119th Congress by E&C Committee Chairman-Elect, Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY). ""I am honored to lead the Communications and Technology Subcommittee,"" said Congressman Hudson. ""As chairman, I look forward to working with President Donald Trump, Chairman-Elect Brett Guthrie, and members of the committee to advance strong, commonsense policies that promote innovation, streamline federal regulations, and bridge the digital divide. Together, we will deliver real results for the American people."" ""I look forward to working with Congressman Hudson in his role as Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Richard's expertise will help propel our country into the next generation economy. Under Congressman Hudson's leadership, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee will close the digital divide for rural America, affirm U.S. leadership in next generation telecommunication networks, and protect our critical communications infrastructure from adversarial attacks,"" said Chairman-Elect Guthrie. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-statement-passage-government-funding-package,Murphy Statement on Passage of Government Funding Package,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act to fund the federal government through March 14th, 2025. ""As I have made clear, I generally do not support continuing resolutions to keep our country running,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.""However, the House is unable to pass funding for our federal government through regular order. Under the present circumstances we face, perfect cannot be the enemy of good. I voted in favor because this package includes critical aid for hurricane recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and our farmers, unnecessary spending has been removed, and there is broad consensus that spending cuts are in order. Further, I have been assured that physicians who see Medicare patients and have had their reimbursements cut by nearly 30% in the last 23 years will be taken care of in March. President Trump deserves to start in a strong position when he takes office, and I look forward to passing a conservative budget under his leadership.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/congresswoman-ross-votes-to-pass-the-continuing-resolution-to-support-hurricane-recovery-in-nc,Congresswoman Ross Votes to Pass the Continuing Resolution to Support Hurricane Recovery in NC,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open until March 14, 2025. This package includes $100 billion in critical disaster relief funding for the Southeast, including North Carolina. Congresswoman Ross has been pushing for this funding since Western North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene. Click here to download Congresswoman Ross’ floor speech from November calling for disaster relief funding “It’s shameful that House Republicans pushed us to the brink of a government shutdown and played politics with desperately needed disaster aid,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This legislation is far from perfect, and many crucial, bipartisan provisions that I support were removed from the final bill. However, Western North Carolina has been waiting for federal assistance to rebuild after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, and this package will deliver the aid that families, small businesses, childcare centers, seniors, and so many more need. The road to recovery will be long, but this package is a crucial first step. I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this legislation immediately – Western North Carolina cannot afford to wait.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-helps-secure-helene-recovery-funding-for-north-carolina,Tillis Helps Secure Helene Recovery Funding For North Carolina,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tillis issued the following statement on the bipartisan government funding bill that includes more than $100 billion in disaster relief for states and communities hit by natural disasters, including North Carolina during Hurricane Helene: “Western North Carolina will need significant resources to be made whole again, and I'm proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in both parties to secure this critical funding. As soon as Congress passes this legislation, the long-term rebuilding process can begin.” For months, Senator Tillis has worked with Congressional leaders and appropriators to deliver on the $100 billion appropriation. Senator Tillis also successfully secured a number of key provisions in the legislation, including mandates to deliver federal assistance to Western North Carolina sooner. Provisions secured by Senator Tillis include: Requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue a Federal Register notice by January 15, 2025, of enactment for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) so funding can flow to North Carolina more quickly. Federal Register notices have often taken 12-24 months after previous authorizations. Replenishing funding for the SBA’s disaster loan program to help homeowners and small business owners rebuild, which Tillis has been pushing since funding expired. There are currently 2,338 North Carolina applicants waiting for their application to be processed, totaling $172 million. North Carolina is expected to receive at least $9 billion in assistance, and that does not include FEMA assistance, which is likely to be billion of dollars. Assistance coming to North Carolina will include: CDBG-DR funding to help local communities recover and rebuild. Economic assistance payments and disaster payments for farmers affected by Helene. A significant investment to repair and rebuild the roads, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged by Helene. Major investments in North Carolina’s drinking water infrastructure. While specific funding levels for states will be based on need, the legislation provides the following funding at the national level: Department of Agriculture – $33.5 billion, including: $21 billion for disaster assistance to farmers and producers. $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers and producers. $7.5 million for the Office of the Inspector General to provide funding oversight. $42.5 million for the Agriculture Research Service to repair or replace facilities damaged by hurricanes. $828 million for the Emergency Conservation Program to provide financial and technical assistance to address farmland impacted by natural disasters. $920 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to provide financial and technical assistance to address impaired watersheds posing a risk to life or property. $356.5 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to assist private forest owners restore forests damaged by natural disasters. $362.5 million for the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund to provide assistance to rural communities affected by natural disasters. $25 million for the Commodity Assistance Program to address facilities damaged by natural disasters. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration $1.5 billion for economic development assistance for areas impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – $1.04 billion, including: $244 million for repair and replacement of observing assets, real property, and equipment, including rebuilding the Beaufort, NC laboratory. $399 million for hurricane hunter aircraft and related expenses. Department of Homeland Security – $30.83 billion, including: $29 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, including $4 million for the Office of Inspector General to carry out oversight. Department of the Interior – $3 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of disasters occurring in and prior to calendar year 2024, including: $2.3 billion for the National Park Service, which includes $50 million for the Historic Preservation Fund and $1.7 billion to rebuild the Blue Ridge Parkway. Environmental Protection Agency – $3.3 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Helene, Hilary, and Milton, and Hawaii wildfires, including: $3.25 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, of which $1.2 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, $1.8 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, $85 million for decentralized water systems, $60 million to address water emergencies, $10 million for Clean Air Act Section 103 grants, and $95 million for hazardous waste financial assistance grants. Forest Service $6.4 billion, for expenses related to the consequences of disasters occurring in calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024, including $208 million for State, Private, and Tribal Forestry. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families – $500 million for Child Care, including: $250 million for renovation and repairs of child care facilities that were damaged by natural disasters, as well as temporary services for children in affected areas. Department of Transportation $8 billion for Federal Highways Administration emergency relief to reimburse states and territories for damage from natural disasters to roads and bridges in the National Highway System. Department of Housing and Urban Development $12 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to assist with the long-term housing, infrastructure and economic recovery needs for areas most impacted and distressed by a natural disaster. Background: Senator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall. On October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm. On October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation. On October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance. On October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session. On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator. On November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later. On November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. On November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee. On November 21, 2024, Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On December 5, 2024, Senator Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On December 10, 2024, Senator Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation. On December 18, 2024, Senator Tillis committed to filibustering any continuing resolution that did not include disaster aid for Western North Carolina. In addition to Senator Tillis’ legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-statement-consequences-failure-pass-continuing-resolution,Rep. Adams’ Statement on Consequences of Failure to Pass Continuing Resolution,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"""Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here on short notice. I wanted to share with you what we’re facing here in Washington as Congress closes out this year and this session and acts on the bipartisan spending bill. The Congress has an opportunity to vote on a “continuing resolution” bill (CR) that would keep the government funded for another three months and prevent a shutdown that would have dire consequences for the economy, federal employees, veterans, and families, and anyone who would like to travel safely as we go into the holidays. This is an extension of the common sense, bipartisan budget bills we passed earlier this year in March. The CR would also include disaster relief funding and extend the most recent Farm Bill which has expired. Our state is recovering from the most devastating natural disaster in modern history- Hurricane Helene. Almost $9 billion – that's billion, with a “B” – in disaster relief funding for North Carolina is in this bill, which we need desperately for rebuilding in the wake of Helene. A few of the items that we stand to lose out on if we don’t pass this bill are: Over $1.6 billion for disaster recovery through Housing and Urban Development to assist with long-term housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs for hardest-hit communities $674 million in disaster payments and economic assistance for the farmers who feed us from across the state Over $1 billion for the National Park Service to rebuild and preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway, and $429 million more for other NC parks projects $2.2 billion dollars for the Small Business Administration to help fund the $172 million in requested loans from over 2,000 North Carolina small businesses Millions of dollars in defense repairs to North Carolina military installations affected by Helene Millions of dollars for rebuilding destroyed and damaged child care facilities and services affected by Helene – because child care is infrastructure That’s just a fraction of what is at stake for North Carolina with this bill. This CR includes an extension of the Farm Bill, which supports our farmers and keeps folks fed – including more than 1.5 million people in North Carolina who utilize SNAP benefits. This bill would keep families fed. If we don’t pass it, we lose out on these investments and the government will shut down at 12:01 am on Saturday morning. We all remember the horrific scenes of entire towns wiped out. Aid organizations and the U.S. government have been working around the clock to assess and address the damage. Since then – for over two months – Congressional leadership in both parties have worked in good faith on how to keep our government running while caring for those who have suffered worst from Helene and other disasters. As we head into the holiday travel season, our TSA agents should not be working without pay as a result of the shutdown. North Carolina deserves better, and that is why I am ready to vote for this Continuing Resolution and disaster relief funding today.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-foushee-rejects-inadequate-gop-continuing-resolution-urges-passage-of-bipartisan-agreement,"Congresswoman Foushee Rejects Inadequate GOP Continuing Resolution, Urges Passage of Bipartisan Agreement",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 19, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 10515, the American Relief Act, 2025. “House Republicans made the reckless decision to abandon the previously agreed-upon bipartisan funding bill and are following President-Elect Trump and Elon Musk’s orders to shut down the federal government. Instead of standing up for the American people, my Republican colleagues are intent on aiding billionaires, creating instability, undermining communities in need, and putting partisan agendas over the well-being of everyday Americans. This is an unsettling glimpse of how Trump and the Republican majority plan on governing in the next term, with irresponsible policies and political games that will further fracture our country and leave vulnerable communities behind. “Today, I chose to stand with families, farmers, veterans, seniors, children and communities across the country in voting against this inadequate funding bill. I cannot support a last-minute funding measure that puts the priorities of unelected billionaires ahead of childcare for working families, funding for child cancer research, or economic assistance for farmers dealing with crop loss. Our communities deserve better – Congress must pass a comprehensive funding bill that includes both critical disaster relief and provisions that fully serve the needs of the American people. Should this legislation come up again under rule, I will vote against it once again.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-statement-government-funding-package,Murphy Statement on Government Funding Package,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after voting in favor of the American Relief Act to fund the federal government through March 14th, 2025. ""As a matter of principle, I generally do not support continuing resolutions to keep our country running,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""Unfortunately, despite great efforts to fund the federal government through regular order in a narrowly divided Congress, we cannot do so. I am terribly disappointed physicians who see Medicare patients will receive yet another ridiculous pay cut, jeopardizing access to high-quality, affordable care for millions, especially those in rural areas. However, I have been assured that the incoming Trump Administration will address this issue in March as well as retroactively rectify it. This package delivers critical aid to fund hurricane recovery efforts in Western North Carolina, keeps our farmers solvent and it ensures President Trump can sign into law a conservative budget that reflects his agenda after he takes office.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/congresswoman-ross-slams-house-republicans-for-abandoning-western-north-carolina,Congresswoman Ross Slams House Republicans for Abandoning Western North Carolina,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. ­­— Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on House Republicans abandoning a bipartisan agreement to keep the federal government open and deliver desperately needed disaster aid for North Carolina: “At the last minute request of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, House Republicans have gone back on their word to keep the government open – putting in jeopardy the paychecks of millions of hardworking Americans right before the holidays. “Most tragically of all, they are abandoning communities in Western North Carolina who are counting on the federal government to deliver support for families, seniors, small businesses, childcare centers, community health centers, and so many more. Nearly $9 billion for North Carolina is in jeopardy because House Republicans care more about politics and appeasing billionaires than the people they serve. “An agreement is an agreement. If the government shuts down, Republicans will only have themselves to blame.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/19/budd-demands-wnc-disaster-relief-before-congress-leaves-for-christmas/,Video: Budd Demands WNC Disaster Relief Before Congress Leaves for Christmas,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) spoke at a press conference and laid out his demand that he would not support any continuing resolution to fund the government unless disaster aid for Western North Carolina is passed. WATCH: KEY QUOTES: “The fact that WNC has had to wait 83 days for disaster aid is just ridiculous and it’s a disgrace.” “We’ve got people living in tents. We have delayed FEMA trailers. It’s time to get beyond these political games.” “The initial CR – which is now dead – was a mess. It was a 1,500 page insult to taxpayers.” “For anything to pass, it has to have disaster aid for Western North Carolina to get my support.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-applauds-proposed-new-jacksonville-va-outpatient-clinic,Murphy Applauds Proposed New Jacksonville VA Outpatient Clinic,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs' proposal for a new state-of-the-art outpatient clinic in Jacksonville, NC. ""I am proud to announce that the Department of Veterans Affairs has selected a location for a new outpatient clinic in Jacksonville, NC,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.""I am grateful to have worked alongside Senator Tillis last Congress to establish the necessary funding for this facility and thank him for his leadership on this issue. As the representative of over 76,000 veterans, it is my honor to fight on their behalf in Washington to ensure they receive the care they earned. I look forward to following the progress of this project!"" Background Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., and Senator Thom Tillis fought to include over $61 million in the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 to establish a new outpatient clinic in Jacksonville, NC. The bill was signed into law on August 10, 2022.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/18/budd-protects-f-15es-at-seymour-johnson-and-prohibits-dangerous-transgender-procedures-in-defense-bill/,Budd Protects F-15Es at Seymour Johnson and Prohibits Dangerous Transgender Procedures in Defense Bill,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25 NDAA). Senator Budd secured a provision that prohibits the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base through 2027. The Air Force planned to divest 26 Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson next year, even though aircraft from North Carolina’s 335th Fighter Squadron helped defend Israel by shooting down dozens of drones and missiles from Iran in April. Additionally, these Strike Eagles have more than half their service life remaining and recently received multi-million dollar upgrades. Several top military officials have praised the F-15E after being questioned by Senator Budd in committee hearings. Strike Eagles were called phenomenal, very capable, and critical for scenarios in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Senator Budd also secured a provision to prohibit TRICARE from covering dangerous transgender medical procedures that could sterilize children. In addition, Senator Budd secured several other significant wins for North Carolina, including a 4.5% pay raise for North Carolina servicemembers and their families, more than $296 million in military construction projects, accelerating production of Infantry Squad Vehicles, and investing in research and development at North Carolina companies and educational institutions. Senator Budd said in a statement: “North Carolina represents the core of what makes our nation strong. The Air Force’s plan to divest F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson would harm our national security and make us weaker. The F-15Es are supremely capable aircraft with unmatched capability in the fleet. I am thrilled that my colleagues agreed with me and prohibited divestment. I will continue to fight to make sure that the future for Seymour Johnson and the Goldsboro community is bright and our military remains strong. “I was proud to secure nearly $300 million for military installations across North Carolina. These investments support our men and women in uniform by improving their quality of life and ensuring they have the facilities, equipment, and tools necessary to keep our Armed Forces ready and lethal.” Budd-Secured Wins for North Carolina: Authorizes $296 million in military construction, planning, and design funding for North Carolina’s military installations including: Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point ($123.5 million total): Authorizes a $114 million Composite Repair Facility, including $20 million in incremental funding for FY 2025. Authorizes $50 million for a F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center at MCAS Cherry Point. Authorizes a $213 million Aircraft Maintenance Hangars for MCAS Cherry Point, including $53.5 million in incremental funding for FY 2025. Camp Lejeune ($84.5 million total): Authorizes $27.5 million for a Special Operations Forces (SOF) Armory. Authorizes $57 million for Information Maneuver Facilities for Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg ($47 million total): Authorizes $13 million for a SOF Arms Room Addition. Authorizes $34 million for SOF Camp Mackall Company Operations Facilities Seymour Johnson Air Force Base ($41 million total): Authorizes $41 million to construct a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Authorizes $46.6 million, a $12.2 million increase from the President’s budget request, to accelerate procurement of the Infantry Squad Vehicle, manufactured in Charlotte, for the Army. Authorizes $5 million for Airborne Pathfinder, a program at Fort Liberty, to improve soldier readiness and effectiveness. Authorizes $4 million for procurement of Army Load Carrying Technology advancements (STEED) to improve the mobility of dismounted forces, STEED is manufactured in Charlotte. Authorizes $5 million to research and develop a 360 Helmet Mounted Display for Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). Authorizes $15 million for Heavy Dump Trucks for the Army supporting work in Greensboro, North Carolina. Budd-Secured Wins for National Security: Protecting the Homeland: Requires DOD to provide a briefing on the number of service member deaths attributable to drug overdoses caused by fentanyl. Deterring China: Requires a plan for the establishment of a joint force headquarters subordinate to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Japan. Updates the 1260H list to modify public reporting of Chinese Military Companies operating in the United States. Prohibits DOD from operating, procuring, or contracting for the use of Chinese light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. Prohibits DOD from contracting with companies that retain lobbying firms that also lobby for Chinese military companies on the 1260H list. Support for U.S.-Israel Bilateral Relationship and Countering Terrorism in the Middle East: Condemns the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and supports DOD assistance to Israel including: Authorizes $110 million for U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation Authorizes $30 million for U.S. Israel Anti-Tunneling Cooperation and expands cooperation with Israel to improve anti-tunneling technologies, increases the limit on amount authorized for such activities and directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing on planned training exercises relating to subterranean and tunnel warfare. Authorizes an increase of $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperation on emerging technology. Requires DOD to brief Congress on efforts to secure the release of United States citizens being held hostage by Hamas and other terrorist organizations around the world. Requires an assessment and plan of defense equipment provided to Kurdish Peshmerga Forces. Senator Budd championed the following additional provisions: Authorizes funding to support a 4.5 percent pay raise for military members. Increases monthly basic pay for junior enlisted service members in the grades of E-1 through E-4, in addition to the force-wide pay raise. Establishes a cross-functional team to plan and oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE), working to improve the DOD’s budgeting process and make it easier for small businesses to work with the DOD. Establishes pilot program to commercially produce munitions. Strengthens munitions supply chain secondary sources and solid rocket motor production. Authorizes a hiring manager of a military medical treatment facility or other health care facility of the Department of Defense to waiver any General Schedule qualification standards related to work experience for certain nurse or practical nurse applications for a position in Department of Defense medical treatment facilities. Extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI). Provides funding for the Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hubs, supporting the defense innovation ecosystem. Authorizes an additional $10 million to support DOD-Wide Internet Operations Management Capability to support expansion of security orchestration and automation capability within the existing program. Requires DOD to brief Congress on how it will maximize the success of the Thunderdome program. Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement a policy of reciprocal software accrediting. Supports $10 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program to prevent encroachment and reduce threats to military installation resilience. Reduces the minimum number of students required to establish a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) to 50 students to prevent closure of at risk JROTC units in North Carolina and across the country. Requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to brief Congress on all national security waivers granted by DOD. Halts hiring at DOD for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for one year. Bans DOD personnel from promoting critical race theory (CRT). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-leads-fourth-quarterly-adams-hunger-initiative,Rep. Adams Leads Fourth Quarterly Adams Hunger Initiative,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Image WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, hosted partner organizations in the fight against hunger for her Congressional district during her quarterly Adams Hunger Initiative yesterday, held virtually while she works in Washington. The Membership discussed the ongoing efforts in Washington to extend the Farm Bill by one year, the 118th Congress in review, opportunities in the next Congress, and community needs and resources in Greater Charlotte. “I’m so grateful for the individuals and organizations who’ve joined the Adams Hunger Initiative for the essential work they do in keeping people fed,” said Rep. Adams. “They reassure us that we are not alone in the fight to end hunger.” “For such a time as this, the District looks to Congresswoman Adams for leadership,” said Jason Blanton, North Carolina State Organizer at Bread for the World. “The Adams Hunger Initiative demonstrates her commitment to fight on behalf of those who are most in need. Bread for the World looks forward to partnering with her on defending and expanding WIC, fighting campus hunger, and other critical issues.” ""As a national organization serving justice-impacted people as they navigate reentry, we often hear from our participants about challenges to finding quality employment that puts food on the table for themselves and their family,"" said Center for Employment Opportunities North Carolina Site Director, Tiffany Miller. ""The Training and Nutrition Stability Act (TNSA) fixes a critical oversight that excludes people in workforce development programs, such as CEO's, from enrolling in SNAP benefits. We are grateful to Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12) for being a co-sponsor and champion of TNSA and for prioritizing anti-hunger initiatives that address the needs of diverse communities."" “Through my work with The Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council, where we innovate to increase local food access and Hearts and Hands Food Pantry, where we directly serve families experiencing food insecurity, I’ve seen both the systemic challenges and the immediate needs our communities face,” said Kenya Joseph, Board Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council. “The Adams Hunger Initiative, led by Congresswoman Alma Adams, is a vital platform to elevate solutions that combine policy, resources, and collaboration. I’m proud to bring these perspectives to the table as we push for sustainable, equitable change for those most impacted by hunger.” ""The West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition is excited to be part of the Adams Hunger Initiative, which aligns perfectly with our mission to address food insecurity in Charlotte's West Boulevard corridor,” said Elliott Royal, Executive Director of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition. “Our upcoming Three Sisters Market represents a critical step in providing fresh, quality food to over 19,000 residents who have been underserved by traditional grocery options. We are grateful for Congresswoman Adams' leadership and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities like the Adams Hunger Initiative for us to connect and learn from peer organizations that are transforming our community's access to nutritious food.” At tonight’s meeting, Rep. Adams provided an update on her work on the House Committee on Agriculture to protect and expand funding for programs that reduce and eliminate food insecurity in the district, amid debates over extending the usually five-year Farm Bill. Rep. Adams’ next Adams Hunger Initiative meeting will take place in March. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-foushee-and-members-of-the-bipartisan-house-task-force-on-artificial-intelligence-release-policy-recommendation-report,Rep. Foushee and Members of the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Release Policy Recommendation Report,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 17, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), a member of the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, issued the following statement after the release of the Task Force’s report on guiding principles, forward-looking recommendations, and policy proposals to ensure America continues to lead the world in responsible AI innovation. “This report is a critical first step towards ensuring that Congress can properly address advances in emerging AI technologies and maintain a thoughtful long-term vision for AI that betters our society. During my time with the Task Force, I have been proud to champion several key priorities outlined in this report, including broadening participation in AI research, development, and education, protecting civil rights and liberties, and assessing and understanding AI’s rising environmental and energy impacts,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “I would like to thank our task force Co-Chairs Obernolte and Lieu for their leadership over the last year as we discussed a variety of issues across the AI ecosystem, and I look forward to continuing our efforts as we work to implement these recommendations and adapt to new challenges to come.” The Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence was created by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on February 20, 2024. The Task Force is led by Co-Chairs Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA), and comprises twenty-four House Members, twelve Republicans and twelve Democrats. The AI Task Force Members are drawn from twenty committees to ensure comprehensive jurisdictional responsibilities over the numerous AI issues, and to benefit from a range of different insights and perspectives. Throughout 2024, the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence convened a plethora of hearings, numerous roundtables, and engaged with over one hundred experts, including business leaders, government officials, technical experts, academics, civil society, legal scholars, and other domain specialists to investigate dozens of issues at the heart of how AI intersects with numerous policy areas. The Task Force’s report articulates guiding principles, 66 key findings, and 89 recommendations organized into 15 chapters. The report is intended to serve as a blueprint for future actions that Congress can take to address advances in AI technologies. Priorities championed by Congresswoman Foushee in the report include: An entire chapter on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties which includes key findings that “improper use of AI can violate laws and deprive Americans of their civil rights” and a core consideration for Congress must be “mitigating harmful outcomes that impact Americans’ civil rights and civil liberties.” The chapter’s recommendations include having humans in the loop to identify and remedy potential flaws in AI, ensuring agencies protect against the use of AI in discriminatory decision-making, and empowering sectoral regulators to address AI-related risks. Key recommendations on promoting equity of access to research and capital, noting “institutions that serve rural areas and minority-serving institutions face even deeper challenges in accessing [AI] resources,” and “invest in K-12 STEM and AI Education and Broaden Participation” as the top Education and Workforce recommendation, which includes initiatives to ensure a diverse and robust AI workforce such as “improve STEM education in rural and underserved communities.” Calls for codifying the National AI Research Resource, or NAIRR, to connect capable but under-resourced researchers and educators to the computational data, software, and training models needed to advance AI research. The report also points to NAIRR as a potential solution to bolster U.S. AI skills by providing needed AI resources. Emphasis on the energy and environmental impacts of AI, noting “the carbon emissions of technology companies are soaring,” and recommending the U.S. plan now to achieve “climate and emissions goals,” including through “strengthen[ing] efforts to track and project AI data center power usage.” 15 Chapters relating to Government Use, Federal Preemption of State Law, Data Privacy, National Security, Research & Development and Standards, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Education and Workforce, Intellectual Property, Content Authenticity, Open and Closed Systems, Energy Usage and Data Centers, Small Business, Agriculture, Healthcare, and Financial Services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/rep-richard-hudson-secures-house-passage-of-bill-to-formally-recognize-lumbee-tribe,Rep. Richard Hudson Secures House Passage of Bill to Formally Recognize Lumbee Tribe,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Richard Hudson,H001067,hudson.house.gov,hudson,https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed his Lumbee Fairness Act, which will provide long-overdue federal recognition and protections for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina: “House passage of this critical legislation brings us one step closer to securing full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe,"" said Rep. Hudson. ""I am proud to have led this effort and will continue to fight until the Lumbee people get the recognition they rightfully deserve."" Background In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe, and the Tribe began to seek full federal recognition in 1888. The Lumbees have deep cultural roots in North Carolina and have contributed to the state through their traditions and ambition for decades. Since 1988, legislation to federally recognize the Lumbee Tribe has been introduced in Congress over 30 separate times, including introduction by Rep. Hudson. Bipartisan legislation has passed the House of Representatives six times, most recently in November 2020 during the 116th Congress and November 2021 during the 117th Congress. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-introduces-legislation-eliminate-burdensome-regulations-first,Murphy Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Burdensome Regulations for First Responders,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing the Emergency Vehicles Responsiveness Act, to eliminate burdensome and costly EPA regulations impacting first responders. ""First responders should be solely focused on saving lives and responding to emergencies, not onerous and expensive tailpipe regulations,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""The U.S. military is exempt from such requirements in the interest of operational efficiency and first responders should be treated the same. This legislation is a commonsense action that will ensure funding for our first responders, often barely enough to keep the lights on, can be preserved for more critical needs.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/17/budd-tillis-applaud-house-passage-of-lumbee-fairness-act/,"Budd, Tillis Applaud House Passage of Lumbee Fairness Act",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Lumbee Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina long-overdue federal benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives. Senator Budd said: “I am pleased that the House has taken an important step to address decades of unfair treatment from the federal government towards the Lumbee people. I am thankful for Senator Tillis’ leadership on the Lumbee Fairness Act and President Trump’s critical support for Lumbee recognition. We will continue to do everything we can to get the Lumbee the full federal recognition they deserve.” Senator Tillis said: “I am dedicated to ensuring that Congress fulfills its six-decade-old promise to grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee people. We are now closer than ever to finally fulfilling that promise. There is clearly strong bipartisan support for this effort in Congress, and both President Biden and President-elect Trump firmly back recognition. I commend the House for passing the Lumbee Fairness Act, and I will continue to pursue all options to finally achieve full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.” Background: The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American-Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which provided the Lumbee with federal recognition but included an unfair caveat that terminated their recognition. The Lumbee Tribe has received support from over 230 federally recognized tribes, President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Vance, President Biden, Vice President Harris, the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Governor, and various Native American scholars and organizations. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-budd-applaud-house-passage-of-the-lumbee-fairness-act,"Tillis, Budd Applaud House Passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Lumbee Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina long-overdue federal benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives. “I am dedicated to ensuring that Congress fulfills its six-decade-old promise to grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee people. We are now closer than ever to finally fulfilling that promise,” said Senator Tillis. “There is clearly strong bipartisan support for this effort in Congress, and both President Biden and President-elect Trump firmly back recognition. I commend the House for passing the Lumbee Fairness Act, and I will continue to pursue all options to finally achieve full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.” “I am pleased that the House has taken an important step to address decades of unfair treatment from the federal government towards the Lumbee people,” said Senator Budd. “I am thankful for Senator Tillis’ leadership on the Lumbee Fairness Act and President Trump’s critical support for Lumbee recognition. We will continue to do everything we can to get the Lumbee the full federal recognition they deserve.” Background: The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American-Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which provided the Lumbee with federal recognition but included an unfair caveat that terminated their recognition. The Lumbee Tribe has received support from over 230 federally recognized tribes, President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Vance, President Biden, Vice President Harris, the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Governor, and various Native American scholars and organizations. Full text of the Lumbee Fairness Act is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/in-case-you-missed-it-judge-wynn-honored-following-his-retirement-announcement/de37e518-383e-49c5-8b3f-36335d38619e,IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Judge Wynn Honored Following His Retirement Announcement,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In January 2024, Fourth Circuit Judge James Wynn announced his retirement, setting off a nomination process for his successor and a series of honors for Wynn, including a retirement party and awards like the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. However, in a blatantly partisan political move, Wynn shockingly reversed his decision because of the election of Donald Trump, violating many decades of precedent and likely igniting a stream of ethics complaints and recusal demands. Judge Wynn Announces Retirement: “White House officials confirmed to McClatchy Tuesday morning that Wynn announced he is taking senior status, meaning he will semi-retire, after 14 years of serving in the 4th Circuit…” [SOURCE: McClatchy] A Retirement Celebration to Remember: “When Judge James A. Wynn Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit announced his semi-retirement, he had no idea that his hometown community had a surprise celebration in store for him. More than 100 people gathered at Providence Baptist Church in Robersonville on March 10 to honor Wynn for his accomplishments and contributions — and to celebrate his 70th birthday.”[SOURCE: Greenville Daily Reflector] Awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine: “The top secret of the day was the Brown’s presentation of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award to Wynn, being presented on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper. The award is the highest honor awarded to civilians in North Carolina.” [SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Telegram] Community Proclaims “Jim Wynn Day”: “One of Robersonville’s commissioners read a proclamation declaring March 10 as Jim Wynn Day. The Rocky Mount chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity presented Wynn with an award as well.” [SOURCE: Greenville Daily Reflector] Congressman Don Davis: “On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District, [Congressman Don] Davis bestowed a special Congressional Recognition to Wynn in honor and celebration of his senior status on the federal bench.” [SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Telegram] President Barack Obama: “I hope today is full of warm memories from your friends and loved ones. And I’m sending you and Jaqueline my very best for all that lies ahead.” Governor Roy Cooper: “I am grateful for the work you have done, my best wishes for your very happy birthday and much-deserved semi-retirement.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-statement-on-judge-wynn-s-partisan-and-unprecedented-decision-to-rescind-his-retirement,Tillis Statement on Judge Wynn’s Partisan and Unprecedented Decision to Rescind His Retirement,2024-12-14,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on U.S. Fourth Circuit Judge James Wynn’s stunning decision to rescind his retirement for political reasons: “Judge Wynn's brazenly partisan decision to rescind his retirement is an unprecedented move that demonstrates some judges are nothing more than politicians in robes. Judge Wynn clearly takes issue with the fact that Donald Trump was just elected President, and this decision is a slap in the face to the U.S. Senate, which came to a bipartisan agreement to hold off on confirming his replacement until the next Congress is sworn-in in January. The Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on his blatant attempt to turn the judicial retirement system into a partisan game, and he deserves the ethics complaints and recusal demands from the Department of Justice heading his way.” In case you were wondering: Judge Wynn even had his retirement party nine months ago.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/13/budd-pushes-legislation-to-cut-government-red-tape-and-speed-up-relief-for-western-north-carolina/,Budd Pushes Legislation to Cut Government Red Tape and Speed up Relief for Western North Carolina,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced two bills to cut government regulation and deliver relief to North Carolinians impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Disaster Assistance Fairness Act would provide relief to North Carolina homeowners who are still desperately trying to dig out from the storms by making it clear that debris removal from private roads is in the public interest and therefore eligible for reimbursement under the Stafford Act. Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) introduced the House companion bill, H.R. 3777, which has 12 bipartisan cosponsors. The Flexible Compliance for Emergencies and Natural Disasters (FinCEN) Act would help businesses in North Carolina who are currently facing operational challenges and have limited resources in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Senator Budd said in a statement: “The scope of the devastation in Western North Carolina is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Folks from the mountains are resilient and tough, but they need their government to work quickly for them in their time of need. These two pieces of legislation will cut through red tape and get needed aid out the door. I will continue to work with my colleagues to get Congress to pass robust assistance that meets the moment.” Statement from Dawn Bauman, Chief Strategy Officer, Community Associations Institute: “Community associations are vital to the fabric of our communities, and ensuring they have access to federal disaster relief is critical. CAI applauds Senator Budd for his leadership in introducing the Senate companion to H.R. 3777. His commitment to supporting homeowners and strengthening disaster recovery efforts will make a meaningful difference for millions of Americans living in community associations nationwide.” Additional background on Senator Budd’s Legislation: Disaster Assistance Fairness Act The bill would require the President to direct FEMA to remove debris from real estate owned by homeowners’ associations and condominiums when a state or local government determines the debris and wreckage constitute a threat to life, public health, or safety, or the economic recovery of the community. The bill would also clarify that FEMA should provide homeowners with financial assistance for the repair of “essential common elements,” such as roofs, heating and cooling equipment, stairwells, and plumbing or electricity. FinCen Act The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requires businesses to submit Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports to combat illicit financial activity. However, natural disasters like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton have significantly disrupted the ability of businesses in affected areas to meet these deadlines. The FinCEN Act would address these challenges by providing an extension for businesses affected by federally declared disasters. Specifically, businesses in disaster-affected areas will not be required to submit BOI reports until January 1, 2026. The Treasury Secretary will determine eligibility based on location in a disaster-affected area, as declared under the Stafford Disaster Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-sens-markey-and-hirono-introduce-legislation-promote,"Rep. Adams, Sens. Markey and Hirono Introduce Legislation to Promote Preservation of Government and Historical Records",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Image WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Labor, Education, and Pensions Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) today introduced the Public Archives Resiliency Act (H.R. 10383), which would authorize grants to promote preservation, climate resilience, adaption, and continuity of vital government records and protect other records of historical or cultural significance. The legislation would provide funding for public archives, libraries, museums, institutions of higher education, or non-profits that protect these valuable records. As the climate crisis worsens, the need to protect vital government records from damage and destruction is more urgent than ever. Government records are generated through birth, death, marriage, taxes, military service, education, immigration, property ownership and much more. Far too many institutions that manage these records are at risk of environmental damage and lack resources to protect themselves and their communities. When records are destroyed or become inaccessible, it can delay an individual’s ability to access key government benefits and services, as well as result in the loss of irreplaceable cultural artifacts. “Especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which reminded us of the vulnerability of vital records of many North Carolinians to storm damage, we have a duty to ensure that archival records are protected from the elements,” said Congresswoman Adams. “I’m grateful to partner with Senator Markey in introducing legislation that would make new investments in public archives and the records of Tribes, museums, and libraries to bolster their resiliency. From preserving cultural memory to protecting legal and financial rights, the Public Archives Resiliency Act is a modest piece of legislation with wide-ranging, consequential benefits.” “Archival records impact everyone’s lives, from birth and death certificates, to military service records, to personal property records, to the history of a community. Organized and preserved archives hold our government accountable and provide access to the knowledge and records necessary to secure our rights and benefits.” said Senator Markey. “The climate crisis demands that we protect public archives from environmental damage and preserve these invaluable glimpses into our past and present.” “In the wake of last year’s Lahaina wildfires, eight of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s historic sites were burned down or critically damaged, leading to the loss of thousands of artifacts and records,” said Senator Hirono. “Public archives are essential to the preservation of our history and culture. The Public Archives Resiliency Act will help to better protect them from the effects of climate change, including natural disasters like wildfires or floods.” “America's archives have a unique role in underpinning legal and civic life and preserving cultural memory. Archives are part of the foundational infrastructure of our democracy. The growing frequency and severity of climate change-related disasters is having serious consequences on America's archives and the archivists who steward these vital records. This legislation is critically important for providing support to address this increasingly urgent issue,” said Eira Tansey, internationally recognized expert on climate change and archives, and author of A Green New Deal for Archives. “The importance of creating resilient archival institutions cannot be understated. Especially related to government archives and records, individuals often rely on the creation and preservation of records - censuses, taxes, military service, education, legal proceedings, property ownership, among others - to protect their rights and property, to secure benefits, and to recover from disaster. We must do the work now to preserve these records and make sure they are accessible for the future,” said Joy Banks, Executive Director, Council of State Archivists (CoSA). “SAA is excited to see the Senator’s office taking action to support archives impacted by climate change. Providing such support to the profession will ensure that archivists have the resources they need to maintain their collections under changing conditions. We are grateful to Senator Markey’s office for their commitment to the archives and records profession,” said Tomaro Taylor, President of the Society of American Archivists. “Our historical records are essential to our understanding of America's past. They provide facts for decision-makers and fuel for our imaginations, whether in the hands of scholars, educators, or family members. Our archival institutions deserve the necessary resources to continue to serve as cornerstones of our democracy. This bill protects these priceless documents as we continue to adapt to the challenges of climate change,” said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. “This opportunity is vital in protecting our nation’s shared cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change. The Museum of Science is grateful to contribute to this critical effort, which holds significant meaning for the public and future generations. It is essential that museums, archives, and libraries have access to these funding opportunities to improve access to both physical and digital archival records. These records play a crucial role in informing the decisions we make today, which will impact and shape our future,” saidTim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science, Boston. “As a historic site in a seaside location, The House of the Seven Gables has already started to see impacts of climate change on our archival collections. Increased humidity promotes mold growth and decomposition, larger and more dangerous storms threaten our storage facilities, and the growing risk of flooding from sea level rise could cause catastrophic damage. Our organization has been entrusted with documents and records that tell the story of early Massachusetts and America. Support such as this bill would be transformational not just for us, but for many other archives, libraries, and museums across the nation” said Dakota Russell, Executive Director of the House of the Seven Gables. “The importance of this bill cannot be overstated. This bill provides crucial support to libraries, archives and museums that care for historic and cultural materials endangered by the impacts of climate change. Infrastructure support would allow for critical improvements to aging HVAC systems, especially in Hawai‘i and other tropical climates where high temperature and humidity pose major challenges to maintaining a safe long term preservation environment for archival films. Digitization support would allow for the preservation, access and sharing of our cultural heritage documented on films and videos that are increasingly susceptible to loss from climate disasters,” said Janel Quirante, Head Archivist, at ‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai‘i. “Historic records and artifacts left by our kūpuna (ancestors) serve as foundational blueprints, offering invaluable guidance for addressing present-day challenges and shaping our future. The Public Archives Resiliency Act, which allocates additional funding to repositories, greatly strengthens the capacity of Hawai‘i’s archives to preserve and access essential historical records. This support is particularly critical as we confront the challenges of climate change, as recently underscored by the devastating wildfires on Maui in 2023,” said Kai Kahele, Chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. “The Public Archives Resiliency Act will provide essential support to Hawai‘i’s repositories dedicated to the preservation and accessibility of historic documents and artifacts. These institutions serve as vital stewards, empowering and educating the communities they support. OHA’s partnership with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation serves as a timely example of the importance of digitizing historic documents for the purpose of preserving Hawaiʻi’s history and provides a foundational framework upon which we build our future,” said Kale Hannahs, Research Systems Administrator at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. “Archival records, by their very nature, deteriorate over time. An archivist’s job is to slow this process and preserve the vital information documenting our society. The changing climate adds undue stress, expense, and pressure to this role—national, state, and local governments must prioritize supporting the strengthening of archival resiliency as a preventative measure, or recovery of destroyed records will come at a much higher fiscal and social burden,” said Edward Benoit III, Associate Director and Associate Professor, School of Information Studies, at Louisiana State University. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-applauds-passage-fy25-national-defense-authorization-act-0,Murphy Applauds Passage of FY25 National Defense Authorization Act,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 12, 2024 Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. applauds the passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. This legislation authorizes $883.7 billion for fiscal year 2025, including $849.9 billion for Department of Defense programs. It will save taxpayers $31 billion by cutting out inefficient programs and government agency bureaucracy by 4%. ""I am pleased that Congress has passed a National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that empowers our military to safeguard the United States and takes care of our troops,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.""This package robustly funds and modernizes our armed forces to prepare us against threats abroad, improves the quality of life for service members and their families and refocuses the Pentagon’s mission on our national security and away from political distractions. It is an honor to represent some of our nation’s greatest warfighters at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River. North Carolina’s 3rd District will benefit greatly from the $208 million in funding secured for military construction projects on our bases and $50 million in Impact Aid that will help our military community."" Victories | By the Numbers: $53.52 million for the aircraft maintenance hangar at Cherry Point $20.02 million for the composite repair facility at Cherry Point $50 million for the F-35 Sustainment Center at Cherry Point $27.5 million for the SOF Armory at Camp Lejeune $57 million for the SOF Information Maneuver Facility at Camp Lejeune Total for NC-03 Military Construction Initiatives in FY2025: $208.04 MILLION $50 million in Impact Aid and $20 million to local schools teaching children with severe disabilities $41 million for the SJAFB Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex $13 million for the SOF Arms Room Addition at Fort Liberty $34 million for the SOF Cam MacKall Company Operations Facilities at Fort Liberty Background Improves quality of life for service members and families Includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and supports a 4.5% pay raise for all other service members. Requires the Department of Defense and Department of Education to streamline the process for educational assistance so America’s service members do not have to worry about student debt after service. Supports the Army’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course and encourages the other Services to establish a similar course to improve recruitment. Offers competitive pay for Child Development Center staff. Provides service members with direct access to specialty medical providers by waiving the TRICARE referral requirement. Authorizes $176 million for the design and construction of new childcare centers. Establishes a pilot program to prevent and treat maternal mental health conditions for service members and their spouses. Requires the Defense Health Agency to report on provider shortages at maternal health clinics in rural areas. Eliminates woke ideology and restores focus on lethality Permanently bans DoD from funding transgender medical treatments for children. Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of Critical Race Theory in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools. Guts DEI bureaucracy by extending the DEI hiring freeze, prohibiting DoD from contracting with advertising firms like NewsGuard that blacklist conservative news sources, and banning funding for DoD’s politically biased Countering Extremism Working Group. Deters Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression Prevents Chinese espionage by prohibiting contracting with the subsidiaries of any Chinese civil-military companies to include any subsidiaries, the sharing of sensitive missile defense information with China, and Chinese nationals from being admitted to nuclear facilities. Mandates the DoD do a full teardown of Communist Chinese drones to ensure no U.S. technology is advancing their capabilities. Prohibits the DoD from utilizing a Communist Chinese-owned tutoring service for service members and their families. Requires the DoD to report on the proliferation and risks of Communist Chinese routers and modems in their systems. Prohibits the DoD from operating or procuring light detection and ranging technology manufactured in Communist China. Requires CCP-drone manufacturers DJI, Autel Robotics, and their subsidiaries and affiliates to be placed on FCC's Covered List within a year of the passage of the act unless a national security agency determines they do not pose an unacceptable national security risk. Improves military readiness and strengthens our industrial base Requires the DoD to establish a strategy to build out the domestic drone industry and to work with industry to lower the cost of secure unmanned aircraft systems. Ensures the DoD is examining the threat of artificial intelligence voice replication to trusted military communications and is identifying efforts to protect against these threats. Requires the DoD to define “attritable unmanned aircraft system” to enable the DoD to acquire attritable systems at scale. Requires the Chief Digital and AI Officer to develop a plan to scale Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control Mission Applications to enable global integration for early warning and detection. Supports the Air Force’s Acquisition Instructor Course and examines how this program can be expanded across the DoD. Ensures that the Army is considering soldier feedback when making a production decision on IVAS 1.2. Provides support for Israel and resources necessary to counter our adversaries Authorizes robust funding for U.S-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation. Authorizes $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel collaboration on emerging technologies like AI, c-UAS, and electronic warfare. Authorizes full funding for U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation. Prohibits DoD from using or citing casualty data from Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Prohibits the sale of goods at DoD commissaries and exchanges from any entities that have or are engaged in antisemitic BDS efforts. Strengthens our nuclear posture, improves missile defense, and accelerates delivery of space capabilities. Requires the establishment of a third continental missile defense site by 2030 to bolster defense of the homeland from long-range missile threats. Requires the Department to designate a senior official responsible for establishing a national integrated air and missile defense architecture for the United States. Continues support for investments in innovative commercial space solutions that would increase our capacity and resilience in space. Establishes a pilot program to demonstrate the ability to connect commercial and government systems in a hybrid space architecture. Establishes the Commerical Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) to allow the Space Force to contract with private sector to rapidly acquire space capabilities on an as-needed basis. Continues DoD support of law enforcement operations along our borders. Fully funds deployment of National Guard troops at the southwest border. Authorizes $90 million for construction of a new Joint Inter-Agency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Command and Control Facility to detect and interdict illegal migrants and narcotics. Increases funding by $10 million for DoD counternarcotics activities. Expands DoD’s authority to assist law enforcement in the interdiction of narcotics traffickers. Requires DoD to brief an independent review of ways to improve DoD’s ability to carry out its counternarcotics and counter-transitional organized crime mission.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/ross-kean-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-fully-fund-noaa-hurricane-hunter-fleet-in-disaster-funding-legislation,"Ross, Kean Lead Bipartisan Effort to Fully Fund NOAA Hurricane Hunter Fleet in Disaster Funding Legislation",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. — Today, Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) led 14 bipartisan colleagues in urging House Leadership to include President Biden’s full funding request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) three next-generation Hurricane Hunter aircraft in upcoming disaster funding legislation. The lawmakers wrote, “NOAA currently has two WP-3D aircraft capable of flying directly into hurricanes to collect critical data necessary for National Weather Service meteorologists to better measure and understand tropical systems. The data collected from these aircraft are essential to improving the accuracy of a hurricane’s track forecast and intensity. When hurricane hunter aircraft are deployed in a storm system in the Atlantic basin, the critical data that is obtained leads to improvements in forecasts of storm intensity by 15 - 20% and of storm track by 10 - 15%, which is on the order of 20 - 25 miles. This refined information can make a substantial difference for coastal cities regarding evacuation orders and other emergency measures. These improved forecasts allow emergency managers to make well-informed, actionable decisions that protect lives and livelihoods and mitigate economic losses.” They continued, “The need for new aircraft is more urgent than ever as the rapid intensification of tropical storms and hurricanes becomes more common, and hurricane activity impacts a greater area of the U.S. coast.3 Atlantic storm activity in 2024 has been above normal, with 19 named storms and 5 major hurricanes leading to what is likely to be the second-costliest U.S. hurricane season on record (following the 2017 season). This fall, Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the U.S. southeast region. Notably, both storms underwent dramatic rapid intensification as they approached landfall, and the forecasts for both storms were aided by NOAA hurricane hunter missions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-don-davis-votes-ndaa-stop-job-cuts-seymour-johnson-air-force-base,Congressman Don Davis Votes for NDAA to Stop Job Cuts at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Pay Our Troops,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Donald G. Davis,D000230,dondavis.house.gov,dondavis,https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a margin of 281 to 140. H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Authorization Act of 2025 includes a provision prohibiting the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagles. The legislation would prevent the eliminating of 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Wayne County, one of North Carolina’s most economically distressed areas. “The NDAA saves Seymour Johnson Air Force Base from hundreds of job cuts and puts more money into the hands of our junior enlisted, helping many who are experiencing food insecurity and relying on food stamps while safeguarding the American people,” said Congressman Don Davis. “The fight isn’t over. By pushing off the retirement of F-15E aircraft until 2027, we have more time to achieve a long-term solution and continue prioritizing economic stability for Wayne County and eastern North Carolina.” The NDAA also contains an authorizing provision supporting $41 million to construct a Combat Arms Training & Maintenance Complex that Congressman Davis requested after visiting the base. “To the 4th Fighter Wing and Wayne County: I see you, hear you, and will stay in this fight with you,” Davis added. “As a member of the House Armed Services Quality of Life Panel, I am glad to see that we are taking care of our junior enlisted and their families by passing a 14.5% pay raise. Moving forward, Congress must take every step necessary to address the cost of living challenges our troops face every day,” Davis concluded. Other Key Provisions of the NDAA for FY 2025 include: $1.8 billion for procurement of an additional 18 F-15EX aircraft $500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense systems, and $200 million for international security cooperation with Taiwan A 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members (E-4 and below) and a 4.5% basic pay increase for all other servicemembers Requires reevaluation of the current calculation methods for Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) to a realistic allowance for service members’ meals Raises the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) threshold to 200% of federal poverty guidelines Congressman Don Davis secured 16 amendments to the NDAA for FY 2025: Prohibits F-15E divestment through at least FY 2027, with minimal exceptions for the retirement of aircraft that are no longer operable Authorizes funding for a Combat Arms Training & Maintenance (CATM) Complex at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Allows up to nine Service Academy graduates per year to fulfill their Active-Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) in the selected reserves as a recruiting officer if they are drafted as a professional athlete Authorizes additional funding for Longshot Munitions Technology Development Authorizes a pilot program for studying AI in Marine Corps supply chain logistics operations Authorizes a pilot program for combat training centers Requires a report on Implications of Continuing Resolutions and Government Shutdowns on Shipbuilding Efforts Requires a report on human performance policies to optimize the readiness of military personnel Requires a study of the utility of new army-load-carrying technology for U.S. Army personnel Requires a report on National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy Implementation Requires a report on the effectiveness of emerging weapons systems like the conventional extensible warhead Requires a report on strategies to identify, develop, and procure ground robotic autonomous systems, including at Camp Lejeune Requires regular reporting on the Postsecondary Education Complaint System (PECS) Requires a report on innovative treatments for acute and chronic vascular trauma Requires a report on Military Base Flood Mapping to mitigate flood damage at military installations Authorizes an additional $5 million for advanced military base security to guard against cyber and perimeter security breaches Timeline of Action on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base: On November 20, 2023, Congressman Davis toured Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) during an official Congressional Delegation visit to deepen his understanding of the operations and challenges of SJAFB and to express unwavering support for the brave men and women in uniform. On March 13, 2024, Congressman Davis delivered remarks on the House Floor regarding plans by the Air Force to divest a combat squadron and strip away 520 jobs at SJAFB. A Full Video of Congressman Davis’ speech on the House Floor is here. On April 2, 2024, Congressman Davis sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Administration not to divest an F-15E aircraft fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Read the full letter here. On April 17, 2024, Congressman Davis questioned the Secretary of the Air Force on what communication he or his team had had with the local community, what the economic impact of divestment would be, and whether the Air Force planned to deliver the late report on force structure decisions. On May 13, 2024, Congressman Davis announced a provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft, including the combat squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, targeted for divestment. Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the United States Coast Guard—Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Liberty. Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Readiness.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-foushee-votes-against-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2025,Congresswoman Foushee Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. “The federal government has the solemn responsibility to support our servicemembers who make immense sacrifices to defend our nation. Still, House Republicans have decided to prioritize political interests and agendas ahead of the millions in our military who protect us every day,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “This bill attacks diversity, limits equity and inclusion, undermines essential climate measures, and restricts servicemember’s families from making their own health care decisions. Although this was a difficult decision, I cannot in good conscience support legislation that takes a step back in promoting inclusivity within our military and may force servicemembers to choose between continuing their service or ensuring proper health care for their families.” Specifically, the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act would: Ban gender-affirming care to military dependents under the age of 18. Impose a hiring freeze on personnel to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military. Prohibit funding for the working group which investigates and screens for white nationalist and other discriminatory ideologies in the military. Defund Pentagon efforts to minimize the risk of climate-change impacts from major federal procurements.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-celebrates-ndaa-passage-big-wins-for-troops-military-families,"Hudson Celebrates NDAA Passage, Big Wins for Troops, Military Families",2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Richard Hudson,H001067,hudson.house.gov,hudson,https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 25 NDAA) with bipartisan support: “As the representative of the largest military base in the world, I fought hard for a pay increase for our troops and more money for housing and quality of life investments for our servicemembers and their families,"" said Rep. Hudson. ""I am proud of the big wins we secured to give our military community the support they deserve."" Rep. Hudson fought for and secured several measures in the FY 2025 NDAA, including: $47 million in military construction projects at Fort Bragg, including a SOF Arms Room Addition and SOF Operations Facilities; Prevents the U.S. Army's proposed cuts to its SOF troops; A 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5% raise for all other servicemembers; $1.2 billion to renovate and build new barracks; $569 million to build new family housing units; $954 million for additional housing and facility maintenance accounts; Provides servicemembers with direct access to specialty medial providers by waiving the TRICARE referral requirement; Enables the Department of Defense to recruit and employ additional mental health providers; Codifies the Military Spouses Career Accelerator which provides employment support for military spouses; and Expands access to childcare for military spouses when they are seeking employment. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-hosts-4th-annual-campus-free-speech-roundtable,Murphy Hosts 4th Annual Campus Free Speech Roundtable,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — This morning, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. hosted his 4th Annual Campus Free Speech Roundtable, alongside Education & the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Congressman Burgess Owens, to convene lawmakers, stakeholders, and students to discuss challenges to free expression on college campuses and solutions to support First Amendment protections. Representatives from the Young America's Foundation (YAF), Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA), American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), Speech First, Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought and Discourse, Princetonians for Free Speech and The Jefferson Council for the University of Virginia were in attendance. The live stream for the event can be viewed here. ""Free speech on campuses across the country has been under attack for decades,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""Progressive political ideologues have infiltrated and overtaken college administrations and faculties. Rampant anti-Semitism and egregious DEI programs have replaced the principles of civility, freedom of expression, and equality on which institutions of higher education were founded. Students, in record numbers, self-censor in classrooms. Faculty force their own political ideologies on students. Administrators abuse their position of authority to push a political agenda. Congress plays a role in oversight of public universities and must protect students' First Amendment rights. I appreciate the ongoing commitment of groups who fight for free speech so that we ensure our nation's colleges remain robust learning environments that cultivate tolerant, well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to our dynamic society.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/congresswoman-ross-votes-against-ndaa-calls-for-passage-of-camp-lejeune-justice-corrections-act,"Congresswoman Ross Votes Against NDAA, Calls for Passage of Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act",2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. Congresswoman Ross has been fighting for the inclusion of her bipartisan legislation, The Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act, in the NDAA. However, the final text passed by the House did not incorporate her bill. “The annual defense authorization presents an important opportunity to invest in our national security and in North Carolina service members, veterans, and their families,” said Congresswoman Ross. “While I strongly support much of the bill, including pay increases for our men and women in uniform, I’m extremely disappointed that the final version of the NDAA did not include the bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act. This critical legislation will remove legal barriers that are preventing veterans who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune from accessing the remedies they deserve. Our North Carolina veterans and their families deserve justice. We must pass this urgently needed legislation without delay.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-budd-meet-with-nc-general-assembly-leaders-on-hurricane-helene-recovery-efforts,"Tillis, Budd Meet with NC General Assembly Leaders on Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts",2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation. “We are fully committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that Congress passes disaster relief as quickly as possible so Western North Carolina can begin the long-term recovery process,” said Senators Tillis and Budd. “North Carolina’s Congressional and NCGA leaders have worked closely together since the beginning, and we are all on the same page on the need to pass legislation at the state and federal levels to cut red tape and deliver much-needed assistance to Western North Carolina.” Background Senator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall. On October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm. On October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation. On October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance. On October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session. On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator. On November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later. On November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. On November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee. On November 21, 2024 Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On December 5, 2024 Senator Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. In addition to Senator Tillis’ legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-bills-fund-water-systems-improve-dam-safety-wnc-headed-presidents-desk,"Edwards’ bills to fund water systems, improve dam safety in WNC headed to president’s desk",2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed S. 4367, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which secures wins for Western North Carolina - including the following funding authorizations - and is headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law: More than $41 million for flood mitigation along the Pigeon River in Canton, N.C. $1.5 million for downtown water system rehabilitation in Murphy, N.C. $4 million for water plant expansion in Weaverville, N.C. More than $3.4 million for water infrastructure upgrades in Robbinsville, N.C. In addition to the funding, the following three bills that Edwards introduced were passed as part of WRDA 2024: the National Dam Safety Program Reauthorization Act of 2023, the National Dam Safety Program Amendment Act, and the Low-Head Dam Inventory Act. Edwards said, ""WNC, with its many lakes and rivers, must remain at the forefront of dam safety and I’m pleased that the House passed three of my bills to provide federal support for the nearly 92,000 dams that serve critical functions across our nation. ""The significant flooding following Hurricane Helene underscored the importance of improving dam safety efforts to prevent catastrophic dam failures, protect lives and downstream communities, and make sure that dams continue to provide the services that Western North Carolinians depend on."" North Carolina’s 11th district is home to more than 750 dams, many of which are in poor or unsatisfactory condition. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave America’s dams a “D” grade in safety, and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) estimates that more than 2,300 high-hazard dams are at risk due to a lack of investment in dam safety. ASDSO estimates that it would cost $157.5 billion to place these high-hazard dams into a state of good repair. The bipartisan National Dam Safety Program Reauthorization Act of 2023 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through fiscal year 2028. The bipartisan National Dam Safety Program Amendment Act increases the amount a state can receive for its dam safety program through already-available funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency by 800 percent, and improves the program to strengthen dam safety across the nation. The bipartisan Low-Head Dam Inventory Act would require that low-head dams be added to the National Inventory of Dams to keep track of the location and condition of low-head dams, specifically high-hazard low-head dams, and make sure that they are appropriately maintained to prevent low-head dam failures. Background",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/house-passes-congresswoman-ross-request-to-increase-north-carolina-environmental-infrastructure-program-funding-in-the-water-resources-development-act,House Passes Congresswoman Ross’ Request to Increase North Carolina Environmental Infrastructure Program Funding in the Water Resources Development Act,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that $50 million in authorized federal funding for the North Carolina Environmental Infrastructure Program passed the U.S. House of Representatives in the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act. This funding provides a significant $37 million increase from the current $13 million allocation and will support environmental assistance projects across North Carolina. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Congresswoman Ross submitted a request for this funding in January 2024. Administered in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, these funds will assist non-federal entities in addressing critical assistance needs, including water infrastructure development and resource protection. This investment comes as water quality concerns grow nationwide. In November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that over 11 million more Americans are exposed to PFAS in their drinking water, bringing the total number at risk to more than 143 million. Additionally, in March 2024, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality added 70 bodies of water to the proposed list of impaired waters. “I’m extremely excited to see an historic $50 million authorized for North Carolina through the North Carolina Environmental Infrastructure Program,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This funding marks a critical step in ensuring cleaner, safer water for communities across North Carolina. I am committed to working across party lines to safeguard public health and protect North Carolina’s precious environment for future generations.” Program funds will go to:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/10/tillis-budd-meet-with-nc-general-assembly-leaders-on-hurricane-helene-recovery-efforts/,"Budd, Tillis Meet with NC General Assembly Leaders on Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts",2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation. “We are fully committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that Congress passes disaster relief as quickly as possible so Western North Carolina can begin the long-term recovery process,” said Senators Tillis and Budd. “North Carolina’s Congressional and NCGA leaders have worked closely together since the beginning, and we are all on the same page on the need to pass legislation at the state and federal levels to cut red tape and deliver much-needed assistance to Western North Carolina.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-announces-2024-congressional-app-challenge-winners,Hudson Announces 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winners,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Richard Hudson,H001067,hudson.house.gov,hudson,https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recognition of Computer Science Education Week, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) today announced the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for North Carolina's 9th District. “The Congressional App Challenge is a great opportunity for our region's middle and high school students to showcase their creativity and computer skills on the national level,"" said Rep. Hudson.""Congratulations to this year's winners from Jack Britt High School and North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for their innovative app design, and thank you to all of our region's students who participated in this year's competition."" Below is the winning selection for North Carolina's 9th District: App: Guide Dog, an app designed with the primary goal of helping blind or visually impaired people navigate their surroundings. Team: Gabrielle Humphrey from Jack Britt High School and Sophie Zhu from North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Both students are from Fayetteville. The Congressional App Challenge was launched by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage student innovation and engagement in computer science and STEM. This national effort seeks to inspire students from every corner of the country to explore coding and computer science through hands-on practice by creating an app. The winner was chosen by Rep. Hudson's selection committee, a panel of technology professionals that evaluated submissions earlier this fall. The winning app will be featured on the House.gov website and the CongressionalAppChallenge.us website. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-demands-answers-on-leaked-info-regarding-iranian-cyberattack-on-fbi-director-nominee-kash-patel,Tillis Demands Answers on Leaked Info Regarding Iranian Cyberattack on FBI Director Nominee Kash Patel,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Paul Abbate demanding answers from the FBI concerning leaks about a recent Iranian-backed cyberattack against Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director. “I write to express concern about reports that Kash Patel was targeted in an Iranian-backed cyberattack. For an Iranian-backed group to have targeted the potential next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is extremely alarming. Also alarming is the speed at which sensitive and potentially classified information about this attack spread to the news media,”Senator Tillis wrote. “NBC News specifically reported that two senior law enforcement officials confirmed information about the cyberattack to their news outlet. Two sources also relayed the information to CNN and CBS who communicated that information to British broadcaster BBC. As you know, it is imperative that the FBI and other intelligence agencies maintain confidentiality to ensure the American people are safe from enemies at home and abroad,” Senator Tillis concluded. Full text of the letter is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-don-davis-delivers-thanksgiving-pies-first-responders-and-911,Congressman Don Davis Delivers Thanksgiving Pies to First Responders and 911 Telecommunicators,2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Donald G. Davis,D000230,dondavis.house.gov,dondavis,https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) delivered pies to first responders and 911 telecommunicators working over Thanksgiving and extended Thanksgiving greetings across all 19 counties in North Carolina’s First Congressional District during his second annual “Pies of Thanks” Thanksgiving Tour. “Pies of Thanks is about showing appreciation for the unsung heroes of our communities — our first responders and 911 telecommunicators. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel stand unwaveringly on the front lines of our security and healthcare systems, especially during the holidays, ensuring safety for all,” said Congressman Davis. The second annual ""Pies of Thanks"" Thanksgiving tour is a gesture of appreciation on behalf of eastern North Carolinians for the unwavering dedication and service exhibited by those on the front lines. Congressman Davis personally delivered pies as tokens of appreciation, symbolizing the community's gratitude towards these essential personnel. The Tour kicked off at 7:45 AM at the Greene County Operations Center in Snow Hill, NC. From there, it continued through Wilson, Pitt, Martin, Bertie, Washington, Tyrrell, Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Halifax, Warren, Vance, Franklin, Nash, and Edgecombe counties. The journey's final stop was at the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office in Tarboro, NC, concluding the second annual ""Pies of Thanks"" Thanksgiving Tour. The tour became a symbol of recognition for those who tirelessly safeguard our communities 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-don-davis-marks-one-year-medicaid-expansion-north-carolina,Congressman Don Davis Marks One Year of Medicaid Expansion In North Carolina,2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Donald G. Davis,D000230,dondavis.house.gov,dondavis,https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), Co-Chair of the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus, marked the first anniversary of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina on the U.S. House of Representatives floor. The milestone comes after more than a decade of advocacy from patients, providers, and elected officials. “After a decade of waiting, in some cases, dying, we must now celebrate that over 95,000 eastern North Carolinians once trapped in the Medicaid coverage gap now have access to healthcare,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Medicaid expansion and the new Center for Medical Education at East Carolina University will address health disparities and help to create thousands of jobs in our most economically distressed communities. As Co-Chair of the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus, I am glad to have been part of the effort in the NC General Assembly and US Congress to ensure a brighter future for families across eastern North Carolina.” After Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 76, Access to Healthcare Options, into law, more than 95,000 residents of eastern North Carolina and nearly 600,000 North Carolinians statewide gained access to healthcare through Medicaid. Governor Cooper marked this milestone at ECU Health in Greenville. During his 12 years in the NC General Assembly, Congressman Davis worked to ensure approval of both the new Center for Medical Education building and Medicaid expansion, which work hand in hand to create more than 3,000 jobs across eastern North Carolina and save countless lives. As hospitals and other healthcare facilities face financial obstacles because their payer mix skews towards Medicare and Medicaid, the expansion will and already is providing an economic lifeline. Since the closure of Martin General Hospital and the efforts by Washington Regional Medical Center to fill some of the void, Congressman Davis has fought to ensure critical infrastructure funding and continued support for Rural Emergency Hospitals at the federal level. January 12, 2023 - Congressman Davis delivers his first floor remarksadvocating for Medicaid expansion at the federal level. February 9, 2023 - Congressman Davis introduces H.Res. 122, a resolution expressing support for a federal alternative to statewide Medicaid expansion. February 10, 2023 - Congressmen Davis (NC-01), Cohen (TN-09), and Johnson (GA-04), then representing three non-expansion states, re-launched the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus to voice support at the federal level for Medicaid expansion across all fifty states. December 1, 2023 - The State Medicaid Expansion Caucus applauds North Carolina expanding Medicaid after more than a decade of negotiations in the North Carolina General Assembly.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/reps-ross-joyce-castor-bacon-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-end-abuse-and-sexual-violence-in-sports,"Reps. Ross, Joyce, Castor, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help End Abuse and Sexual Violence in Sports",2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. — Today, Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Don Bacon (NE-02) hosted a virtual press conference to announce the introduction of their Safer Sports for Athletes Act. Alongside survivors and advocates, the lawmakers introduced their bipartisan legislation to strengthen the U.S. Center for SafeSport (SafeSport) and help end sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in sports. VIDEO: Click here to download a recording of the press conference Congress established SafeSport in 2017 to conduct investigations into cases of abuse in sports, control a centralized disciplinary database, and provide training designed to prevent abuse in sports to coaches, athletes, and sports organizations. SafeSport receives thousands of reports of abuse and misconduct per year, but it needs stronger guidelines and greater resources to fulfill the intent of Congress and better prevent and address sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of athletes. Congresswoman Ross represents the Carolina Courage, whose players experienced sexual abuse and coercion while Paul Riley was the head coach. Since news broke of his abuse, Congresswoman Ross has led efforts in Congress to help reform the culture of abuse and harassment that has permeated women’s soccer and other sports for too long. “For too long, athletes in different sports and across all levels of athletics have endured devastating abuse and have not felt served by the institutions charged with protecting them,” said Congresswoman Ross. “No athlete – whether they play sports for fun or for a living – should be forced to experience the level of abuse, harassment, and violence that has become unacceptably common in sports today. The time for change is now, and I am proud to lead a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Safer Sports for Athletes Act. This comprehensive legislation will help SafeSport live up to its promise of protecting athletes and preventing abuse and sexual violence in sports.” “Our nation’s athletes at all ages go through extensive training and work overtime to achieve their athletic goals. Unfortunately, the prevalence of sexual abuse by some of their most trusted mentors and coaches is all too common,” said Congressman Joyce. “After extensive conversations with athletes who have used the effective SafeSport program since 2018, my colleagues and I put together the Safer Sports for Athletes Act to make necessary improvements. These revisions will ensure athlete survivors get the care they deserve and the criminals are apprehended.” ""Every athlete at every level deserves to participate in sports in a safe, harm-free environment,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “Congress created the U.S. Center for SafeSport to protect athletes and hold abusers accountable, but it’s clear that gaps in transparency and accountability must be addressed to serve athletes better. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to restore trust, strengthen safeguards and ensure every athlete can thrive in a supportive environment.” ""Athletes who have been sexually abused should be taken seriously, and abusers must be swiftly brought to justice,"" said Rep. Bacon, co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus. “When I became Commander of Ramstein Air Force Base, I inherited a base with the highest sexual assault allegations in the U.S. Air Force and established a three-point program to address it. The program was later ranked by the Air Force as the number one sexual assault response program. I am honored to cosponsor the Safer Sports for Athletes Act of 2024, which will increase transparency in investigations and ensure more resources are invested in training individuals to address sexual abuse.” Congresswoman Ross’ Safer Sports for Athletes Act would strengthen SafeSport through key revisions that would improve the investigative process for athlete survivors, promote communication with national governing bodies, and revise training guidelines, all while providing SafeSport with enhanced funding. Specifically, the legislation would: Improve SafeSport’s investigative process by: Providing fair notice and opportunity to be heard to complainants; Protecting complainant privacy and safety and allowing for complainants to have a confidential victim advocate present in any proceedings; Setting a timeline for SafeSport to conclude cases or notify parties of necessary extensions; and Establishing preponderance of evidence as the burden of proof for SafeSport proceedings. Ensure the investigation process is trauma-informed by: Replacing SafeSport’s arbitration process with an expert panel, which would consist of experts with training in trauma-informed care and an understanding of the sport dynamics relevant to the case; and Allowing SafeSport to pursue investigations and sanctions without testimony from victims of sexual misconduct in extraordinary circumstances. Ensure national governing bodies (NGBs) have information to keep predators out of sports by: Enhancing the information that SafeSport provides to NGBs about reports of abuse while ensuring confidentiality of survivors; and Ensuring that NGBs can prevent individuals accused of sexual misconduct from participating in a sport prior to the conclusion of a SafeSport investigation without that action being considered interference in such investigation. Change sports culture and prioritize prevention by: Improving training materials by requiring them to be regularly updated, developed with experts in sexual abuse prevention and athlete survivors, and be trauma-informed using best practices; and Requiring for the first time an investment in prevention by creating a floor of no less than 20% of SafeSport’s funding to be used for prevention efforts and strategies in amateur athletics, including training, oversight practices, and policies to help create a lasting culture change. The Safer Sports for Athletes Act has been endorsed by 47 organizations and individuals dedicated to preventing and addressing abuse in sports, along with the 54 Member State Associations of U.S. Youth Soccer. It has also been endorsed by U.S. Soccer and CHILDUSA.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-van-hollen-lead-bipartisan-push-on-tax-relief-for-taiwan,"Tillis, Van Hollen Lead Bipartisan Push on Tax Relief for Taiwan",2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 27 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) highlighting the importance of passing U.S.-Taiwan double taxation relief measures this year. “As you are aware, Taiwan is a significant economic partner to the United States and yet Taiwan is the only one of the United States’ top 10 trading partners without a formal double taxation agreement. Taiwan has also become an increasing source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S., with TSMC’s investment in Arizona being the largest greenfield FDI project in U.S. history. However, existing tax barriers—including the double taxation of income, interest, and dividends—add financial burdens for businesses from both nations, making it more expensive for them to expand in each other’s markets,” the senators wrote. “The 118th Congress has made significant strides in tackling this issue, with the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees working together with the House on Taiwan tax relief legislation. If enacted, this legislation would provide specific relief from double taxation on U.S.-Taiwan cross-border investments and authorize the President to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan. Earlier this year, the House passed Taiwan-related provisions as part of H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 and the Senate Committee on Finance passed Taiwan tax relief legislation out of Committee unanimously,” the senators continued. “By passing the U.S.-Taiwan double taxation relief measures this year, we can make significant headway in eliminating tax disincentives on cross-border investments between the U.S. and Taiwan. We believe there is strong support for these measures with Taiwan in the Senate, just as there was in the House. We are eager to work with you to see Taiwan tax relief legislation enacted before the 118th Congress comes to a close. U.S. and Taiwanese investors should not have to wait until the next Congress for action,” the senators concluded. In addition to Senators Tillis and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), George Helmy (D-NJ), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ted Budd (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Brian Schatz (D-HI). Text of the full letter is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-statement-passing-yvonne-johnson,Rep. Adams’ Statement on the Passing of Yvonne Johnson,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“Like me, Yvonne Johnson lived by the old Shirley Chisholm quote, “Service is the rent we pay for living on God’s Earth.” She was more than the first Black Mayor of Greensboro. My friend led a life of change and justice-making, from the March on Washington to the Greensboro Sit-ins while she was a student at Bennet College, where I taught for forty years. She took my seat on the Greensboro City Council and led our city with grace and conviction. Her rent is fully paid and then some. Rest in peace, my friend.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-launches-223-fix-fema-dedicated-fema-help-line,Edwards launches 223-FIX-FEMA as dedicated FEMA help line,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) announced that his office launched a dedicated phone number, 223-FIX-FEMA, to help Western North Carolinians with issues regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Helene. Edwards said, “Western North Carolinians who need help with or are having issues with FEMA should call 223-FIX-FEMA, and my office can engage with the agency directly on behalf of your application. Likewise, if you know of anyone living in a tent, needing shelter, or are otherwise unhoused from Hurricane Helene, please call 223-FIX-FEMA and let us know where they are so we can help.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/video-congresswoman-ross-bill-to-name-raleigh-post-office-after-wwii-veteran-and-civil-rights-leader-millie-dunn-veasey-passes-house,VIDEO: Congresswoman Ross Bill to Name Raleigh Post Office After WWII Veteran and Civil Rights Leader Millie Dunn Veasey Passes House,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ICYMI — Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about her bipartisan bill to rename the post office located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina as the “Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office.” Honoring a WWII veteran and civil rights leader, the legislation has now passed the House and moves to the Senate for final approval before being signed into law. To access the full floor speech, click here. A full transcript can be found below: -- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an honor to speak in support of my bill naming the United States Postal Service facility at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh after Staff Sergeant Millie Dunn Veasey. This legislation pays tribute to the life and legacy of Millie Dunn Veasey, a remarkable woman whose contributions profoundly shape not only our local community, but our nation. Ms. Dunn Veasey's legacy began when the U.S. Army assigned her to the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion as a typist. The 6888 was the only African American Women's Army Corps Unit to operate overseas during the war. This group of pioneering women sorted and delivered mail to soldiers, ensuring that they received vital letters from home. The unit adopted the phrase, ""No mail, low morale."" These courageous women knew the power that these letters held for the soldiers who received them. The women worked tirelessly to develop a new mailing system and began successfully processing up to 195,000 pieces of mail each day. Ms. Dunn Veasey's courage and determination during this time was instrumental in the success of this mission, and the story of her service is one of trailblazing leadership in the face of adversity. After the war, Ms. Dunn Veasey returned to Raleigh and took advantage of the GI Bill, enrolling in Saint Augustine’s University. She became active in the Civil Rights Movement, working as an organizer in Raleigh to push for integrated public spaces. After serving our country honorably overseas, she came home and recommitted herself to the pursuit of justice and equality for all. In 2018, Millie Dunn Veasey passed away at the age of 100 in her hometown of Raleigh and was buried with distinct honor at the Raleigh VA National Cemetery. Today, we can ensure that her legacy to the Postal Service lives on and celebrate her place in history as a figure who changed our community and country for the better.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/12/tillis-calls-on-congress-to-cast-politics-aside-to-support-helene-relief,Tillis Calls On Congress To Cast Politics Aside To Support Helene Relief,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Watch the full clip HERE. Senator Tillis on the Urgent Need for Federal Disaster Assistance: “I believe that we need that disaster supplemental at about $100 billion there's nearly an estimate of $50 billion in North Carolina alone. Neil, think about that $50 billion in North Carolina alone, the people here in Congress who are opposing getting this out the door and doing the right thing, and conflating what we should be doing on reducing the debt with providing aid to people who are displaced.” Senator Tillis on Putting Politics Aside to Help Western North Carolina: “Asheville went 52 days without drinkable water. They just got it back two and a half weeks ago. It is a dire situation. It's going to take years to recover, and we shouldn't be playing games with people's lives in western North Carolina, in Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, all who were hit by Helene, they were hit by Milton and they were hit by Debbie. We've got to do right by them and put politics aside. And if you enter politics into the room, you'll spend some quality time with me on the floor.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-urges-congress-take-action-against-pharmacy-benefit-managers,Murphy Urges Congress to Take Action Against Pharmacy Benefit Managers,2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. participated in a bipartisan, bicameral press conference urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to take action on the abuses of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) by passing the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act: ""For years, we have heard testimony from small business owners, physicians, and patients about unaffordable health care, opaque pricing practices, and an overly complex and burdensome system that creates barriers to care for Americans,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""At the center of these challenges are the middlemen in our health care industry who steer patients to their own vertically consolidated entities, siphon money from our independent pharmacies, and completely obscure the flow of the health care dollar in America. As the only practicing physician in Congress, I continue to witness the impact of these challenges firsthand."" ""The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which has received bipartisan, bicameral support, directly addresses these concerns by making health care more affordable for patients and employers through increased transparency and competition. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer held it up for almost a year. This is unacceptable, and I will keep fighting until we get it signed into law."" Background Pharmacy Benefit Managers operate as middlemen between drug manufacturers, insurance companies, and pharmacies, negotiating drug prices and determining which medications are covered by insurance plans. PBMs prioritize profits over patients by encouraging higher-cost drugs, limiting consumer access to medications, monopolizing market control, and reimbursing independent pharmacies with unsustainable rates. H.R. 5478, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act would increase price transparency throughout the health care system, lower prescription drug costs, and support patients, health care workers, community health centers, and hospitals.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/04/budd-kaine-introduce-bill-to-incentivize-landowners-to-participate-in-military-land-use-program/,"Budd, Kaine Introduce Bill to Incentivize Landowners to Participate in Military Land Use Program",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced the Incentivizing REPI Sales Act. The bipartisan bill provides financial incentives for landowners to sell land for inclusion in a program to maintain military readiness and promote environmental conservation. Background: The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program supports cost-sharing agreements between the Military Services, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and private conservation organizations to avoid land use conflicts near military installations, address environmental restrictions that limit military activities, and increase resilience to weather events and other environmental concerns. REPI is a key tool used by DOD and its partners to protect the military’s ability to train, test, and operate. Development of lands and loss of habitat near military installations, ranges, and airspace can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Preserving natural areas is vital for keeping skies dark, which is necessary for night training, protecting habitats off-base for endangered species, and facilitating nature-based approaches to mitigate flooding and severe weather. REPI successfully protected 27,000 acres around Fort Liberty, NC in order to provide a flight corridor for Grey Eagle drone training and conduct Robin Sage, the final training exercise of Special Forces qualification. This action also helped recover the local population of red-cockaded woodpeckers. The Incentivizing REPI Sales Act excludes the appreciated land value from federal capital gains tax for landowners who sell land or easements near military installations specifically for REPI purposes. Senator Budd said in a statement: “As global threats continue to grow and adapt, our military must maintain its readiness and lethality through realistic training at home installations. The REPI program has been used successfully to conserve land around military installations while promoting environmental protection. I’m proud to partner with Senator Kaine to provide financial incentives to landowners so that REPI participation grows and military readiness is strengthened.” Senator Kaine said: “Building and maintaining resilient bases is crucial to our national security. I’ve long supported the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, which helps us do that while also promoting conservation of public lands and critical habitat. I’m proud to work with Senator Budd in introducing this legislation to incentivize participation in the REPI program and will continue to do all that I can as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to support our military installations.” Jennifer Morris, CEO of the Nature Conservancy: “For decades, the Readiness Environmental Protection Integration, or REPI, program has successfully facilitated partnerships to preserve landscapes for both conservation value and their contributions to national security. These land protection projects help support the military community while also preserving off-base habitats for threatened and endangered species. As the demands of development increase and intensify amongst the remaining available landscapes around these installations, these REPI agreements will be a win for both conservation and national security.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/04/budd-sponsored-bill-to-stop-online-sexual-exploitation-passes-senate/,"Budd, Cruz, Klobuchar-Sponsored Bill to Stop Online Sexual Exploitation Passes Senate",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — The Senate has passed S. 4569, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII, and require social media and similar websites to implement procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notice from a victim. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. The bill was led by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobachar (D-MN). Senator Budd said in a statement: “The distressing growth in online sexual exploitation requires a robust national response. The Take it Down Act builds on existing federal law and establishes a requirement for websites to respond to victims and take down explicit material. I have been proud to be a part of this bipartisan effort to protect Americans from these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice. I urge the House to approve this legislation and urge the president to sign it into law.” Senator Cruz said: “Over the past several months, courageous victims of AI-deepfake ‘revenge porn’ have shared their stories to raise awareness and inform lawmakers’ efforts to stop this despicable behavior. Passage of our bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act will give innocent victims — many of whom are teenage girls —the opportunity to seek justice against deviants who publish these abusive images. It will also hold Big Tech accountable by making sure websites remove these disgusting fake videos and pictures immediately.” “For young victims and their parents, these deepfakes are a matter requiring urgent attention and protection in law. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Washington to move this common-sense bipartisan legislation quickly through the House and to the President’s desk so it can be signed into law.” Senator Klobachar said: “We must provide victims of online abuse with the legal protections they need when intimate images are shared without their consent, especially now that deepfakes are creating horrifying new opportunities for abuse. This bipartisan legislation builds on my work to ensure that victims can have this material removed from social media platforms and will ensure law enforcement can hold perpetrators accountable.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-highlights-work-to-strengthen-grid-resiliency-on-anniversary-of-moore-0,Hudson Highlights Work to Strengthen Grid Resiliency on Anniversary of Moore County Attack,2024-12-03,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NC,Richard Hudson,H001067,hudson.house.gov,hudson,https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 3, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) released the following statement in recognition of the two-year anniversary of the Moore County grid attack: “Two years ago, our community suffered a reprehensible attack, leaving 45,000 of Moore County residents without power for days. An attack like this could have devastated our community, and we didn’t go without our struggles, but I am so proud of the strength our community showed. “Since the attack, I have led an ongoing effort to advance legislation and secure funding at the federal level to bolster our grid resilience and strengthen our energy supply chain. While we have been making great progress, this is a complicated problem set that requires our continued focus and attention.” Timeline of Rep. Hudson's Actions to Secure the Energy Grid: December 2022: Rep. Hudson toured Duke Energy power substation which was attacked and received a briefing on the recent power outages in Moore County. January 2023: Rep. Hudson organized a classified briefing from the FBI for Members of Congress on attacks targeting US electrical infrastructure. February 2023: Rep. Hudson urged the Department of Energy to provide fair and prompt consideration of the North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives application to the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Topic Area 2 Grant Competition. March 2023: Rep. Hudson cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, legislation to lower energy costs for Americans, remove the bureaucratic red tape holding our energy industry back, and unleash America’s energy independence. May 2023: Rep. Hudson reintroduced the Widening Opportunities to Recapture Key Energy Roles (WORKER) Act, bipartisan legislation that will supercharge America’s energy workforce by urging the Department of Energy to award grants to stakeholders prioritizing education and training for energy and manufacturing jobs. The bill would also prioritize educating and training workers from underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and veterans. June 2023: Rep. Hudson introduced the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, legislation to repeal the Department of Energy’s authority to propose, finalize, implement, administer, or enforce any energy efficiency standard for distribution transformers for the next five years. June 2023: Rep. Hudson and members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a field hearing in Moore County. At the hearing, the members discussed physical and cybersecurity issues facing the electricity sector, power outage incident response and recovery, and emergency coordination among State and local governments and the electric industry. Watch the field hearing. June 2023: Prior to the Moore County field hearing, Rep. Hudson and committee members toured the Duke Energy West End substation, one of two substations in Moore County that was intentionally attacked on the evening of December 3, 2022. July 2023: Rep. Hudson joined the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing that addressed the security challenges that currently threaten the electricity sector, and discussed emerging and existing threats to America’s electric energy infrastructure. September 2023: Hudson’s energy grid security legislation H.R. 4167, Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, was included in the House Energy and Commerce Committee Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee legislative hearing. October 2023: Hudson’s Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, passed out of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security. October 2023: Hudson secured $1.6 billion in funding to bolster grid security that was included in the final version of H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024. For an outline of this funding, clickhere. March 2024: Hudson's Protecting America's Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act passed out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. May 2024: Hudson's energy grid security amendment was included in H.R. 6192, the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act, and was passed by the House. For more details of this amendment, click here. -###- Issues:Energy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/congresswoman-ross-announces-winner-of-2024-congressional-app-challenge,Congresswoman Ross Announces Winner of 2024 Congressional App Challenge,2024-12-03,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, N.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced Kenna Zhang, a junior at Cary Academy, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District. Kenna created the app AIPowered-Hope, which stood out among a record number of submissions in this year's competition, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of students across Wake County. “Every year, I am inspired by the talent, ingenuity, and passion for creating positive change that I see from Wake County’s students during the Congressional App Challenge,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I am amazed by how these young minds use technology to tackle real-world issues and imagine bold solutions to some of our most pressing challenges – from climate change to devastating diseases. I especially want to congratulate Kenna Zhang, this year’s winner, for her innovative app designed to improve early detection of Parkinson’s Disease. Kenna’s app and the submissions of every student exemplify the kind of forward-thinking ideas that will propel our state and country to new heights.” Kenna developed AIPowered-Hope, an app that uses AI and machine learning to assist with the early diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. She personally coded the app’s machine learning algorithms, enabling it to analyze drawing samples and voice recordings to identify early signs of the disease. Inspired by the potential to improve early diagnosis and enable timely interventions, Kenna created AIPowered-Hope to enhance the quality of life for individuals at risk of Parkinson’s. She also embraced the challenge as an opportunity to deepen her skills and knowledge in app development. The competition was judged by a panel of three leading STEM educators and employers from North Carolina’s 2nd District: Dr. Nehemiah Mabry, PE, Founder and CEO, STEMedia Incorporated Angela Martin, Software User Experience Designer, Lenovo Mallory Schultz, Advisory Software User Experience Designer, Lenovo Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition for middle school and high school students designed to expose students to the world of app development without requiring prior coding experience. Each participating congressional district selects a local winner who then competes with winners from other participating districts for further awards.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/house-passes-congresswoman-ross-legislation-to-provide-technical-corrections-to-national-and-commercial-space-programs-in-united-states-code,House Passes Congresswoman Ross Legislation to Provide Technical Corrections to National and Commercial Space Programs in United States Code,2024-12-03,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) to revise title 51 of United States Code on National and Commercial Space Programs as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the code. Specifically, this legislation, H.R. 7339, fixes cross references and heading names, removes obsolete language, and clarifies some phrases. Congresswoman Ross spoke in support of the legislation on the House floor earlier today. “Updating the US Code periodically to make these technical and conforming changes helps ensure the law is accessible to everyday Americans,” Congresswoman Ross said in her floor speech. “The American people deserve a code that is comprehensible without specialized knowledge, and making the updates in this bill will help make that goal a reality.” As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congresswoman Ross has been a champion of legislation to bolster the nation’s space programs. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, on which Congresswoman Ross also serves, and was passed unanimously out of committee by voice vote.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/12/ross-carter-krishnamoorthi-bentz-lead-letter-calling-on-doj-to-investigate-pbms-role-in-opioid-crisis,"Ross, Carter, Krishnamoorthi, Bentz Lead Letter Calling on DOJ to Investigate PBMs’ Role in Opioid Crisis",2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC) joined Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Cliff Bentz (R-OR) in sending a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the role pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) may have played in the opioid crisis. “Recent reports, including confidential files and information from CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, suggests the three largest PBMs colluded and conspired to steer patients towards Oxycontin in exchange for $400 million… [and] at the expense of innocent American lives.” wrote the lawmakers. They continued, “The lack of transparency surrounding PBM’s rebate agreements and formulary decisions has allowed them to operate with little to no oversight, posing a significant threat to America’s public health. That is why we strongly urge the Department of Justice to investigate the role PBMs may have played in the opioid crisis and hold them accountable.” The letter was prompted by the findings of recent investigations: CVS Caremark’s agreement with Purdue Pharma: Internal documents revealed that CVS Caremark agreed to double rebates for health plans that authorized four or more OxyContin pills per day, incentivizing higher doses. Express Script’s 2017 practices: Confidential files showed that Express Scripts awarded Purdue Pharma favorable placement on formularies in exchange for a 40% rebate on OxyContin prescriptions. The impact of these practices: These systems fostered a culture of excessive prescribing and dispensing of OxyContin, further fueling the devastating opioid epidemic. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/02/budd-receives-answers-from-u-s-northern-command-on-helene-response/,Budd Receives Answers from U.S. Northern Command on Helene Response,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, received answers to his October 8, 2024 oversight letter to General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command regarding the response to Hurricane Helene. The response contains a detailed timeline for requests for active-duty troops from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of North Carolina, their mobilization, and deployment to Western North Carolina. The full response to Senator Budd’s questions is HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/02/budd-statement-on-murder-of-american-hostage-omer-neutra/,Budd Statement on Murder of American Hostage Omer Neutra,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that U.S.-Israeli citizen Omer Neutra was killed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023 attacks. His body remains in Gaza. Senator Budd said: “We are deeply saddened by the confirmation of Omer Neutra’s death. Since October 7th, we have gotten to know Omer’s parents and are devastated for them. We are praying for God to comfort them and all of Omer’s friends and loved ones. This news is further proof of the true evil of Hamas terrorists. The U.S. government must not relent until all those responsible for Omer’s murder are brought to justice, and until we bring every American hostage home.” Background on Senator Budd’s efforts since October 7, 2023: On October 25, 2023, Senator Budd first spoke about the hostage situation in Gaza on the Senate floor, where he announced his intention “to hold all humanitarian aid to Gaza until each and every American hostage is home and is safe.” On November 6, 2023, Senator Budd met with Qatari Ambassador Meshal Al Thani in Senator Budd’s Washington, D.C. office. In that meeting, he strongly urged the Qatari government to use their leverage on Hamas leaders currently residing in Doha to immediately release all hostages, and hold those same Hamas leaders accountable once the hostage situation is fully resolved. On November 26, 2023, Senator Budd reacted to the release of Keith Siegel’s wife, Aviva, saying, “While we are encouraged by the government of Qatar’s efforts to mediate the release of some of the hostages, we renew our call to their government to exert pressure on Hamas leadership to release each and every hostage immediately and unconditionally.” On November 28, 2023, Senator Budd spoke on the Senate floor and called out Qatar for its continued hosting of Hamas terrorist leaders, saying, “We need to tell our friends in Doha loudly and clearly: Qatar is accepting a significant liability with its pro-Hamas policy.” On December 13, 2023, Senator Budd sent a holiday message of support to the hostages and their families in a speech on the Senate floor, saying, “I want every one of these family members to know that our country is behind them, we support them, and we are praying for them.” On January 10, 2024, Senator Budd returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, which included stops in Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and Bahrain. The focus of the delegation’s meetings across the region was on securing the release of hostages. On the trip, Senator Budd and his colleagues toured one of the communities devastated by the October 7th massacre by Hamas terrorists. He personally spoke with former hostage Aviva Siegel, and met with top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea. Senator Budd then met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Prime Minister of Qatar, to whom Senator Budd sent a strong message that Qatar must do more to secure the immediate and safe release of all of the hostages. On January 15, 2024, Senators Budd and Joni Ernst (R-IA) published an op-ed marking the 100th day of captivity for the hostages, writing, “As long as Americans remain captive to these barbaric thugs, the latter is the victor. Allowing Americans to suffer under the yoke of terrorists is a win for evil around the world and a boon for Iran’s proxies.” On January 25, 2024, Senator Budd spoke on the Senate floor and delivered a sharp message to the government of Qatar: “Our patience has run out. Time is up. Either pressure Hamas leaders to release the hostages now, or expel them from your land. It’s that simple. The United States of America will be watching.” On March 7, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis invited the family of Keith Siegel to be their guests at the president’s State of the Union Address. Keith’s sister Lucy and niece Hanna have accepted the Senators’ invitation. On March 15, 2024, Senator Budd joined a joint statement from Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as five other Senators stating, “If Hamas refuses reasonable negotiations, there is no reason for Qatar to continue hosting Hamas’ political office or any of its members in Doha.” On March 26, 2024, Senator Budd and Senator Ernst issued a joint statement calling on the State of Qatar to immediately expel all members of Hamas’ political office currently residing in Doha. On April 9, 2024, Senator Budd introduced the ‘Reviewing Qatar’s Major Non- NATO Ally Status Act’, which would require the Secretary of State to formally certify that Qatar has expelled or agreed to extradite to the United States any individuals bearing responsibility for the terror attack on October 7, 2023. If the Secretary of State cannot make this certification in good faith, then the President is required to immediately terminate the designation of the State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. On April 10, 2024, Senator Budd attempted to invoke unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the ‘Reviewing Qatar’s Major Non- NATO Ally Status Act’, but was blocked. He said, “The time for talking is over, and the time for action is now. If we don’t see action, then Qatar must face consequences. At the end of the day, this bill represents another step towards securing the freedom of our fellow Americans.” On May 7, 2024, Senators Budd and Ernst returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, which included stops in Israel, Iraq, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the trip, Senators Budd and Ernst received first-hand updates on the state of the hostage negotiations from top U.S. and Israeli officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They also hosted the families of American hostages, including the family of North Carolina native, Keith Siegel. On July 31, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement after Hamas’s political leader was killed, saying that it “sends a clear and resounding message to terrorists that those who kill and kidnap Americans will ultimately face justice.” On September 1, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement condemning the Hamas murder of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin along with five other Israeli hostages, saying, “This is yet another act of cold-blooded barbarism from Hamas terrorists. It must not be excused or downplayed. The U.S. government must leave no stone unturned until all those responsible for Hersh’s kidnapping and murder are brought to justice, and until we bring every American hostage home.” On October 7, 2024, Senator Budd disclosed that the Biden administration had ignored a bipartisan request from Senator Budd and 11 other Senators to authorize a reward of up to $25 million for information that brings Hamas leaders to justice. On October 17, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement after Israeli Defense Forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 attacks, saying, “[Sinwar] was a terrorist leader who had American blood on his hands. To the remaining Hamas leaders: release the hostages, renounce terrorism, and recognize Israel’s right to exist. There is no future for Hamas or its ideology.” On November 8, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of State requesting an immediate freeze on the assets of Hamas officials living in Qatar, the extradition of several senior Hamas officials currently residing in Qatar, and that Qatar end its hospitality of Hamas’ senior leadership. On November 8, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement after the State of Qatar decided to expel the remaining Hamas terrorist leadership from Doha, calling the move, “welcome, but long overdue.” On November 22, 2024, Senator Budd, along with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker and Senator Joni Ernst, released a statement calling on Turkey to extradite the Hamas terrorist leaders who fled there after being expelled from Qatar. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/12/02/senator-budd-presents-service-medals-to-nc-veterans-families/,Senator Budd Presents Service Medals to NC Veterans’ Families,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Advance, N.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) presented service medals to the families of two deceased North Carolina veterans whose families live in Kernersville and Graham. Senator Budd said in a statement: “The men and women of our Armed Forces are the best of America and served with valor and distinction. It was my honor to help their families receive the overdue recognition that they deserve for their meritorious service to our great nation.” Percy Warren Jr. (family pictured above) enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1939, fought in World War II, and served for over 22 years. Today, his family received the following medals: Silver Star Purple Heart Mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Good Conduct Medal & Clasp Bronze 4 Loops American Defense Service Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal & Bronze Star Attachment & Arrowhead World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal & Germany Clasp National Defense Service Medal Expert Badge & Carbine Bar & Rifle Bar Parachutist Badge – Senior Presidential Unit Citation Belgian Fourragere Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII Glider Badge & Bronze Star Attachment & Arrowhead Linwood Barrett (family pictured above) enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17, fought in Vietnam, and served from October 1969 – July 1973. Today, his family received the following medals: Bronze Star Medal Army Commendation Medal Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal & Bronze Star Attachment Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/ Device Sharpshooter Badge & Pistol Bar & Rifle Bar Parachutist Badge ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-statement-us-presidential-election,Rep. Adams’ Statement on the U.S. Presidential Election,2024-11-12,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Image CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released the following statement on last week’s election results in North Carolina and nationwide. ""I would like to thank the people of North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District for entrusting me to another term in Congress, as well as the volunteers who worked so hard on our campaign, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and talking to their neighbors. Like many of you, I am heartbroken by last week’s election results. However, the American people have spoken. Former President Trump will be the next President of the United States and I intend to hold him to his word in supporting funding initiatives for our HBCUs, as well as to supporting policies that benefit the working people of America. Service is indeed the rent we pay for living on God’s earth. Vice President Kamala Harris ran a brilliant campaign in a difficult environment. She has been a dedicated public servant and a shining beacon for our daughters and granddaughters to aspire to. The campaign is over, and our job now is to get back to the work of serving the American people. I intend to continue doing so with the grace, determination, and goodness they expect from me.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-31,Hurricane recovery update #31,2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"November 11, 2024 Dear Friend, Happy Veterans Day! I cannot put into words the gratitude that I have for our nation’s heroes, but on a day like today, it’s my duty to try. We live in a country where we have the freedom to speak our minds and stand up for what we believe in, where we don’t have to live in fear, and where we wake up every day with the ability to build the life we dream for our families. Without the sacrifice that has been made by the brave men and women who serve these United States of America, none of that would be possible; and without their defense of our liberties, we would not be the country or the Americans that we are today. I can’t help but think that this year's Veterans Day hits even closer to home for the people of Western North Carolina. At its peak, nearly 4,000 active-duty military and National Guardsmen were in our mountains protecting the life and liberties of every single one of us following Hurricane Helene. They were searching for missing loved ones, helping to clear debris, and making sure every man, woman, and child was fed and had water every single day. Our service members and veterans have always been my heroes but witnessing the sacrifices these individuals made to stand beside our community took my gratitude and appreciation to another level. We will never be able to adequately repay the service members who were in our mountains over the past month and a half for what they have helped us to reclaim, nor will we ever be able to adequately repay our veterans for the sacrifices they made to give us the life we have. The least we can do is remind them of our appreciation every single day, especially today. Please make sure you thank a veteran today. This week’s update includes more information on the FEMA assistance deadlines (November 27 for Serious Needs Assistance, the initial $750 direct payment for food, water, baby formula etc. and January 7 for Individual Assistance), reopening of the Yancey County DMV, Blue Ridge Health locations and hours, where you can pick up mail from your post office box in Barnardsville, a new Disaster Recovery Center in Macon County, and a change in location for the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center. If you need help navigating FEMA, the SBA, or another federal agency, please call my office’s helpline: 865-EDWARDS; (865) 339-2737. My team would be happy to help you get a case started. This is update number 31, with more information to come next Monday. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County - TEMPORARY LOCATIONS Swannanoa Fire Rescue - Bee Tree Fire Sub Station 510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Open November 11-14, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot) 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Open November 15-18, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Buncombe County - PERMANENT LOCATION Asheville Mall (former Gap store) 3 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Macon County Macon County Public Health Center 1830 Lakeside Dr., Franklin, NC 28734 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Madison County Madison County Public Library - Marshall Branch 1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Polk County Polk County Recreation Complex (Parking Lot) 235 Wolverine Trl., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mountains Branch Library 150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Swain County Swain County Technology & Training Center 45 East Ridge Dr., Bryson City, NC 28713 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Yancey County County Annex Facility 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The 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. State legislators have stated that this package is still preliminary support, and more will be on the way in another session on November 19, 2024. This bill adds another $604 million from the state’s 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. $16.7 million for the North Carolina Community College System $5 million for a grant program to cover tuition and fees for eligible students at impacted community colleges in WNC for the spring semester. $10.5 million for an emergency grant program to support students who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $65 million for the Department of Public Instruction $5 million to increase mental health services to students, families, and school personnel in WNC. Expands school flexibility by excusing an additional 20 days of missed instruction time due to school closures from Hurricane Helene. $20 million for the University of North Carolina $5.5 million to establish a grant program to cover tuition for eligible in-state students at UNC Asheville in the spring semester. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and the UNC system must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $71.4 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services $1 million to local social services offices for rental assistance. $56 million to the Department of Commerce $50 million to Golden LEAF to administer a bridge loan program to qualifying businesses suffering economic distress due to Helene. $139 million to the Department of Environmental Quality $100 million to establish an emergency bridge loan program for water infrastructure. $22 million to establish an emergency infrastructure bridge loan program for commercial underground storage tanks. $130 million to the Department of Public Safety $106 million to general government, including the Office of State Budget and Management and the Treasurer. $100 million to the Local Government Commission to provide cash flow loans to local governments in affected areas. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 254,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 9,500 individuals FEMA has distributed more than $225 million in housing assistance to more than 123,000 Western North Carolina households. How to avoid scams during the assistance application process: Homeowners 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. It is important to answer the call, but always be alert to these illegitimate practices: A FEMA inspector calls, and you did not submit a FEMA application. A FEMA inspector asks for your banking information. FEMA inspectors are NEVER authorized to collect your personal financial information. A payment is requested from someone who says they are from FEMA. FEMA will never request payment. A FEMA inspector calls and asks for your personally identifiable information such as your social security number. If any of these things happen to you, or you receive a call from someone saying they are a FEMA representative and you aren’t sure, call the FEMA Helpline to report the incident. FEMA Helpline: (800) 621-3362 If 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: Visiting ncdoj.gov/complaint; or, Calling toll-free at 877-566-7226. Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Swannanoa Ingles 2299 US-70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Fairview Ingles 225 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. Trash pickup has resumed on the regular schedule for customers in Black Mountain. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. The County has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support residents with storm-related debris removal. Cleanup 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. To ensure smooth and efficient removal: Debris should be placed within 10 feet of the road. Vegetative debris must be in manageable piles. Logs can have a maximum length of 15 feet. Debris should be separated into five categories: Vegetative - Tree branches, leaves, log, branches. Construction - Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, plumbing. Large Appliances - Refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, and dishwashers. Please DO NOT leave doors unsealed or unsecured. Electronics - Television, computer, stereo, phones, DVD players, etc. Hazardous Waste - Oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas. Document the clean-up process with photos before and after debris removal. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. United States Postal Service/Mail Services My office has heard concerns related to the Barnardsville Post Office being closed. The facility has been deemed unsafe for occupancy until all necessary repairs are completed and the facility has passed the required inspections. USPS is dedicated to reopening the facility as soon as possible and I am working with them to make sure there are no unnecessary delays. Retail services are still being provided via a Mobile Retail Unit that is located on-site. Delivery 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. All Post Office Box mail and packages can be picked up from the mobile retail unit located in Barnardsville until further notice. Social Security and FEMA checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Locations open between 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m (closed one hour for lunch, check this link for exact lunch hours at your nearest location): Blue Ridge Health - 7th Ave Health Center Clinic 628 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Clinic hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Blue Ridge Health - Buncombe 303 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Blue Ridge Health - Chimney Rock Rd. 2579 Chimney Rock Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Open until 8:00 p.m., Monday-Thursdays Blue Ridge Health - Haywood 490 Hospital Dr., Clyde, NC 28721 Blue Ridge Health - Highlands Cashiers 209 Hospital Dr. #301, Highlands, NC 28741 Blue Ridge Health - Jackson 293 Hospital Rd., Ste. C, Sylva, NC 28779 Blue Ridge Health - Justice Street 709 North Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Blue Ridge Health - Lake Lure 146 Nesbitt Ridge, Lake Lure, NC 28746 Blue Ridge Health - Polk 161 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Blue Ridge Health - Rutherford 187 W. Main St., Spindale, NC 28160 Closed on Wednesdays Blue Ridge Health - Swain 264 Hwy. 19 S., Ste. 4, Bryson City, NC 28713 Blue Ridge Health - Transylvania 29 W. French Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Open until 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Almost 100 percent of all power outages have been restored in impacted areas. Less than 900 customers remain without power across Western NC. 150 Duke Energy customers. 700 electric cooperative customers. If your insurance provider is requesting “proof of outage,” you can contact Duke Energy’s Contact Center to request the letter. (800) 777-9898 My 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: AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Bills 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) Non-AMI Customers without an AMI/Smart Meter may see estimated usage if Duke was unable to obtain a reading prior to invoicing. Once 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’s usage was overestimated. Duke Energy also provided the following information for auto-pay and budget billing customers: Auto-Pay Payments will automatically draft on the due date for customers signed up for auto-pay. Customers 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. If 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. Budget Billing Customers enrolled in Budget Billing will still be invoiced their set monthly amount. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! NCDOT has now reopened 1,042 roads that were previously closed due to Hurricane Helene. Only 293 roads remain fully closed. 95 other roads are open with partial access. 37 roads are open to all traffic except truck traffic. Temporary one-lane vehicle access, including a temporary bridge, has been restored along U.S. 64/U.S. 74A/NC 9 in Chimney Rock. The contractor continues to improve the access road as NCDOT works to procure the permanent repair contract. Ames Construction has been awarded a contract for the permanent repair of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge. NCDOT is targeting New Year’s Day for restoring traffic to one lane in each direction with a reduced speed limit on I-40 in the Gorge. Emergency roadway repair work continues with the installation of temporary bridges, numerous slide repairs, roadway reconstruction work, and repair of dangerous shoulder washouts. The focus continues to be on major corridors and communities with limited access. Only ONE community throughout Western NC has limited access. NCDOT crews are working to restore access to this community by installing a low-water bridge. In 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: Duplicate or corrected vehicle titles. Duplicate registration cards. Salvage certificate of title. Replacement license plates and/or stickers. Duplicate driver licenses (including CDLs). Duplicate state ID cards (note: state ID cards are already free for anyone age 17 and up) The following late fees have also been waived from Sept. 26 through Dec. 31, 2024: Late vehicle registration fees for vehicles that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Late interest payments on vehicle registrations and property taxes that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Title fees on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Late fees and interest on limited registration plates and vehicle registration renewals for limited registrations that expired on or after Sept. 30, 2024. Late fees for dealer plates that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. If you paid any of the above listed fees or late fees prior to notice of the fee waivers, you will be automatically refunded. Citizens do not have to take any action to receive refunds. Please allow four to six weeks (until Dec. 6, 2024) for refunds to be processed. Refunds will NOT be given in-person at NC DMV offices. NCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County 116 N. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Frontier Communications has been diligently working to restore service to customers in Western NC. Service is expected to be restored by November 11 for customers in Marshall. Reconstruction and restoration work begins TODAY, November 4, for customers in the Micaville area. My 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: AT&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. Spectrum is proactively issuing credit to customers for the time they were without Spectrum service due to the hurricane. If you believe your time without service was not correctly identified, please contact Spectrum customer support to identify the correct credit. These automatic credits are applied after Spectrum service has been restored. Waiting until service restoration has taken place to determine the number of days service was out enables Spectrum to calculate an accurate and appropriate credit. Internet providers are still working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 1,500 National Guard soldiers and airmen are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. All active-duty forces have returned to their duty stations, including Ft. Campbell and Ft. Liberty. The National Guard has distributed more than 21,000 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights include: Completed a culvert project on Locust Cove Road in McDowell County Completed road repair missions in Yancey County Mucked out 15 cubic yards and 50 tons of debris in Madison County Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Serious Needs Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Serious Needs Assistance refers to the initial $750 direct payment provided to eligible households to address necessary expenses like food, water, baby formula, etc. The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Jan. 7, 2025. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelter is currently open and available as of today: Buncombe County Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/11/08/budd-joins-wicker-risch-letter-calling-on-biden-administration-to-change-policy-towards-qatar/,Budd Joins Wicker/Risch Letter Calling on Biden Administration to Change Policy Towards Qatar,2024-11-08,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has joined a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of State requesting a series of actions, including: Immediately freeze the assets of Hamas officials living in Qatar. Extradite several senior Hamas officials currently residing in Qatar and elsewhere, including Khaled Meshal whom the Department of Justice has already indicted, and Khalil Al-Hayya. Ask Qatar to end its hospitality of Hamas’ senior leadership, as Hamas has exploited its safe haven in Qatar to confer with Iranian officials and reject reasonable negotiations in international media. The letter was led by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Jim Risch (R-ID), the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was co-signed by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Full text of the letter: The Israel Defense Forces’ killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar presents a critical opportunity for the United States to compel Hamas’ surrender. This would end the war that Hamas started with its brutal terrorist massacre on October 7, 2023, in which it killed nearly 1200 people, including 46 Americans, and took 250 hostages, including twelve Americans. We therefore urge you to act quickly against Hamas’ remaining leadership, so that the organization is destroyed and defeated. First, we urge you to reverse the Biden-Harris administration’s policy toward the State of Qatar, whereby the administration has permitted Qatar to facilitate negotiations by hosting Hamas’ leadership. Hamas’ Doha-based leaders have exploited this arrangement, and used the relative freedom that Qatar has afforded them to oppose ceasefire negotiations in international media, host Iranian officials at Hamas’ Doha headquarters, and travel abroad. Qatari officials have said repeatedly that they would change their policy towards Hamas if the Biden-Harris administration asked it to do so, and we believe that it is long past time the administration ask Qatar to freeze Hamas leaders’ assets, shut their access to international media, end their ability to host foreign visitors, and prevent them from traveling abroad. Second, we urge you to seek the extradition to the United States of Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, who currently resides in Qatar. The Department of Justice unsealed indictments pertaining to multiple Hamas leaders, including Mr. Meshal, on September 3, 2024, and he should face justice for his leadership of a terrorist group that has American blood and hostages on its hands. Third, we urge you to seek indictments for Hamas’ other senior officials abroad, foremost among them Khalil Al-Hayya, who resides in Qatar. According to The New York Times, during the year prior to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist massacre, Mr. Al-Hayya sought Iranian and Hezbollah support for Hamas’ brutal attack, with the goal of assaulting Israel on multiple fronts.2 Mr. Al-Hayya should no longer be permitted to live risk-free in Doha. He should be indicted immediately for his role in killing Americans and taking Americans hostage, and then extradited to the United States to face justice. The defeat of Hamas is within reach, and ending the safe haven that its leadership enjoys abroad is vital to defeating it. We urge you to act expediently so this Iranian-backed terrorist organization is finally held responsible for the horrific terrorist massacre of October 7, 2023 and the war that it deliberately unleashed across the region. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:12Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/11/08/budd-statement-after-qatar-moves-to-expel-hamas-leadership/,Budd Statement After Qatar Moves to Expel Hamas Leadership,2024-11-08,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement regarding the State of Qatar’s decision to expel the remaining Hamas terrorist leadership from Doha after pressure from the United States. Senator Budd has been calling for this expulsion or extradition since January 15, 2024. Senator Budd said: “This news is welcome, but long overdue. For months, I led a bipartisan group of Senators to state unequivocally that Qatar should expel Hamas leaders from Doha after refusing reasonable negotiations to release hostages. More than 400 days since October 7th, the Qatari government has finally changed course and done so. I look forward to working with the incoming Trump administration to institute a new policy that projects strength and exerts maximum pressure on Hamas, and any nation or organization that supports them, until they release each and every hostage, including North Carolinian, Keith Siegel.” Background on Senator Budd’s efforts since October 7, 2023: On October 25, 2023, Senator Budd first spoke about the hostage situation in Gaza on the Senate floor, where he announced his intention “to hold all humanitarian aid to Gaza until each and every American hostage is home and is safe.” On November 6, 2023, Senator Budd met with Qatari Ambassador Meshal Al Thani in Senator Budd’s Washington, D.C. office. In that meeting, he strongly urged the Qatari government to use their leverage on Hamas leaders currently residing in Doha to immediately release all hostages, and hold those same Hamas leaders accountable once the hostage situation is fully resolved. On November 26, 2023, Senator Budd reacted to the release of Keith Siegel’s wife, Aviva, saying, “While we are encouraged by the government of Qatar’s efforts to mediate the release of some of the hostages, we renew our call to their government to exert pressure on Hamas leadership to release each and every hostage immediately and unconditionally.” On November 28, 2023, Senator Budd spoke on the Senate floor and called out Qatar for its continued hosting of Hamas terrorist leaders, saying, “We need to tell our friends in Doha loudly and clearly: Qatar is accepting a significant liability with its pro-Hamas policy.” On December 13, 2023, Senator Budd sent a holiday message of support to the hostages and their families in a speech on the Senate floor, saying, “I want every one of these family members to know that our country is behind them, we support them, and we are praying for them.” On January 10, 2024, Senator Budd returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, which included stops in Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and Bahrain. The focus of the delegation’s meetings across the region was on securing the release of hostages. On the trip, Senator Budd and his colleagues toured one of the communities devastated by the October 7th massacre by Hamas terrorists. He personally spoke with former hostage Aviva Siegel, and met with top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea. Senator Budd then met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Prime Minister of Qatar, to whom Senator Budd sent a strong message that Qatar must do more to secure the immediate and safe release of all of the hostages. On January 15, 2024, Senators Budd and Joni Ernst (R-IA) published an op-ed marking the 100th day of captivity for the hostages, writing, “As long as Americans remain captive to these barbaric thugs, the latter is the victor. Allowing Americans to suffer under the yoke of terrorists is a win for evil around the world and a boon for Iran’s proxies.” On January 25, 2024, Senator Budd spoke on the Senate floor and delivered a sharp message to the government of Qatar: “Our patience has run out. Time is up. Either pressure Hamas leaders to release the hostages now, or expel them from your land. It’s that simple. The United States of America will be watching.” On March 7, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis invited the family of Keith Siegel to be their guests at the president’s State of the Union Address. Keith’s sister Lucy and niece Hanna have accepted the Senators’ invitation. On March 15, 2024, Senator Budd joined a joint statement from Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as five other Senators stating, “If Hamas refuses reasonable negotiations, there is no reason for Qatar to continue hosting Hamas’ political office or any of its members in Doha.” On March 26, 2024, Senator Budd and Senator Ernst issued a joint statement calling on the State of Qatar to immediately expel all members of Hamas’ political office currently residing in Doha. On April 9, 2024, Senator Budd introduced the ‘Reviewing Qatar’s Major Non- NATO Ally Status Act’, which would require the Secretary of State to formally certify that Qatar has expelled or agreed to extradite to the United States any individuals bearing responsibility for the terror attack on October 7, 2023. If the Secretary of State cannot make this certification in good faith, then the President is required to immediately terminate the designation of the State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. On April 10, 2024, Senator Budd attempted to invoke unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the ‘Reviewing Qatar’s Major Non- NATO Ally Status Act’, but was blocked. He said, “The time for talking is over, and the time for action is now. If we don’t see action, then Qatar must face consequences. At the end of the day, this bill represents another step towards securing the freedom of our fellow Americans.” On May 7, 2024, Senators Budd and Ernst returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, which included stops in Israel, Iraq, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the trip, Senators Budd and Ernst received first-hand updates on the state of the hostage negotiations from top U.S. and Israeli officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They also hosted the families of American hostages, including the family of North Carolina native, Keith Siegel. On July 31, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement after Hamas’s political leader was killed, saying that it “sends a clear and resounding message to terrorists that those who kill and kidnap Americans will ultimately face justice.” On September 1, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement condemning the Hamas murder of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin along with five other Israeli hostages, saying, “This is yet another act of cold-blooded barbarism from Hamas terrorists. It must not be excused or downplayed. The U.S. government must leave no stone unturned until all those responsible for Hersh’s kidnapping and murder are brought to justice, and until we bring every American hostage home.” On October 7, 2024, Senator Budd disclosed that the Biden administration had ignored a bipartisan request from Senator Budd and 11 other Senators to authorize a reward of up to $25 million for information that brings Hamas leaders to justice. On October 17, 2024, Senator Budd released a statement after Israeli Defense Forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 attacks, saying, “[Sinwar] was a terrorist leader who had American blood on his hands. To the remaining Hamas leaders: release the hostages, renounce terrorism, and recognize Israel’s right to exist. There is no future for Hamas or its ideology.” On November 8, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of State requesting an immediate freeze on the assets of Hamas officials living in Qatar, the extradition of several senior Hamas officials currently residing in Qatar, and that Qatar end its hospitality of Hamas’ senior leadership. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:12Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-statement-passing-quincy-jones,Rep. Adams’ Statement on the Passing of Quincy Jones,2024-11-04,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“The world has lost an iconic, creative genius whose music was the soundtrack of our lives for multiple generations. Quincy Jones was a legend who reminded us that we are all one. He brought us hits like 'We are the World' and Thriller, the musical score for The Color Purple, and the opening theme for Sanford and Son. His contribution to our society will long be remembered. Thank you for your service Quincy Jones. Your rent is fully paid.” Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z 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 Dear Friend, Hurricane 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. Tomorrow 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. Your vote will directly impact the support our mountains receive in the coming months and years as we recover from Helene’s destruction. I encourage each and every one of you to make sure your voice is heard in this year’s election. Due to hurricane damage, some voting sites have changed. If you’re 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. For the love of democracy, get out and vote. This week’s 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. Today 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. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County - TEMPORARY LOCATIONS Swannanoa Fire Rescue - Bee Tree Fire Sub Station 510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Open November 2-5 and 11-14, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot) 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Open November 6-9 and 15-18, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Buncombe County - PERMANENT LOCATION Cane Creek Pool 590 Lower Brush Creek Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Madison County Madison County Public Library - Marshall Branch 1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Polk County Polk County Recreation Complex (Parking Lot) 235 Wolverine Trl., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mountains Branch Library 150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Swain County Swain County Technology & Training Center 45 East Ridge Dr., Bryson City, NC 28713 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Yancey County County Annex Facility 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The 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. State legislators have stated that this package is still preliminary support, and more will be on the way in another session on November 19, 2024. This bill adds another $604 million from the state’s 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. $16.7 million for the North Carolina Community College System $5 million for a grant program to cover tuition and fees for eligible students at impacted community colleges in WNC for the spring semester. $10.5 million for an emergency grant program to support students who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $65 million for the Department of Public Instruction $5 million to increase mental health services to students, families, and school personnel in WNC. Expands school flexibility by excusing an additional 20 days of missed instruction time due to school closures from Hurricane Helene. $20 million for the University of North Carolina $5.5 million to establish a grant program to cover tuition for eligible in-state students at UNC Asheville in the spring semester. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and the UNC system must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $71.4 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services $1 million to local social services offices for rental assistance. $56 million to the Department of Commerce $50 million to Golden LEAF to administer a bridge loan program to qualifying businesses suffering economic distress due to Helene. $139 million to the Department of Environmental Quality $100 million to establish an emergency bridge loan program for water infrastructure. $22 million to establish an emergency infrastructure bridge loan program for commercial underground storage tanks. $130 million to the Department of Public Safety $106 million to general government, including the Office of State Budget and Management and the Treasurer. $100 million to the Local Government Commission to provide cash flow loans to local governments in affected areas. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 243,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 8,931 individuals FEMA has distributed more than $203 million in housing assistance to more than 122,000 Western North Carolina households. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC How to avoid scams during the assistance application process: Homeowners 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. It is important to answer the call, but always be alert to these illegitimate practices: A FEMA inspector calls, and you did not submit a FEMA application. A FEMA inspector asks for your banking information. FEMA inspectors are NEVER authorized to collect your personal financial information. A payment is requested from someone who says they are from FEMA. FEMA will never request payment. A FEMA inspector calls and asks for your personally identifiable information such as your social security number. If any of these things happen to you, or you receive a call from someone saying they are a FEMA representative and you aren’t sure, call the FEMA Helpline to report the incident. FEMA Helpline: (800) 621-3362 If 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: Visiting ncdoj.gov/complaint; or, Calling toll-free at 877-566-7226. Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Swannanoa Ingles 2299 US-70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Fairview Ingles 225 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen at Ben's Tune Up 195 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. Trash pickup has resumed on the regular schedule for customers in Black Mountain. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. The County has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support residents with storm-related debris removal. Cleanup 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. To ensure smooth and efficient removal: Debris should be placed within 10 feet of the road. Vegetative debris must be in manageable piles. Logs can have a maximum length of 15 feet. Debris should be separated into five categories: Vegetative - Tree branches, leaves, log, branches. Construction - Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, plumbing. Large Appliances - Refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, and dishwashers. Please DO NOT leave doors unsealed or unsecured. Electronics - Television, computer, stereo, phones, DVD players, etc. Hazardous Waste - Oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas. Document the clean-up process with photos before and after debris removal. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information The Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote. The 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. You can access the website via this link. Tomorrow is Election Day. You can use this link to find your polling place. Please note: You must vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day. United States Postal Service/Mail Services My office has heard concerns related to the Barnardsville Post Office being closed. The facility has been deemed unsafe for occupancy until all necessary repairs are completed and the facility has passed the required inspections. USPS is dedicated to reopening the facility as soon as possible and I am working with them to make sure there are no unnecessary delays. Retail services are still being provided via a Mobile Retail Unit that is located on-site. Delivery 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. Social Security and FEMA checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Almost 100 percent of all power outages have been restored in impacted areas. Less than 1,500 customers remain without power across Western NC. 200 Duke Energy customers. Just over 1,200 electric cooperative customers. French Broad EMC has teams throughout Yancey and Rutherford counties to restore remaining customers. Crews 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. Yancey County crews have completed the three-phase build in Pensacola and energized most of the homes in that area. A portion of NC197S and Ewart Wilson Road is back on as well. French Broad EMC is still trying to find a route into little creek and rebuild their circuits in Huntdale. The greatest difficulty is finding space to place energy poles. Collapsing of roadways has eliminated the area where poles were placed before the storm. If your insurance provider is requesting “proof of outage,” you can contact Duke Energy’s Contact Center to request the letter. (800) 777-9898 My 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: AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Bills 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) Non-AMI Customers without an AMI/Smart Meter may see estimated usage if Duke was unable to obtain a reading prior to invoicing. Once 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’s usage was overestimated. Duke Energy also provided the following information for auto-pay and budget billing customers: Auto-Pay Payments will automatically draft on the due date for customers signed up for auto-pay. Customers 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. If 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. Budget Billing Customers enrolled in Budget Billing will still be invoiced their set monthly amount. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! NCDOT has now reopened 1,010 roads that were previously closed due to Hurricane Helene. Only 298 roads remain fully closed. 102 other roads are open with partial access. 26 roads are open to all traffic except truck traffic. Ames Construction has been awarded a contract for the permanent repair of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge. The Federal Highway Administration and NCDOT are working on a two-lane-traffic temporary repairs timeline and reopening date for I-40. I will share the information as I receive it. New sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have officially reopened: Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, N.C. Milepost 405.5 to 411.8, near NC 151 to NC 276 Emergency roadway repair work continues with the installation of temporary bridges, numerous slide repairs, roadway reconstruction work, and repair of dangerous shoulder washouts. The focus continues to be on major corridors and communities with limited access. Nine communities throughout Western NC continue to have limited access. NCDOT crews are working to restore access in these locations by rebuilding roadways and constructing bridges. In 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: Duplicate or corrected vehicle titles. Duplicate registration cards. Salvage certificate of title. Replacement license plates and/or stickers. Duplicate driver licenses (including CDLs). Duplicate state ID cards (note: state ID cards are already free for anyone age 17 and up) The following late fees have also been waived from Sept. 26 through Dec. 31, 2024: Late vehicle registration fees for vehicles that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Late interest payments on vehicle registrations and property taxes that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Title fees on or after Aug. 31, 2024. Late fees and interest on limited registration plates and vehicle registration renewals for limited registrations that expired on or after Sept. 30, 2024. Late fees for dealer plates that expired on or after Aug. 31, 2024. If you paid any of the above listed fees or late fees prior to notice of the fee waivers, you will be automatically refunded. Citizens do not have to take any action to receive refunds. Please allow four to six weeks (until Dec. 6, 2024) for refunds to be processed. Refunds will NOT be given in-person at NC DMV offices. NCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Frontier Communications has been diligently working to restore service to customers in Western NC. Service is expected to be restored by November 11 for customers in Marshall. Reconstruction and restoration work begins TODAY, November 4, for customers in the Micaville area. My 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: AT&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. Spectrum is proactively issuing credit to customers for the time they were without Spectrum service due to the hurricane. If you believe your time without service was not correctly identified, please contact Spectrum customer support to identify the correct credit. These automatic credits are applied after Spectrum service has been restored. Waiting until service restoration has taken place to determine the number of days service was out enables Spectrum to calculate an accurate and appropriate credit. Internet providers are still working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Nearly 100 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 1,600 National Guard soldiers and airmen are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. All active-duty forces have returned to their duty stations, including Ft. Campbell and Ft. Liberty. The National Guard has distributed more than 20,000 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights from the last week: Chainsaw crews helped to clear critical areas in Hot Springs, and cleared and hauled 40 tons of concrete and rubble in Marshall Town Park. Soldiers completed 1,022 humanitarian aid deliveries in Haywood County and are over 82 percent complete with their overall mission. Crews cleared 200 tons of debris and silt from Rollins Creek, and hauled and spread 52 tons of ABC stone on Duckett Top Tower Road. Delivered material to support building a bridge on Catawba River Road in McDowell County. Completed multiple bulldozer operations in Rutherford County in support of NCDOT. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/11/after-years-of-pushing-usps-for-action-congresswoman-ross-announces-mail-delivery-service-has-begun-in-rtp,"After Years of Pushing USPS for Action, Congresswoman Ross Announces Mail Delivery Service has begun in RTP",2024-11-04,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) began centralized mail delivery service in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, on November 2. This breakthrough follows years of advocacy by Congresswoman Ross with support from Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC), Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and the RTP business community. The Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina and USPS leaders successfully worked together to implement changes necessary to establish centralized mail delivery for the first time since RTP was established 65 years ago. Home to more than 375 companies and 55,000 employees across 7,000 acres, RTP previously relied on a single U.S. Post Office that did not adequately serve this growing area. “Centralized mail delivery service is a crucial milestone for Research Triangle Park, a hub of innovation and progress that continues to propel our state and country to new heights,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Ensuring RTP has the support it needs is essential for the growth and success of hundreds of companies. It’s unacceptable that businesses in RTP were forced to function without centralized mail delivery. After years of work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I'm grateful that we have finally implemented centralized mail delivery in RTP. Thank you to our partners at the Research Triangle Foundation and USPS for their cooperation and commitment to resolving this issue.” “I’m pleased that the United States Postal Service has officially dispatched mail delivery services within Research Triangle Park, addressing a longstanding and urgent need in this rapidly growing region,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “This vital infrastructure improvement will deliver the reliable postal services businesses and residents in RTP need to succeed and thrive. I am grateful for the ongoing collaboration between congressional offices, USPS officials, and RTP foundation representatives, which has made this essential service possible for our constituents and will support RTP’s continued growth for years to come.” “We are grateful to our Congressional delegation, USPS and RTP companies for coalescing as a team to get this done. Collaborative problem-solving is a regional differentiator for the Triangle,"" said Scott Levitan, President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation. ""Direct mail delivery marks an important step forward in enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the growth of the hundreds of companies based here in RTP. Reliable mail service is essential as we build out Hub RTP, our mixed-use downtown development, to welcome new residents and meet the evolving needs of our businesses.” Over the past year, Research Triangle Foundation Vice President of Planning and Public Policy Travis Crayton and his team have worked closely with USPS officials to prepare for phased mail delivery service in RTP. On November 2, 2024, USPS confirmed the start of street delivery to select addresses within RTP. Delivery routes will continue to expand as additional RTP companies and organizations opt for street address mail service. Congresswoman Ross began working to bring mail delivery to RTP more than two years ago. In August 2022, Congresswoman Ross and former Congressman David Price initially requested that USPS expand services and establish mail delivery for the RTP campus. Following a lack of action by USPS to address the issue adequately, the members then joined the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform in demanding action. In September 2023, Congresswoman Ross led Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Ted Budd, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, and 110 RTP businesses in a letter urging USPS to implement centralized mail delivery service to the entire RTP campus. In November 2023, USPS responded to that letter, announcing that USPS leaders and the Research Triangle Foundation had begun working together to implement the necessary changes to begin the process to institute centralized mail delivery. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-joined-house-leaders-and-members-wnc-ahead-presenting-helene-funding,Edwards joined by House leaders and Members in WNC ahead of presenting Helene funding bill,2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Edwards and congressional delegation hear from volunteers on rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Helene U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today was joined by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08), Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) and Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10) in Western North Carolina to see firsthand the impact of Hurricane Helene. The delegation received an on-the-ground tour of the hurricane damage at the Veterans Restoration Quarters and River Arts District. Congressman Edwards said, “Majority Leader Scalise, Chairman Smith and other Members of Congress’ visit to our mountains was an opportunity for them to see the damage caused by Hurricane Helene for themselves so that they can truly understand the devastation Western North Carolinians are experiencing. I wanted to make sure that House leaders and Members have firsthand knowledge of the hurricane destruction in preparation for when I go to present a supplemental funding bill on the House Floor in November.” Majority Leader Scalise said, “Hurricane Helene had a devastating impact across western North Carolina. But I saw today in Asheville what I saw in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: resilient people coming together in the face of destruction and tragedy to lend helping hands to their neighbors and rebuild their vibrant community. I’m thankful to have been here to see the challenges firsthand and to meet many of the incredible volunteers, restaurateurs, and business owners already working to restore what was lost. My friend Congressman Chuck Edwards is working tirelessly in the wake of this storm to help these hard-hit areas and aid them on their road to recovery. North Carolina is not alone in this fight.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/11/on-first-day-of-open-enrollment-ross-castor-introduce-legislation-to-protect-families-from-rogue-health-insurance-brokers,"On First Day of Open Enrollment, Ross, Castor Introduce Legislation to Protect Families from Rogue Health Insurance Brokers",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced the bicameral Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, legislation aimed at establishing criminal penalties and enhancing consumer protections against rogue health insurance brokers who are changing Americans’ Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans and disenrolling them from Medicaid without their knowledge or consent. This bill addresses alarming tactics that jeopardize the financial and health security of American families. In June, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth, (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act in the Senate. “North Carolina families deserve to feel secure in their health care choices, but for far too long, rogue brokers have exploited their trust,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This bill is a necessary reform to protect our communities from deceptive practices that leave families with unexpected medical bills and significant financial strain. By holding these bad actors responsible, we are taking concrete steps to protect consumers and their access to reliable health care.” ""The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been a godsend to families in Florida and across America. The ACA has lowered the cost for high quality health care and banned discrimination for preexisting conditions. Unfortunately, a few bad actors are exploiting people and signing them up for health insurance plans without their consent,” said Rep. Castor. ""On the first day of Open Enrollment, I’m proud to introduce the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act with Rep. Ross to bring greater transparency and accountability to the health insurance marketplace by cracking down on predatory health insurance sales, ensuring consumers are notified of plan changes, establishing stronger penalties for fraudulent enrollments and requiring brokers to act in the best interest of the customer. Together, these measures will protect hardworking Americans from predatory practices and keep money in their wallets where it rightfully belongs.” This legislation will impose criminal penalties for agents and brokers who engage in fraudulent practices, including enrolling individuals in plans without their consent and using deceptive marketing to target vulnerable groups. To further protect consumers, the legislation will create a consent verification process, ensuring that individuals will be kept informed of any new enrollments or changes to their insurance coverage. This comprehensive approach aims to strengthen accountability and transparency in the health insurance industry. The bill is endorsed by AHIP, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Kidney Fund, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Cambia Health Solutions (Regence BCBS), CancerCare, Centene Corporation (Ambetter), Child Neurology Foundation, Chronic Disease Coalition, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, eHealth, Epilepsy Foundation, Families USA, Hemophilia Fed of America, Immune Deficiency Foundation, Lupus Foundation of America, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Health Council, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Patient Advocate Foundation, QuoteVelocity, Susan G. Komen, The AIDS Institute, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Mended Hearts, Inc., UnidosUS, and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Bill text is available here and a one pager is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/11/ross-murphy-publish-op-ed-in-roll-call-justice-for-veterans-sickened-at-camp-lejeune-can-t-wait-any-longer-congress-must-act-now,"Ross, Manning, Adams, & Nickel Call on USPS to Take Extraordinary Measures to Process Absentee Ballots",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ICYMI: Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Alma Adams (NC-12), and Wiley Nickel (NC-13) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to take extraordinary measures to ensure North Carolinians’ absentee ballots reach county boards of elections without delay. The lawmakers wrote, “Although North Carolina previously counted all ballots postmarked by Election Day, this year, officials only will count the ballots county boards of elections have received by 7:30 PM on Election Day. Given the record number of voters who will vote by mail in the 2024 election and the Postal Service’s critical role in defending election integrity, we request that USPS make public on a daily basis certain key factors regarding election mail processing, as outlined in the September Extraordinary Measures Memo, beginning this week and continuing through November 5th.” The lawmakers expressed concerns and requested detailed information on USPS operations to process election mail efficiently, ensuring timely and complete delivery of all absentee ballots. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-visits-charlotte-bilingual-preschool,Rep. Adams Visits Charlotte Bilingual Preschool,2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“I have enjoyed myself immensely this morning,"" said Rep. Adams. “I can’t think of a better environment where children have people who care and work with their families.” As quality childcare has become harder to find and increasingly expensive in North Carolina, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool helps to ensure that Spanish-speaking families in the Charlotte area have an accessible resource that builds critical language skills and Kindergarten-readiness. Charlotte Bilingual Preschool’s 5-star licensed program has been serving Mecklenburg County Spanish-speaking families since 1999. In addition to preschool, they offer family programs and workforce development programs to focus on removing systemic barriers for those who are learning English.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-calls-white-house-help-provide-temporary-housing-post-helene,Edwards calls on White House to help provide temporary housing post-Helene,2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) announced today that his office is calling on the White House to help provide temporary housing in Western North Carolina in a timely manner following reports that it took the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) five months to provide temporary housing in Louisiana and a year in Maui, Hawaii. There are currently 2,581 families displaced by Hurricane Helene, and counties in Western North Carolina requested 1,180 FEMA trailers.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/foushee-ross-call-for-greater-accountability-in-housing-amid-concerns-over-wall-street-influence,"Foushee, Ross Call for Greater Accountability in Housing Amid Concerns Over Wall Street Influence",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"As first-time homeownership rates drop, lawmakers request an investigation into the effects of institutional investors on housing affordability DURHAM, NC (October 29, 2024) — Today, Congresswomen Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to examine the impact of institutional investment on the housing sector, and whether investors are taking advantage of federal affordable housing programs at the expense of homeowners and renters. The surge of institutional investments has led to rising housing prices and increased rental costs, significantly impacting working families, first-time home buyers, and renters across North Carolina. In the Research Triangle area, median home prices surged over 25% from 2020 to 2023. Reports indicate that institutional investors purchased nearly 18% of all homes in Wake County in 2022, outbidding local families and exacerbating the housing crisis. The lawmakers wrote, “Federal housing policy should prioritize the housing needs of everyday Americans, not speculative profits. We urge you to act swiftly in probing these programs and practices so that Congress and housing agencies can better understand the role of institutional investors in housing affordability and provide solutions.” Specifically, the lawmakers are requesting that the investigation focuses on: Evaluating federal programs that provide incentives to large real estate investors, with suggestions to make these programs serve their intended purpose of helping families. How the rise of large investors owning homes is affecting prices and rent, regardless of what federal housing programs are in place. Whether practices like raising rents are pushing out middle-and low-income families. How the business practices of these investors are harming tenants’ rights, living conditions, and financial well-being.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-protect-medicare-physicians-and,Murphy Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare for Physicians and Patients,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, to support physicians and protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. ""America's physicians are at a breaking point and access to high-quality, affordable care is at risk for millions of Medicare patients,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""When a physician sees a Medicare patient, they do so out of the goodness of their heart, not because it makes financial sense. Medical inflation is much higher and the cost of seeing patients continues to rise. Unfortunately, reimbursements continue to decline, putting immense pressure on doctors to retire, close their practices, forgo seeing new Medicare patients, or seek a less efficient employment position. This bipartisan legislation would stop yet another year of reimbursement cuts, give them a slight inflationary adjustment, and protect Medicare for physicians and patients alike."" ""Medicare payments to physicians are just not keeping pace with our economic realities and the cost of care,"" said Congressman Jimmy Panetta. ""Our bipartisan legislation would not only prevent harmful cuts but also would adjust provider reimbursements for inflation. Such a law would expand seniors' access to quality healthcare by helping medical providers continue their care for Medicare beneficiaries."" ""Access to quality healthcare is a something every senior deserves, but declining Medicare reimbursement is putting that access at risk,"" said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. ""The bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act is crucial to reversing the damaging trend of cuts that threaten our healthcare providers, especially in underserved communities. We must act now to prevent further burnout and consolidation in our system, ensuring that every Medicare beneficiary receives the care they need and deserve."" ""Having an outdated Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians makes it harder for healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care, putting patients at risk,"" said Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. ""Physicians, unlike the rest of the players in health care, have never received an inflationary update and consistently received cuts. This bill ensures a more stable Medicare payment system, allowing providers to focus on delivering care rather than worrying about losing their practice. With this bipartisan effort, we are working toward a system that supports both patients and doctors."" ""All patients deserve timely access to healthcare from quality physicians in their communities,"" said Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. ""Inadequate Medicare reimbursement threatens that access. I have long fought to correct the current trend of cutting reimbursement levels year after year, and I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. The current path toward further consolidation, physician burnout, and closure of medical practices must be corrected."" ""Over the past 22 years, adjusting for inflation, physicians have essentially taken a 26% pay cut from Medicare,"" said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. ""Their reimbursement has been flat or declining, while overhead costs have increased by about 47%: rent, labor, equipment, and insurance. I cannot think of another profession whose compensation has dropped by 26% over 2 decades. Physicians have been holding their breath, year after year, hoping that Congress will act to avert these devastating decreases in reimbursement. Without adequate reimbursement, solo and small practice physicians—most often in rural or underserved areas—are already closing their doors. It’s up to Congress to ensure that physicians are fairly compensated and can continue to practice, so that all Medicare patients have access to high-quality, affordable care, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that will achieve just that."" ""As a physician, I recognize that year after year cuts to Medicare reimbursement jeopardizes access to care for our nation’s seniors,"" said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. ""We must work in Congress to create a more sustainable long-term solution to ensure that Medicare patients continue to receive the high-quality affordable care that they deserve. While we continue this important work, I am proud to co-lead the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, in order to protect access for Medicare beneficiaries and support Medicare physicians in the face of these proposed cuts."" ""As an emergency medicine physician, I know how important it is for families and individuals I serve to have access to the necessary health care services they rely on,"" said Congressman Raul Ruiz M.D. ""I am deeply concerned about the impact the outdated Medicare reimbursement rate has on health care access for my constituents. That is why I am co-leading the 'Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act' that will move us away from a system where every year seniors’ access to essential care is threatened due to potential cuts."" Background In July 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 2.8% beginning on January 1, 2025. Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 3.6% increase in practice cost expenses for next year, physicians will be faced with an 6.4% cut unless Congress acts. According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 29% from 2001 to 2024. Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians have significant ripple effects across our health care system, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The decline in reimbursement rates, while wages and operational costs continue to rise, is forcing many physician practices to consider layoffs, reduced services, or office closure. At a time when we’re facing a physician shortage and a historic number of doctors are nearing retirement age, these cuts risk accelerating physician burnout and reducing access to care for Medicare patients. Supporting Organizations Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, ADVION (formerly National Association for the Support of Long Term Care), Alabama Society for the Rheumatic Diseases, Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Academy of Audiology, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Chiropractic Association, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, American College of Mohs Surgery, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiation Oncology, American College of Radiology, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Glaucoma Society, American Health Care Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, American Medical Women's Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, American Optometric Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association – Private Practice Section, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, American Society of Dermatopathology, American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Hand Therapists, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Retina Specialists, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Urogynecologic Society, American Urological Association, Arkansas Rheumatology Association, Association for Clinical Oncology , Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, Association of Women in Rheumatology, Brain Injury Association of America, California Medical Association, California Rheumatology Alliance, CardioVascular Coalition, Chicago Rheumatism Society, Clinical Social Work Association, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, College of American Pathologists, Community Oncology Alliance (COA), Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Connecticut Rheumatology Association, Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Emergency Department Practice Management Association, Endocrine Society, Federation of American Hospitals, Florida Society of Rheumatology, Free2care, Georgia Society of Rheumatology, Healthcare Business Management Association, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Indiana Associations Pathologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infusion Providers Alliance, LUGPA, Maryland Society for the Rheumatic Diseases, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Group Management Association, MidWest Rheumatology Association, National Association of ACOs, National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies, National Association of Spine Specialists, National Infusion Center Association, National Rural Health Association, Nebraska Rheumatology Society, New York State Rheumatology Society, North Carolina Rheumatology Association, Office-Based Facility Organization, Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., Physician-Led Healthcare for America, Physicians Advocacy Institute, Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, Practicing Physicians of America, Renal Physicians Association, Rheumatology Alliance of Louisiana, Rheumatology Association of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of General Internal Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Hospital Medicine, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Tennessee Rheumatology Society, Texas Medical Association, US Oncology Network, Virginia Society of Rheumatology, West Virginia Rheumatology Society, and the Wisconsin Rheumatology Association.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/10/ross-foushee-call-for-greater-accountability-in-housing-amid-concerns-over-wall-street-influence,"Ross, Foushee Call for Investigation of Effects of Wall Street Speculation on Housing Market",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to examine the impact of institutional investment on the housing sector, and whether investors are taking advantage of federal affordable housing programs at the expense of homeowners and renters. The surge of institutional investments has led to rising housing prices and increased rental costs, significantly impacting working families, first-time home buyers, and renters across North Carolina. In the Research Triangle area, median home pricessurged over 25% from 2020 to 2023. Reports indicate that institutional investors purchasednearly 18% of all homes in Wake County in 2022, outbidding local families and exacerbating the housing crisis. The lawmakers wrote, “Federal housing policy should prioritize the housing needs of everyday Americans, not speculative profits. We urge you to act swiftly in probing these programs and practices so that Congress and housing agencies can better understand the role of institutional investors in housing affordability and provide solutions.” Specifically, the lawmakers are requesting that the investigation focuses on: Evaluating federal programs that provide incentives to large real estate investors, with suggestions to make these programs serve their intended purpose of helping families. How the rise of large investors owning homes is affecting prices and rent, regardless of what federal housing programs are in place. Whether practices like raising rents are pushing out middle-and low-income families. How the business practices of these investors are harming tenants’ rights, living conditions, and financial well-being. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/10/29/budd-tillis-colleagues-to-propose-bill-to-replenish-sba-disaster-loan-program-following-hurricanes-helene-and-milton/,"Budd, Tillis, Colleagues to Propose Bill to Replenish SBA Disaster Loan Program",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL), announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money. Senator Budd said in a statement: “The citizens of Western North Carolina are some of the toughest and most resilient people in this country. As they recover and rebuild their communities, they must be able to access disaster loans from SBA. This recovery will take many years, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to cut through the delays and provide WNC with the resources they need as quickly as possible.” Senator Tillis said: “The SBA Disaster Loan Program running out of funds risks delays in processing the loans of those affected by Helene and Milton and their ability to get their lives back on track. That is why I am leading legislation to replenish this fund when Congress returns to Washington, and I look forward to working across the aisle to pass a long-term disaster aid package that will provide additional resources to help make the victims of these hurricanes whole again.” Senator Cassidy said: “Hurricanes Francine, Helene, and Milton hit us hard, but Louisianans and Americans are resilient. This funding is essential to help small businesses recover from these storms and support our local economies.” Senator Rick Scott said: “We cannot allow frontline federal agencies, like the SBA, to run out of disaster relief funds. This is especially important in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton which devastated Florida, North Carolina and communities across the Southeast U.S. I continue to call on Leader Schumer to immediately reconvene the Senate so we can fund disaster relief functions at FEMA, the SBA, USDA and other agencies to get folks what they need and deserve. I won’t stop fighting to get this done and am proud to join my colleagues to introduce a bill that funds SBA disaster loans and makes sure the federal government is a reliable partner as families continue their recovery.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z https://www.budd.senate.gov/2024/10/29/budd-wicker-visit-fort-liberty-seymour-johnson-air-force-base/,"Budd & Wicker Visit Fort Liberty, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Ted Budd,B001305,www.budd.senate.gov,budd,https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) member Ted Budd (R-NC) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) have completed visits to Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. During the visits, they received updates on U.S. Air Force programs, special operations work, and Hurricane Helene response efforts. Senator Budd said in a statement: “I want to thank Ranking Member Wicker for taking time to visit Fort Liberty and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base this week. During our visit, we thanked troops from the 18th Airborne Corps for their rescue and relief efforts in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, met with leaders from USASOC and JSOC, and dined with servicemembers from North Carolina and Mississippi. At Seymour Johnson, it was my honor to showcase F-15E Strike Eagles and their importance to America’s national security. The Old North State has a proud tradition of supporting our military. That’s why my top priority will always be to make sure the men and women and their families at North Carolina’s military bases have the resources necessary to keep our nation strong and safe.” Senator Wicker said: “Some of the most important national defense work is happening in North Carolina. It was an honor to meet with some of our country’s best and brightest who are helping their fellow citizens in the wake of Hurricane Helene. During our work on this year’s NDAA, Senator Budd has been a vital legislative contributor by directing the right investments to deter China’s growing aerospace threat. He has used the bill to keep his state’s role central in advancing our country’s fighting force. I am excited to continue collaborating with Senator Budd on our shared goal of restoring America’s military might and defense industrial base.” Photo: ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/10/tillis-to-lead-legislation-to-replenish-the-sba-disaster-loan-program-following-hurricanes-helene-and-milton,Tillis to Lead Legislation to Replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL), announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. The Senators plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returns to session. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money. Senator Tillis previously wrote an op-ed in The Hill urging Congress to return and quickly pass a disaster recovery package to replenish the fund, writing in part: “…Few Helene victims have flood insurance, so the SBA’s various disaster recovery programs are key to long-term recovery. By utilizing these programs, victims can access low-interest loans to replace lost property or repair or rebuild their homes or small businesses. The loans can also be used to provide a financial cushion for small businesses that face an economic loss in the months ahead due to the storm.” “The SBA Disaster Loan Program running out of funds risks delays in processing the loans of those affected by Helene and Milton and their ability to get their lives back on track,” said Senator Tillis. “That is why I am leading legislation to replenish this fund when Congress returns to Washington, and I look forward to working across the aisle to pass a long-term disaster aid package that will provide additional resources to help make the victims of these hurricanes whole again.” “The citizens of Western North Carolina are some of the toughest and most resilient people in this country,” said Senator Budd. “As they recover and rebuild their communities, they must be able to access disaster loans from SBA. This recovery will take many years, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to cut through the delays and provide WNC with the resources they need as quickly as possible.” “Hurricane Helene brought a level of devastation to South Carolina we haven’t seen since Hugo. With a natural disaster of this magnitude, Congress should take the opportunity to show leadership and help ease the pain of those who have lost everything,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Communities back home and in surrounding states have come together to recover, but it will take every possible effort to get us back to where we were.” “Hurricanes Francine, Helene, and Milton hit us hard, but Louisianans and Americans are resilient,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding is essential to help small businesses recover from these storms and support our local economies.” “We cannot allow frontline federal agencies, like the SBA, to run out of disaster relief funds. This is especially important in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton which devastated Florida, North Carolina and communities across the Southeast U.S.,” said Senator Rick Scott. “I continue to call on Leader Schumer to immediately reconvene the Senate so we can fund disaster relief functions at FEMA, the SBA, USDA and other agencies to get folks what they need and deserve. I won’t stop fighting to get this done and am proud to join my colleagues to introduce a bill that funds SBA disaster loans and makes sure the federal government is a reliable partner as families continue their recovery.” The Restoring an Economic Lifeline with Immediate Emergency Funding (Relief) Act would appropriate $550 million to fund the SBA Disaster Loan Program Account, which would provide $2.475B in lending capacity projected to last until the end of 2024. Read text of the bill HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-29,Hurricane recovery update #29,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 28, 2024 Dear Friend, You may have noticed that it’s been a few days since I last sent out a daily update. That’s because I’m officially moving to weekly updates. I hope you view this change in frequency as positively as I do. I have been honored to be able to serve as a resource for folks across our mountains over the last month. Please trust that I will continue to do so, but it is becoming apparent that our recovery path is transitioning, and for that reason, so must the frequency of my updates. Western North Carolina is progressing. Immediate needs have largely been met, so now we must turn toward our community’s long-term needs like housing through the winter and rebuilding the homes and businesses that were destroyed. Just like I know many of you are, I’m working to help address these needs. Most prominently, I’m working to expedite the delivery of FEMA housing trailers. In past disasters, these trailers have taken months to be delivered. With winter approaching, that’s not going to cut it for WNC. Our people need warm places to stay NOW, not in six months, and I’m reiterating that to FEMA daily until the necessary trailers get delivered. I would also like to emphasize that this transition in frequency has only been made possible by the community of our mountains and the hard work put in by Western North Carolinians over the past month. It symbolizes a new era of recovery. The urgency that immediately followed Hurricane Helene for most folks has been transformed into a drive to rebuild WNC. We are making progress. We are getting through this. We are recovering. All as a community. Every Monday, be on the lookout for more information on our community’s recovery and where to find resources, and if you ever have any questions in between updates, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I lastly want to remind folks who were denied for FEMA assistance, whether it be for the $750 serious needs assistance, temporary sheltering assistance, etc., and need help filing an appeal, please reach out to my office so we can assist you. Today’s update includes information on billing concerns for folks with Duke Energy or AT&T internet, a new Disaster Recovery Center in Swain and Buncombe counties, how to avoid scams during the FEMA process, and a new $604 million disaster relief package form the North Carolina General Assembly. This is update number 29, 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. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County - TEMPORARY LOCATIONS Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot) 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Open October 28-31, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Buncombe County - PERMANENT LOCATION Cane Creek Pool 590 Lower Brush Creek Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Madison County Madison County Public Library - Marshall Branch 1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mountains Branch Library 150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Swain County Swain County Technology & Training Center 45 East Ridge Dr., Bryson City, NC 28713 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Yancey County County Annex Facility 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The 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. State legislators have stated that this package is still preliminary support, and more will be on the way in another session on November 19, 2024. This bill adds another $604 million from the state’s 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. $16.7 million for the North Carolina Community College System $5 million for a grant program to cover tuition and fees for eligible students at impacted community colleges in WNC for the spring semester. $10.5 million for an emergency grant program to support students who have suffered financial hardship due to damage and destruction by Helene. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $65 million for the Department of Public Instruction $5 million to increase mental health services to students, families, and school personnel in WNC. Expands school flexibility by excusing an additional 20 days of missed instruction time due to school closures from Hurricane Helene. $20 million for the University of North Carolina $5.5 million to establish a grant program to cover tuition for eligible in-state students at UNC Asheville in the spring semester. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $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. Students will be eligible for up to $2,500 and the UNC system must start taking applications by November 15. The funds must be used on expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment. $71.4 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services $1 million to local social services offices for rental assistance. $56 million to the Department of Commerce $50 million to Golden LEAF to administer a bridge loan program to qualifying businesses suffering economic distress due to Helene. $139 million to the Department of Environmental Quality $100 million to establish an emergency bridge loan program for water infrastructure. $22 million to establish an emergency infrastructure bridge loan program for commercial underground storage tanks. $130 million to the Department of Public Safety $106 million to general government, including the Office of State Budget and Management and the Treasurer. $100 million to the Local Government Commission to provide cash flow loans to local governments in affected areas. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Nearly 223,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 3,400 households. FEMA has distributed more than $178 million in housing assistance to more than 112,000 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 29,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC How to avoid scams during the assistance application process: Homeowners 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. It is important to answer the call, but always be alert to these illegitimate practices: A FEMA inspector calls, and you did not submit a FEMA application. A FEMA inspector asks for your banking information. FEMA inspectors are NEVER authorized to collect your personal financial information. A payment is requested from someone who says they are from FEMA. FEMA will never request payment. A FEMA inspector calls and asks for your personally identifiable information such as your social security number. If any of these things happen to you, or you receive a call from someone saying they are a FEMA representative and you aren’t sure, call the FEMA Helpline to report the incident. FEMA Helpline: (800) 621-3362 If 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: Visiting ncdoj.gov/complaint; or, Calling toll-free at 877-566-7226. Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. Well disinfection and well water collection kits can be picked up from the following locations from October 28-31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Buncombe County Health Department - Environmental Health Building 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 Cherokee County Health Department 228 Hilton St., Murphy, NC 28906 Haywood County Environmental Health 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 200, Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County Health Department 1200 Spartanburg Hwy., Ste. 100, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Madison - Environmental Health Building 5707 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753 Yancey County Health Department 202 Medical Campus Dr., Burnsville, NC 28714 NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen at Ben's Tune Up 195 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information The Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote. The 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. You can access the website via this link. Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power My 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: AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Bills 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) Non-AMI Customers without an AMI/Smart Meter may see estimated usage if Duke was unable to obtain a reading prior to invoicing. Once 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’s usage was overestimated. Duke Energy also provided the following information for auto-pay and budget billing customers: Auto-Pay Payments will automatically draft on the due date for customers signed up for auto-pay. Customers 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. If 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. Budget Billing Customers enrolled in Budget Billing will still be invoiced their set monthly amount. Almost 100 percent of all power outages have been restored in impacted areas. French Broad Electric is still focusing restoration efforts in their hardest hit areas in Yancey County, including Crabtree, Little Switzerland, along McKinney Mine Rd., Bakers Creek, Pensacola, and the western side of the county. One of the most challenging areas to restore power is along the Cane River from Langford Branch to Huntdale. Several miles of power lines were destroyed and the bank where the lines were once located is no longer an option. FBE is having to reroute lines and build them from scratch. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! Emergency roadway repair work continues with the installation of temporary bridges, numerous slide repairs, roadway reconstruction work, and repair of dangerous shoulder washouts. The focus continues to be on major corridors and communities with limited access. NCDOT still has 2,134 employees responding in WNC, including: 375 from Central NC 284 in crew transfers from both Central and Eastern NC 128 Kentucky DOT personnel who came to WNC to assist in the recovery. Nearly 900 roads have been reopened. Just over 400 roads remain closed, many of which will require extensive repairs to be reopened. NCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access My 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: AT&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. The fiber line has been restored from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, restoring communication capabilities to the area for the first time since Hurricane Helene hit our mountains. Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Nearly 100 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 2,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and emergency assistance compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. 1,100 of the 1,500 active duty soldiers from Ft. Liberty and Ft. Campbell are returning to their bases by the end of the week. Currently, only 400 active duty soldiers remain in Western North Carolina. Any remaining tasks have been transitioned over to the N.C. National Guard. The National Guard has distributed more than 16,000 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights from the last 24 hours: Lake Lure debris clearance mission completed. Distributed 445 tons of fill and rock and 400 pallets of material to Yancey County. Completed 670 humanitarian aid deliveries in Haywood County. Completed culvert debris clean out in Marshall, NC, located in Madison County. Water is actively flowing through the culvert now. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-honored-stratford-richardson-ymca-after-securing-funds-new,Rep. Adams Honored at Stratford Richardson YMCA After Securing Funds for New Clinic,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Yesterday, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) was honored by the YMCA of Greater Charlotte for her years of service to the community and the role she played in securing $2 million for the construction of their new Atrium Health Community Care Primary Care West Boulevard Family Medicine Clinic. This on-campus clinic will help provide quality, affordable care to those in need. “By providing minor surgical procedures, women’s care, pediatric care, and other preventive services, the Atrium Health Community Care Primary Care West Boulevard Family Medicine Clinic will be the difference between a family having to pay exorbitant emergency room fees and getting immediate treatment,” said Rep. Adams. “I am deeply honored to be chosen for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s inaugural ‘Champion of Change’ award. This work is personal for me and this clinic is an important step in closing the healthcare gaps that exist in our community. Healthcare is one of my four H’s, so I am proud to have helped support this clinic and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte by securing funding towards its development.” “We owe a debt of gratitude not only to Congresswoman Adams but also to our incredible partners—Atrium Health, our YMCA team, the congresswoman’s team, our elected officials, and our community partners,"" said Sue Glass, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Charlotte. “Together, through advocacy, commitment, and collaboration, we are transforming the Stratford Richardson YMCA campus into a catalyst for positive impact in Charlotte’s West Boulevard Corridor. Other appropriations information and community project funding awards are available on Rep. Adams’ website. ### Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-adams-statement-freedom-caucus-proposal-disenfranchise-nc-voters,Rep. Adams' Statement on Freedom Caucus Proposal to Disenfranchise NC Voters,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), released the following statement after Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, suggested the North Carolina State Legislature award their state’s Electoral College votes to former president Donald Trump irrespective of the votes of the people of North Carolina: “The election is barely underway and the House Freedom Caucus already wants to throw the ballots out. It would be disgraceful to overturn the votes of a free and fair election. Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01) should retract and apologize for his statement that North Carolina's state legislature should unilaterally hand the state's Electoral College votes to his preferred candidate. For my part, I joined my colleagues in signing onto letters to both the USPS and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure our elections remain safe and accessible in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our constituents are experiencing a disaster. Exploiting them for ill political gain, instead of helping, is shameful. Let’s turn the page on this insanity once and for all.” ### Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-28,Hurricane recovery update #28,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 25, 2024 Dear Friend, Four weeks. Western North Carolina’s world was rocked by Hurricane Helene four whole weeks ago. I have always been proud to be from these mountains, but I’ve never been prouder than I am right now. We’ve come so far over the past 28 days, in a way that only salt-of-the-earth mountain folk can. I could list endless reasons why you should be proud of yourselves, but I don’t think I need to because you see it every day. When chaos struck in the first few days after the storm, you buckled down and powered through. Folks immediately began to muck and gut flooded buildings regardless of whether it was your building or not. Dozens of churches and non-profits staffed by local community members began distributing food and water, and I have yet to see a single person turn down a neighbor in need. After being knocked down, I’ve watched our mountain communities build back up, brick by brick. We still have a long road ahead of us, but I think being four weeks post-disaster only warrants taking a step back and appreciating how we’ve shown up for each other and how far we’ve come. Take a moment to be proud of yourself today, because I’m proud of you too. This update includes a one-day extension to apply in-person for D-SNAP benefits if you live in Buncombe, Haywood, Macon, or McDowell counties, the standing down of active duty military who were deployed to Western NC (N.C. National Guard still remains stationed throughout NC-11), and once again highlights a change in location for the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center. Today is update number 28, 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. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County - TEMPORARY LOCATIONS Swannanoa Fire Rescue - Bee Tree Fire Substation 510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Open October 24-27, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot) 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Open October 28-31, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Madison County Madison County Public Library - Marshall Branch 1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mountains Branch Library 150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Yancey County County Annex Facility 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Nearly 223,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to roughly 6,300 individuals. FEMA has distributed more than $138 million in housing assistance to more than 96,000 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 29,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. Well disinfection and well water collection kits can be picked up from the following locations from October 22-24 and October 28-31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Buncombe County Health Department - Environmental Health Building 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 Cherokee County Health Department 228 Hilton St., Murphy, NC 28906 Haywood County Environmental Health 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 200, Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County Health Department 1200 Spartanburg Hwy., Ste. 100, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Madison - Environmental Health Building 5707 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753 Yancey County Health Department 202 Medical Campus Dr., Burnsville, NC 28714 Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 22 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power, but this system does not serve any residential customers, and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 234 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen at Ben's Tune Up 195 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information The Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote. The 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. You can access the website via this link. Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Less than 3,700 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. Most remaining power outages are concentrated in Yancey County. Around 950 Duke Energy customers are without power. Roughly 2,700 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives across 11 states. French Broad Electric is focusing restoration efforts in their hardest hit areas in Yancey County, including Crabtree, Little Switzerland, along McKinney Mine Rd., Bakers Creek, Pensacola, and the western side of the county. One of the most challenging areas to restore power is along the Cane River from Langford Branch to Huntdale. Several miles of power lines were destroyed and the bank where the lines were once located is no longer an option. FBE is having to reroute lines and build them from scratch. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! Emergency roadway repair work continues with the installation of temporary bridges, numerous slide repairs, roadway reconstruction work, and repair of dangerous shoulder washouts. The focus continues to be on major corridors and communities with limited access. Crews continue to refine estimates, determine what work can be done in-house and work to draw up contracts for site-specific repairs. NCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access The fiber line has been restored from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, restoring communication capabilities to the area for the first time since Hurricane Helene hit our mountains. Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 2,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and emergency assistance compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. 1,100 of the 1,500 active duty soldiers from Ft. Liberty and Ft. Campbell are returning to their bases by the end of the week. Currently, only 400 active duty soldiers remain in Western North Carolina. Any remaining tasks have been transitioned over to the N.C. National Guard. The National Guard has distributed more than 16,000 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights from the last 24 hours: Lake Lure debris clearance mission completed. Distributed 445 tons of fill and rock and 400 pallets of material to Yancey County. Completed 670 humanitarian aid deliveries in Haywood County. Completed culvert debris clean out in Marshall, NC, located in Madison County. Water is actively flowing through the culvert now. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Yesterday, October 24, was the deadline to apply for D-SNAP benefits for most counties. USDA has granted a one-day extension for residents living in Buncombe, Haywood, Macon, and McDowell counties to apply for D-SNAP in person at the listed location in their county: Buncombe County Buncombe County Health & Human Services 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Haywood County Haywood County Health and Human Services 157 Paragon Pkwy. #300, Clyde, NC 28721 Macon County Macon County Department of Social Services 183 Holly Springs Plz., Franklin, NC 28734 McDowell County McDowell County YMCA Gym: Bottom Level 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/10/congresswoman-ross-announces-over-105-million-in-federal-funding-for-the-north-carolina-railroad-company,Congresswoman Ross Announces Over $105 Million in Federal Funding for the North Carolina Railroad Company,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced $105,595,000 in federal funding awarded to the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The grant will be used by NCRR in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Norfolk Southern to help complete key components of the freight and passenger rail networks between Greensboro and Raleigh. Already this year, the number of NC By Train passengers has increased by 20% in comparison to 2023. This funding will also significantly increase on-time performance for existing Amtrak routes, allow for additional passenger trains along the growing corridor, and help meet growing transportation needs in North Carolina. In June 2024, Congresswomen Ross was joined by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC), along with other members of the North Carolina delegation, in supporting NCRR’s application for this grant. “I am thrilled to see this important investment coming to North Carolina that will help connect critical rail lines across our state,” said Congresswoman Ross. “From the Triangle to the Triad, North Carolina’s rapid growth demands robust transportation solutions that can meet the needs of our communities. I will continue fighting for federal support that will invest in modern transportation options and strengthen our economy.” This grant will fund a majority of the Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight improvements project to upgrade the capacity of the NC-Line, owned by the NCRR, to meet the growing demands of both freight and passenger traffic in the state. This project will support various improvements, including reconstructing up to 69 miles of rail and adding over five miles of sidings. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/10/tillis-colleagues-call-out-doj-for-failing-to-investigate-and-prosecute-illegal-immigrants-registering-to-vote,"Tillis, Colleagues Call Out DOJ for Failing to Investigate and Prosecute Illegal Immigrants Registering to Vote",2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues recently sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) demanding answers about the DOJ’s apparent failure to investigate and prosecute cases of illegal immigrants registering to vote in American elections despite state-level evidence of illegal immigrants unlawfully registering to vote. “We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections. As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting,” the senators wrote. “Since the initial letter, several more concerning reports have been released by state officials indicating that a large number of non-citizens appear on their voter rolls. For example, the Virginia Attorney General recently announced that 6,303 non-citizens were identified on and removed from Virginia’s voter rolls in 2022 and 2023. In another troubling report released in August, over 6,500 non-citizens registered to vote in Texas were identified and removed from voter rolls. Of the 6,500 non-citizens identified, 1,930 had a voter history,”the senators continued. “Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results. Accordingly, we respectfully reiterate the July 12 request for information on your Department’s enforcement efforts,” the senators concluded. Full text of the letter is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-27,Hurricane recovery update #27,2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 24, 2024 Dear Friend, Yesterday, I shared that the U.S. House of Representatives was trying to prohibit me from continuing to share this vital information with you. The House Communications Standards Commission told me I have had “ample time” to communicate with you. Despite folks still being without critical needs like water, power, and housing, the Commission felt three weeks was long enough. According to them, nobody was in danger anymore, so there was no need to continue my communication. I wholeheartedly disagreed. Disaster Recovery Centers are still being stood up, food and water distribution sites are changing, shelter locations are changing, and more. These resources all support the life and safety of Western North Carolinians, and folks running these places are relying on my communication with you to get the word out. So, I told the Commission that I wasn’t going to comply. In my opinion, the health and safety of every single person in NC-11 is more important than some arbitrary communications rule. I actively fought against the Commission’s decision that prohibits me from communicating with you and yesterday evening, I was told that we have received an extension to the blackout exemption. The Commission has finally realized the dire need for this communication and that Western NC is not healed. We are still very much responding and in the early stages of recovery from one of the worst natural disasters in North Carolina, and arguably American, history. I will continue to keep you posted on where to find vital resources for the foreseeable future. Today’s update includes three new Disaster Recovery Centers in Madison, Rutherford, and Yancey counties, a change in location for the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center to accommodate back to school, new information on French Broad Electric power restoration efforts in Yancey County, and announces that today is the deadline for D-SNAP applications. This is update number 27, with more information to follow in the coming days. As always, please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School - CLOSING TODAY AT 7:00 P.M. 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. NEW TEMPORARY LOCATIONS: Buncombe County Swannanoa Fire Rescue - Bee Tree Fire Substation 510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Open October 24-27, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot) 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Open October 28-31, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Madison County Madison County Public Library - Marshall Branch 1335 N. Main St., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rutherford County Mountains Branch Library 150 Bills Creek Rd., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Yancey County County Annex Facility 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Nearly 217,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to almost 6,600 individuals. FEMA has distributed more than $134 million in housing assistance to more than 94,000 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 27,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. Well disinfection and well water collection kits can be picked up from the following locations from October 22-24 and October 28-31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Buncombe County Health Department - Environmental Health Building 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 Cherokee County Health Department 228 Hilton St., Murphy, NC 28906 Haywood County Environmental Health 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 200, Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County Health Department 1200 Spartanburg Hwy., Ste. 100, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Madison - Environmental Health Building 5707 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753 Yancey County Health Department 202 Medical Campus Dr., Burnsville, NC 28714 Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 22 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power, but this system does not serve any residential customers, and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 233 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information The Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote. The 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. You can access the website via this link. Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Less than 4,800 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. The majority of remaining power outages are concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Around 750 Duke Energy customers are without power. Roughly 4,000 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives across 11 states. French Broad Electric is focusing restoration efforts in their hardest hit areas in Yancey County, including Crabtree, Little Switzerland, along McKinney Mine Rd., Bakers Creek, Pensacola, and the western side of the county. One of the most challenging areas to restore power is along the Cane River from Langford Branch to Huntdale. Several miles of power lines were destroyed and the bank where the lines were once located is no longer an option. FBE is having to reroute lines and build them from scratch. More co-op crews arrived yesterday, October 21, to provide additional support, including to help replace broken poles and wires. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! NCDOT staff have transitioned to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 870 roads and are only reporting 417 road closures. More than 2,000 DOT employees are working in Western NC, including 375 units from Central NC and 70 from Kentucky. More than 900 pieces of heavy equipment, including dump trucks, backhoes, loaders, and graders in the affected areas to assist with recovery and repairs. Crews continue to refine estimates, determine what work can be done in-house and work to draw up contracts for site-specific repairs. NCDOT has established a Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access The fiber line has been restored from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, restoring communication capabilities to the area for the first time since Hurricane Helene hit our mountains. Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 3,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 10 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. The National Guard has distributed more than 12,200 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Applications are being accepted through TODAY, October 24. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswomen-foushee-ross-announce-12-million-in-federal-funding-for-raleigh-durham-international-airport,"Congresswomen Foushee, Ross Announce $12 Million in Federal Funding for Raleigh-Durham International Airport",2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Valerie P. Foushee,F000477,foushee.house.gov,foushee,https://foushee.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Funding will support the Terminal 2 Landside Expansion project DURHAM, NC (October 24, 2024) — Today, Congresswomen Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced $12 million in federal funding awarded to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDU) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the FY 2025 Airport Terminal Program. This award will fund a portion of the Terminal 2 ticketing check-in, baggage claim areas, security checkpoint, and international arrival processing area. This funding will also significantly enhance accessibility with new and modernized restroom facilities and reconstructed arrival and departure curbs to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. In September 2024, Congresswomen Foushee and Ross were joined by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) in supporting RDU’s application for this grant. In 2023, RDU led the nation in growth with a record 14.5 million passengers and this year, the number of travelers is already 10.5% higher. Last month alone, more than 967,600 travelers flew through the airport. “I am very pleased Raleigh-Durham International Airport will receive $12 million in federal funding to support its continued growth and expansion efforts,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “As one of the fastest growing airports in the country, this significant federal grant will expand capacity, modernize infrastructure, and enhance efficiency for the millions of passengers RDU serves. I am proud to help secure this funding alongside my North Carolina Congressional colleagues, and I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to improving and investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/10/congresswomen-ross-foushee-announce-12-million-in-federal-funding-for-raleigh-durham-international-airport,"Congresswomen Ross, Foushee Announce $12 Million in Federal Funding for Raleigh-Durham International Airport",2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) announced $12 million in federal funding awarded to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDU) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the FY 2025 Airport Terminal Program. This award will fund a portion of the Terminal 2 ticketing check-in, baggage claim areas, security checkpoint, and international arrival processing area. This funding will also significantly enhance accessibility with new and modernized restroom facilities and reconstructed arrival and departure curbs to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. In September 2024, Congresswomen Ross and Foushee were joined by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) in supporting RDU’s application for this grant. In 2023, RDU led the nation in growth with a record 14.5 million passengers and this year, the number of travelers is already 10.5% higher. Last month alone, more than 967,600 travelers flew through the airport. “I am excited to see another historic investment coming to RDU,” said Congresswoman Ross. “As North Carolina continues to grow and attract visitors from all over the country and around the world, this funding will provide residents and travelers with a modern, efficient experience and help boost our local economy. I was proud to support RDU’s application for this critical funding and will continue working across the aisle to bring needed investments like this one back to the Triangle.” “I am very pleased Raleigh-Durham International Airport will receive $12 million in federal funding to support its continued growth and expansion efforts,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “As one of the fastest growing airports in the country, this significant federal grant will expand capacity, modernize infrastructure, and enhance efficiency for the millions of passengers RDU serves. I am proud to help secure this funding alongside my North Carolina Congressional colleagues, and I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to improving and investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.” Full text of the letter is available here ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/10/tillis-statement-on-cooper-s-mishandling-of-disaster-recovery-funding,Tillis Statement On Cooper’s Mishandling of Disaster Recovery Funding,2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis responded to Governor Roy Cooper’s request for the N.C. General Assembly to cover a $175 million shortfall in the budget of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) on recovery efforts for Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018). These funds were originally provided to the State of North Carolina by the federal government as part of disaster assistance packages funded and passed by Congress. For the last six years, Tillis has pressed the Cooper Administration on the slow pace of spending on recovery and rebuilding efforts for Matthew and Florence. As recently as May of this year, Senator Tillis once again pressed NCORR Director Laura Hogshead for answers on the rebuilding process. Nowhere in Hogshead’s response from June 2024 did she indicate that NCORR was facing such a massive shortfall of the funding originally allocated by Congress. Instead, she stated: “NCORR stands prepared to complete the homes of its current applicants and to respond quickly to any future disasters.” In 2022, the Office of Inspector General released a report finding that NCORR could not provide reasonable assurance that $2.5 million of the $5.4 million of federal assistance reviewed by the Inspector General was spent properly. In response to the NCORR’s fiscal mismanagement, Senator Thom Tillis issued the following statement: “For the last six years, I have been warning that Governor Cooper and NCORR were dropping the ball on distributing disaster relief to victims. NCORR's last-second announcement of a staggering $175 million shortfall for Matthew and Florence recovery confirms those concerns were justified. It is scandalous that the Cooper Administration has failed thousands of North Carolina families, many of whom are still living in hotel rooms and still have no relief from storms that hit our state as long as eight years ago. Instead of working to actually fix this problem, it seems the Governor's office has always been more focused on attacking anyone who drops a hint of criticism over their failure to get assistance to disaster victims. “All this makes it much more difficult for North Carolina's Congressional leaders to secure needed federal assistance for Helene victims when our colleagues look at the Cooper Administration’s failure to get federal assistance in the hands of Matthew and Florence victims. “The next Governor must turn the page on the systemic incompetence and mismanagement of North Carolina's disaster rebuilding efforts: the thousands of families who lost their homes to Helene certainly deserve better. While the NCGA is right to provide NCORR with some funding to keep operations running, state and federal leaders need to hear directly from Director Hogshead and Governor Cooper on how this appalling failure occurred on their watch, and there must be serious systematic changes to ensure North Carolina has a disaster office that is able to properly take care of disaster victims.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-recovery-update-26-must-subscribe-continue-receiving-updates,Hurricane recovery update #26 - must SUBSCRIBE to continue receiving updates,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 23, 2024 Dear Friend, I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these updates to you every day. I truly believe the information I am sharing has been helpful to the folks of Western North Carolina and could otherwise not be located if I weren’t sending it out. That said, I have some alarming news. Bureaucracy in the House of Representatives is trying to prevent me from sending any more of these updates to you if you are not a subscriber of my newsletter. Over the past 26 days, I have only shared critical information on where to find resources, how to apply for federal assistance, updates on restoration efforts in our mountains, and the likes. I have not politicized the tragedy of Hurricane Helene, and I never intend to. As you know, we are less than two weeks away from Election Day. Usually, Members of Congress have certain prohibitions about communicating with their constituency for 60 days before the election. In the case of the 2024 general election, the communication restrictions began on September 6, 2024. This is known as the “blackout rule”. I abided by that requirement until Hurricane Helene hit and it became very clear that the health and safety of my community was more important than an arbitrary communications rule. I immediately began to send out communication with vital information and ended up receiving an exemption to the blackout rule that has been allowing me to send out information. Now, despite our community still being in a State of Emergency and in critical need of the information I am sharing, the House of Representatives is trying to stop me from sending any new updates beginning at 11:59 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, October 23, 2024. I am pushing back on this ruling as much as I can, but on the chance that I’m unable to continue communicating with you and you would like to still receive this vital information, I recommend you sign up for my newsletter. You can sign up for my e-newsletter using this link. If you sign up, I will still be sending daily information until one-month post hurricane, and then transition to sending the information once a week. This update includes where and when you can pick up well water testing and disinfection kits, reopening of a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a new voter assistance resource from the Department of Justice. Today is update number 26, and I will hopefully be able to share more information in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County: A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 207,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to almost 6,300 individuals. FEMA has distributed more than $130 million in housing assistance to more than 90,000 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 24,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing and disinfection kit. Well disinfection and well water collection kits can be picked up from the following locations from October 22-24 and October 28-31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Buncombe County Health Department - Environmental Health Building 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801 Cherokee County Health Department 228 Hilton St., Murphy, NC 28906 Haywood County Environmental Health 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 200, Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County Health Department 1200 Spartanburg Hwy., Ste. 100, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Madison - Environmental Health Building 5707 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753 Yancey County Health Department 202 Medical Campus Dr., Burnsville, NC 28714 Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 22 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power, but this system does not serve any residential customers, and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 229 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sky Lanes Bowling Alley 1477 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information The Justice Department has launched a website with information to help Western North Carolinians and other communities impacted by recent hurricanes to vote. The 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. You can access the website via this link. Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Roughly 6,200 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. Up from less than 5,500 customers yesterday. The majority of remaining power outages are concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Around 2,500 Duke Energy customers are without power. This is up from around 900 yesterday. Roughly 3,600 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives across 11 states. French Broad Electric is averaging over 100 pole replacements per day. Prior to Helene, the most replaced poles in any given time were the replacement of 120 poles over a seven-day period in 2009. To date, FBE has replaced more than 1,200 poles, and they still have hundreds left to do. More co-op crews arrived yesterday, October 21, to provide additional support, including to help replace broken poles and wires. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! A portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is reopening TODAY! The National Park Service will has opened from milepost 285.5 at Bamboo Gap to milepost 305 at Beacon Heights (near Grandfather Mountain). NCDOT staff have transitioned to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 818 roads and are only reporting 468 road closures. More than 2,000 DOT employees are working in Western NC, including 375 units from Central NC and 70 from Kentucky. NCDOT has established a new Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access The fiber line has been restored from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, restoring communication capabilities to the area for the first time since Hurricane Helene hit our mountains. Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 3,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 10 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. The National Guard has distributed more than 12,200 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights from the last 24 hours: Completed relocation of palletized goods from Asheville airport. Completed culvert cleanout and cleared more than 74 cubic yards of debris by hand in Madison County. Continued large scale consolidation of palletized goods and continued assembly and delivery of 450 generators in support of Samaritan's Purse in Yancey County. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-statement-41st-anniversary-beirut-bombing,Murphy Statement on 41st Anniversary of Beirut Bombing,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Greenville, NC — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement on the 41st anniversary of the Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut, Lebanon which occurred on October 23rd, 1983. ""Today is a solemn day as we remember the 241 service members, the majority deployed from Camp Lejeune, who lost their lives in the Beirut Bombing of 1983,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""This tragedy is the deadliest single-day attack on the U.S. Marines since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. While nothing will replace the incredible lives that were taken from us, justice has been served to the mastermind of this heinous attack, Fuad Shukr, who was eliminated by Israeli forces on July 30th this summer. As we remember the selfless heroes who sacrificed their lives in service to our nation, I ask you to join me in praying for the continued peace and healing of their families.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/10/congresswoman-ross-leads-members-in-urging-congressional-investigation-of-hurricane-misinformation-on-social-media,Congresswoman Ross Leads Members in Urging Congressional Investigation of Hurricane Misinformation on Social Media,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led members of the North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida delegations in urging the House Judiciary, Oversight, and Energy & Commerce Committees to investigate and hold hearings on the role of social media platforms in the spread of misinformation following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Wiley Nickel (NC-13) joined the letter. In North Carolina, misinformation has seriously impeded Hurricane Helene disaster relief. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Deanne Criswell called the level of misinformation: “the worst [she’s] ever seen.” Former President Donald Trump himself has spread harmful lies and outrageous rumors. “A series of widely circulated posts on Facebook and X falsely claimed that FEMA was offering a new grant for immediate cash assistance to all residents, regardless of impact, resulting in a flood of applications to non-existent programs. These scams took advantage of families who were already in distress, further delaying their ability to access legitimate aid,” the lawmakers wrote. “Similarly, on Instagram, TikTok, and Discord, conspiracy theories have spread claiming that both storms are the result of government actions. It is gravely concerning to witness these behaviors now escalating into harassment, death threats, and calls for violence against government officials, meteorologists, and aid workers. One post on TikTok stated that FEMA employees should be ‘arrested or shot or hung on sight.’” The lawmakers continued, “Misinformation not only delays the recovery process but also erodes public trust in institutions that are essential to helping our states to rebuild. It is critical that the American people know where to turn for reliable information during these emergencies, and social media platforms play a significant role in shaping those sources of information.” Specifically, the lawmakers are urging the committees to investigate: The failure of social media companies to adequately address misinformation; The role of algorithms in amplifying misinformation and scams; The impact of misinformation on public trust and disaster recovery; and Failures to protect against scams and frauds. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/10/tillis-urges-congress-to-quickly-pass-a-disaster-recovery-package,Tillis Urges Congress to Quickly Pass a Disaster Recovery Package,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Thom Tillis on the importance for elected officials in Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance. Read the full op-ed HERE. Tillis on North Carolina’s recovery from Helene: “The recovery process will be long and difficult and will require years and billions of dollars of assistance. That is why it is so important for elected officials in Congress to step up and be proactive — not reactive — with long-term disaster recovery assistance. This is why I have led a bipartisan group of senators in disaster-hit states calling on Congress to end its seven-week recess and come back to Washington to pass a disaster funding package that initiates the long-term recovery process for victims and communities ravaged by Helene and Milton.” Tillis on the need to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Fund and FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: “The most pressing need is to replenish the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan fund, which has already run out of money. Few Helene victims have flood insurance, so the SBA’s various disaster recovery programs are key to long-term recovery. By utilizing these programs, victims can access low-interest loans to replace lost property or repair or rebuild their homes or small businesses. The loans can also be used to provide a financial cushion for small businesses that face an economic loss in the months ahead due to the storm. Now that funding for the SBA disaster loan program has run out, it risks delays in processing storm victims’ loans and their ability to get their lives back together. We cannot let this continue to go on. “FEMA is also in danger of running out of money in its Disaster Relief Fund. The hurricane season isn’t over until November and the National Hurricane Center is already monitoring tropical disturbances that could turn into more full-blown storms. It may only get worse.” Tillis on the broken disaster response and recovery process: “The fact is, the federal disaster response and recovery process is broken and many Americans understandably have concerns. First, there are questions about prioritization. It was telling that in a 24-hour period in the wake of Helene, the Biden-Harris administration bragged about sending $100 million in transportation funding to rebuild roads in Western North Carolina as it also pledged $157 million in assistance to Lebanon. That is reflective of an administration that can’t read a room and doesn’t have its priorities in order. Wrong message, wrong time. Additionally, there has been a big political dust-up over FEMA money being used for illegal immigrants. This confusion could have been avoided if FEMA had been laser-focused on its mission to respond to natural disasters. FEMA should never have become a funding conduit for responding to the Biden-Harris administration’s border security crisis. “Secondly, and most important, is the question about competency. The federal government is already too slow and bureaucratic, but the disaster recovery process takes it to another level. The long-term funding for recovery is, shockingly, neither permanent nor predictable and requires constant reauthorization from Congress. I have worked across the aisle to introduce legislation that would help fix this problem by establishing a permanent and predictable funding process for long-term recovery and getting assistance to families and business owners sooner. “There also needs to be a drastic improvement in how FEMA assists victims who suffer property damage. I recently introduced a bipartisan bill to end the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to disaster relief and cut the red tape that prevents many individuals and communities from accessing the relief they desperately need when they need it.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/helene-recovery-update-25-congressman-edwards,Helene recovery update #25 from Congressman Edwards,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 22, 2024 Dear Friend, It’s been almost a month since Hurricane Helene hit, and top of mind for many of our community’s residents and business owners is whether to rebuild in the wake of Helene’s destruction. The realities of your business being closed for weeks, having your home washed away or damaged beyond repair by flood waters, and not knowing what to do next is frightening; but if I can insert my two cents, here’s what I would say: This is home. It would probably be easier for many of you to relocate elsewhere and forget about the rubble left behind, but anywhere else in the country isn’t the same as the mountains of Western North Carolina. Our communities are special. So, as you make the difficult decision to stay or go, to close shop or rebuild, I encourage you to lean on your neighbors and remember that this place, these mountains, are home. We want you to stay, and we want to see you succeed. Rebuilding our mountains isn’t just about repairing our infrastructure and buildings. It’s about building back up the businesses and families that were hit hardest by the storm. It’s about letting folks know that their community is backing them, and that we will support them every step of the way through their recovery. The mountains are special because of the tight-knit, neighbor-help-neighbor communities that we have built. As folks make lifelong decisions to stay in Western NC or go, let’s remind them why they chose to come to the mountains in the first place. Because we are a community, and we are home. This edition includes an update on French Broad Electric’s repair efforts and restoration of communication in Chimney Rock for the first time since Helene hit. Today is update number 25, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County: A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 207,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to almost 6,300 individuals. FEMA has distributed more than $130 million in housing assistance to more than 90,000 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 22,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing kit. Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 22 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power, but this system does not serve any residential customers, and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 229 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. AC Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Fairview Elementary School 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Swannanoa Ingles 2299 U.S. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Leicester Elementary School 31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester, NC 28748 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lucy Herring Elementary School 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. North Windy Ridge Intermediate School 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oakley Elementary 753 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. William W. Estes Elementary School 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Roughly 6,200 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. Up from less than 5,500 customers yesterday. The majority of remaining power outages are concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Around 2,500 Duke Energy customers are without power. This is up from around 900 yesterday. Roughly 3,600 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives across 11 states. French Broad Electric is averaging over 100 pole replacements per day. Prior to Helene, the most replaced poles in any given time were the replacement of 120 poles over a seven-day period in 2009. To date, FBE has replaced more than 1,200 poles, and they still have hundreds left to do. More co-op crews arrived yesterday, October 21, to provide additional support, including to help replace broken poles and wires. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! NCDOT staff have transitioned to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 818 roads and are only reporting 468 road closures. More than 2,000 DOT employees are working in Western NC, including 375 units from Central NC and 70 from Kentucky. NCDOT has established a new Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access The fiber line has been restored from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, restoring communication capabilities to the area for the first time since Hurricane Helene hit our mountains. Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 3,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 10 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. The National Guard has distributed more than 12,200 tons of commodities to Western North Carolina. Highlights from the last 24 hours: Completed relocation of palletized goods from Asheville airport. Completed culvert cleanout and cleared more than 74 cubic yards of debris by hand in Madison County. Continued large scale consolidation of palletized goods and continued assembly and delivery of 450 generators in support of Samaritan's Purse in Yancey County. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-introduces-bipartisan-resolution-raise-awareness-aadc-deficiency,Murphy Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Raise Awareness for AADC Deficiency,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing a bipartisan resolution alongside Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) to designate October 23rd, 2024, as AADC Deficiency Awareness Day. ""I am proud to introduce this resolution to bring greater awareness about AADC Deficiency,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ""Increasing recognition of this disease will support patients experiencing symptoms of this disease and guide them toward appropriate care. As a physician of over 30 years, I am honored to amplify awareness of AADC Deficiency in Congress and help inform the public about this rare disease."" ""I am proud to continue my work with Rep. Greg Murphy and reintroduce this bipartisan resolution designating October 23, 2024 as 'AADC Deficiency Awareness Day,'"" said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. ""Raising awareness of this rare, yet devastating, disease will help patients and families recognize their symptoms and pursue treatment. I thank the AADC Family Network for their continued advocacy, research, and services they offer those who are affected by this disease, and I am hopeful this resolution will promote medical research and progress to find better treatment for those suffering from AADC Deficiency."" ""Building awareness is crucial - not only within the AADC community but also among healthcare providers - enabling them to identify symptoms early and deliver prompt, accurate diagnoses,"" said Kelly Heger, Director of the AADC Family Network. Background AADC Deficiency is a genetic neurologic rare disease that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people in the United States. Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency is a genetic neurologic rare disease that severely debilitates a patient's development, motor skills, growth, and cognitive and language skills and limits a patient's life. AADC Deficiency results from an inherited genetic disease where patients lack the AADC enzyme required to create dopamine and, without dopamine, patients will never achieve motor milestones, such as holding their heads up, sitting, and standing, or develop the ability to communicate or perform basic life functions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2024/10/tillis-announces-27-million-for-improvements-to-clt-and-rdu-airports,Tillis Announces $27 Million for Improvements to CLT and RDU Airports,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis announced $27 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation to go towards improvements at Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Airport and Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport. CLT will receive $15 million for the replacement of up to 16 passenger boarding bridges and RDU will receive $12 million to fund a portion of the Terminal 2 Landside Expansion Program, which expands the ticketing check-in/lobby, baggage claim areas, security checkpoint and international arrival processing area. “CLT and RDU are cornerstones of North Carolina’s transportation system, and we must continue to invest in both to support their growth,” said Senator Tillis. “This award will improve the experience passengers have at CLT and play an important role in RDU’s expansion, two important projects that I will continue to support.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/helene-recovery-update-24-congressman-edwards,Helene recovery update #24 from Congressman Edwards,2024-10-21,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 21, 2024 Dear Friend, Yesterday I shared how my office is here for you and today, I wanted to take a moment to share how FEMA is showing up for the people of Western North Carolina. After a rocky start to hurricane response, and amidst continued hiccups here and there, FEMA has more than 1,500 responders deployed across Western North Carolina dedicated to supporting our communities. Disaster Survivor Assistance specialists have been out and about across our district and helped register more than 6,900 survivors for Individual Assistance. FEMA has also set up 14 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), including seven centers across six counties in NC-11. The counties with DRCs are Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, and Transylvania, with more centers being established as local officials work with FEMA to find the right location. These centers provide guidance regarding disaster recovery, including by helping individuals apply for FEMA and SBA assistance, clarifying written correspondence received from FEMA, and writing referrals to local assistance in the area. Recovery Center staff have served more than 5,700 visitors and as a whole, FEMA has accepted more than 206,000 applications for assistance so far. FEMA’s response has been far from perfect, but the Disaster Survivor Assistance teams and Disaster Recovery Centers are showing up for the people of Western North Carolina. They are staffed by folk who want to help and are providing much-needed assistance to our mountains. This update includes where to find agriculture supplies, updates on storm debris removal for multiple counties and the reopening of the Patton Ave DMV in Buncombe County. Today is update number 24, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Haywood County Regional High Technical Center 112 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County: A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 206,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 6,100 individuals. FEMA has distributed more than $124 million in housing assistance to more than 87,600 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 21,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing kit. Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 25 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. This is up from 19 water systems yesterday. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 224 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. AC Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Fairview Elementary School 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Swannanoa Ingles 2299 U.S. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Leicester Elementary School 31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester, NC 28748 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lucy Herring Elementary School 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. North Windy Ridge Intermediate School 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oakley Elementary 753 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. William W. Estes Elementary School 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. Storm debris collection has begun in Buncombe County. Separate storm-related debris at the curb in the right of way according to material type: Appliances, construction debris, household hazardous waste such as pesticides and automotive fluid, vegetative debris, and electronics. Debris collection will require multiple passes and will be a long process. Residents do not have to set out all debris at one time or worry if there is debris left; another pass can collect additional debris. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. McDowell McDowell 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. Residents are asked to separate debris into the following categories: Large appliances Construction debris Vegetative debris Hazardous waste Electronics Household waste Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Rutherford The county has begun storm debris removal along state-maintained and municipally-controlled roads. Residents are asked to place storm-related vegetative debris, including trees and limbs, within the road’s right-of-way. Cut large debris into four to six ft. sections. The Rutherford County Landfill and all convenience centers have reopened with normal hours. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. The county landfill accepts natural vegetative storm debris, including spoiled hay, trees, brush, etc. for free. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday The Yancey-Mitchell Landfill is now open, following repairs from Hurricane Helene. 555 Landfill Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Saturday) Residents should sort storm debris from regular household waste. Hazardous materials will not be accepted and construction debris should be separated from household waste. Voter Information Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Ag 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): Avery County Mitchell-Avery County Center 6880 Linville Falls Hwy., Newland, NC 28657 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) Buncombe County Mills River Station 74 Research Dr., Mills River, NC 28759 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Caldwell County Caldwell County Fairgrounds 2461 Fairground Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday and Saturday only), or by appointment McDowell County Marion - McDowell County 188 Ag Services Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday) Haywood County Smokey Mountain Event Center 758 Crabtree Dr., Waynesville, NC 28785 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Watauga County Watauga County Extension 5715 U.S. Highway 421 N., Vilas, NC 28692 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) - NO HAY 1:00-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday) - HAY ONLY Power Less than 5,500 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. The majority of remaining power outages remain concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Around 900 Duke Energy customers remain without power. This is up from less than 800 yesterday Local co-ops faced a hiccup over the past 24 hours, as a little over 400 customers lost power. Currently, more than 5,600 co-op customers remain without power. Less than 4,500 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives across 11 states. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! Traffic between Western NC and Tennessee is limited, especially for trucks greater than 30 feet long. NCDOT staff are now transitioning to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 782 roads and are only reporting 483 remaining road closures. NCDOT has established a new Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 14 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Buncombe County 1624 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. Almost 3,700 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 10 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/helene-recovery-update-23-congressman-edwards,Helene recovery update #23 from Congressman Edwards,2024-10-20,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 20, 2024 Dear Friend, I’ve said it before, but I’ve never really explained what I meant when I shared that I am here for you. Today, I wanted to give you an example and remind you that me and my team are a resource for you. My team has worked on numerous cases over the past few weeks, but here is one I am especially proud of: My office received a message from a concerned daughter about her mother’s living conditions at a local retirement community. The mother’s apartment flooded, as many others did, during Hurricane Helene; and she was living in a unit with soaking wet carpets and wet wall board for days. Eventually the carpet was removed, but the mother was continuing to live in the unit that was wet with contamination. The daughter requested the mother be moved units without any luck. That’s when she reached out to my office. My team was able to work with local law enforcement and first responders to conduct a wellness check of the mother. Her unit was obviously not ideal, and within 24 hours the mother was moved to a new unit, free of mold and contamination. Whether you’re experiencing a similar situation, or you need help navigating hurricane relief through FEMA and the SBA, or even if you have an issue with another federal agency not related to the hurricane, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at (828) 435-7310; (202) 225-6401; or edwards.house.gov/contact. We are here and happy to help. As a final note, I wanted to correct update #21, where I shared which counties in Western North Carolina are open for tourism. My original list included Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Transylvania, and parts of Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford counties, but as of today, all of Western North Carolina is open for business. This includes Buncombe, Madison, Swain, and Yancey counties, as well as all of Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford counties. Per my previous message, if you have the means to make a trip, please come visit Western North Carolina. Our folks are waiting for you. This update includes a list of the four early voting sites that were closed due to Hurricane Helene, the end of a “DO NOT TRAVEL” advisory in Western NC, and a milestone of more than 200 wastewater treatment centers operating normally across NC-11. Today is update number 23, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison Polk Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County: A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than 202,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 5,800 individuals. FEMA has distributed almost $121 million in housing assistance to more than 87,00 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 18,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing kit. Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 19 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power and two systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 219 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. AC Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Fairview Elementary School 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Swannanoa Ingles 2299 U.S. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Leicester Elementary School 31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester, NC 28748 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lucy Herring Elementary School 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. North Windy Ridge Intermediate School 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oakley Elementary 753 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. William W. Estes Elementary School 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. The following materials cannot be collected at this time: Mud, construction debris, concrete and other bulky or hazardous items. Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Voter Information Reminder: Early voting has started! Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. Only four early voting sites were closed due to Hurricane Helene across NC-11, all in Buncombe County. The following four sites are NO LONGER eligible early voting sites, as was originally planned prior to Hurricane Helene: Bee Tree Fire Station Friendship Center North Asheville Library Upper Hominy Fire & Rescue Department All other regular early voting sites are OPEN across NC-11. Coordination is ongoing to develop messaging in multiple languages to inform shelter residents and guests of how and where to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Power Less than 6,500 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. The majority of remaining power outages remain concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Under 800 Duke Energy customers remain without power. Local co-ops faced a hiccup over the past 24 hours, as a little over 400 customers lost power. Currently, more than 5,600 co-op customers remain without power. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives in 11 states. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads Western North Carolina is FULLY OPEN to visitors! Please come visit! NCDOT staff are now transitioning to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 782 roads and are only reporting 483 remaining road closures. NCDOT has established a new Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 13 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The Asheville Driver’s License Office on Patton Avenue is expected to reopen on Monday, October 21. The 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: Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Due to a drop in service caused by damage to telecommunications equipment during debris clearance efforts, calls for two emergency services departments are being routed to an alternate location. All 911 calls are being answered. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. Almost 3,700 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 10 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-helene-recovery-update-22-congressman-edwards,Hurricane Helene recovery update #22 from Congressman Edwards,2024-10-19,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 19, 2024 Dear Friend, As North Carolina’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner nears its final count of community members we lost due to Hurricane Helene, I’m solemnly reporting that NC DHHS has confirmed 95 deaths as of 9:00 a.m., yesterday, October 18. NC-11 tragically makes up for the largest share of lost lives, with 76 of the 95 total losses being our community’s mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbors and colleagues. Three of the 76 losses were also local first responders who passed away in the line of duty, putting the lives of Western North Carolina ahead of their own. As we enter week four of hurricane response, I’m requesting you take a moment of silence for those folks who lost their lives to this devastating storm. This update includes a second McDowell County Disaster Recovery Center, an update on open USPS operations and a new NCDOT Road Reopening Dashboard. Today is update number 22, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing/Individual Assistance Updates Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison Polk Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County: A.C. “Bud” Hogan Community Center 909 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing/Individual Assistance Updates More than196,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance with FEMA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to more than 5,300 households. FEMA has distributed almost $116 million in housing assistance to more than 84,00 Western North Carolina households. Inspectors have performed more than 17,800 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing kit. Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 24 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power and three systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 192 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. North Carolina Emergency Management has delivered more than 6,400 pallets of water and 8,000 pallets of meals to date. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 13 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Coca-Cola Consolidated has donated $3 million to Hurricane Helene relief. $1 million of this donation was in the form of an emergency grant to the American Red Cross which was used for the support of nearly 1,400 disaster workers, the deployment of 45 emergency response vehicles, and 70 shelters for more than 2,000 displaced people. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. AC Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Fairview Elementary School 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Swannanoa Ingles 2299 U.S. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Leicester Elementary School 31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester, NC 28748 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lucy Herring Elementary School 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. North Windy Ridge Intermediate School 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oakley Elementary 753 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. William W. Estes Elementary School 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Last day of regular operations is today, October 19, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Reopening October 22-24 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily for a special event to distribute critical baby items. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The Community Kitchen 288 Crabtree Mountain Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Haywood Christian Ministry 150 Branner St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. Little Ivy Baptist Church 1053 Crossroads Pkwy., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal All counties are actively working with NCDEQ to determine where mud, silt and sediment can be safely dropped off without risk of contamination. More information to come. Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. The following materials cannot be collected at this time: Mud, construction debris, concrete and other bulky or hazardous items. Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Voter Information The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. Most USPS offices have reopened under normal operations. Sunday delivery is being made in some of the affected communities to ensure delayed mail is delivered as soon as possible. Only 21 offices, or 10 percent of all USPS offices in Western NC remain closed. Only one facility was fully destroyed, the Micaville PO box office in ZIP code 28755. USPS is utilizing Mobile Operations Units where residents can send or receive mail and packages in many of the areas with closed offices. The mobile units are located in the following communities: Alexander - 28701 Barnardsville - 28709 Cedar Mountain - 28718 Edneyville - 28727 Hot Springs - 28743 Marshall - 28753 Micaville - 28755 Montreat - 28757 Rosman - 28772 Swannanoa - 28778 Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group The first of a series of free support groups occurred on Monday, October 14, to help the community manage the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Regular group sessions will be occurring through the end of December at the following locations: 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 21 and 28 45 Oak Park Dr., Brevard, NC 28712 Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard Campus, Room 140 9:00-11:00 a.m. on November 4, 18, 25; December 2, 9 ,16 All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Power Less than 6,500 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. Power for more than 2,000 households was restored in the past 24 hours. The majority of remaining power outages remain concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Roughly 1,300 Duke Energy customers remain without power. Just under 5,200 local co-op customers remain without power. Duke Energy has 4,734 total crews in Western NC. Local co-ops are utilizing their full teams to restore energy and have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives in 11 states. NCDOT crews are still coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for most of Western North Carolina. Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel to the hardest hit communities. Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Swain, Macon, Haywood, Transylvania and Jackson counties ARE FULLY OPEN to non-essential travel for people who can access them through safe routes. Please DO NOT try to visit or travel through the areas hardest hit by the storm. Non-essential traffic in impacted areas hinders NCDOT’s efforts to reopen roads. Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties are each partially open to non-essential travel. NCDOT continues to work with counties and municipalities to assist with roadside debris removal. To date, 10 counties and 19 cities and towns in Western NC have signed agreements to collect roadside debris. NCDOT “cut-and-shove” operations are 100 percent complete on impacted interstates, 98 percent complete on primary routes and 94 percent complete on secondary roads. Debris removal is 42 percent complete on impacted interstates, 34 percent complete on primary routes and 33 percent complete on secondary routes. NCDOT staff are now transitioning to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 762 roads and are only reporting 503 remaining road closures. NCDOT central and eastern divisions have been asked to send any available patching/paving machinery and crew transfers to Western NC to help expedite repairs. NCDOT has established a new Road Reopening Dashboard for folks to keep track of progress made by the department. You can use this link to access the dashboard. The dashboard is also linked on DriveNC.gov. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 13 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The Asheville Driver’s License Office on Patton Avenue is expected to reopen on Monday, October 21. The 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: Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Vine Anglican Church - and free coffee 1055 Lee Rd, Clyde, NC 28721 Available daily from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Cell Service Roughly 94 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. The remaining areas require significant infrastructure reconstruction. Due to a drop in service caused by damage to telecommunications equipment during debris clearance efforts, calls for two emergency services departments are being routed to an alternate location. All 911 calls are being answered. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. More than 3,600 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles Nine helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. Snapshot: Delivered more than 9,000 tons of commodities to affected areas. Conducted debris clearance of critical areas in Marshall. Assisted FEMA in delivery of generators and pallets of critical commodities in Asheville, Swannanoa and Black Mountain. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/hurricane-helene-recovery-update-21-congressman-edwards,Hurricane Helene recovery update #21 from Congressman Edwards,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Chuck Edwards,E000246,edwards.house.gov,edwards,https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"October 18, 2024 Dear Friend, Today marks three full weeks since Hurricane Helene devastated our beautiful mountains. Over the past 21 days, I’ve sent out daily updates focused on what Western North Carolinians need to survive, but today, I want to focus on something Western North Carolina as a community needs to keep going. Visitors. I don’t have to tell you this, but fall is peak season for visitors in Western North Carolina. It’s where most of our revenue comes from that holds folks over until next fall. From October 1 - December 31 last year, visitors spent more than $2 billion in our mountains. That’s nearly $23 million per day. Almost 47,000 Western North Carolinians directly rely on tourism for their jobs, and local governments, which are facing steep rebuilding costs, rely on fall tourism for millions in local tax revenues. So, this message might be less applicable for the folks of Western North Carolina, but I encourage you to share it with everyone you know in the surrounding states. PLEASE visit Western North Carolina this fall and winter. Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania, and parts of Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford counties are all open and WANT, no NEED, to see visitors return. While our communities were shaken by Hurricane Helene, the beauty of our mountains was not. We need your support now more than ever. So, I encourage you to please, come see for yourself. If you’re unable to visit in person, you can also visit ShopWNC.com, where you can virtually shop NC-11’s Main Streets and small businesses to support our community from afar. This update includes the expansion of Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Cherokee and Graham counties, updates on FEMA housing efforts and the 100 percent completion of cut-and-shove operations on WNC interstates. Today is update number 21, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family. Index Click the title to be taken to the correlating information in the update. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites Legislative Support Housing Food and Water Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Jackson County Madison County McDowell County Polk County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Trash Services and Debris Removal Buncombe Haywood Henderson Madison Polk Transylvania Yancey Voter Information United States Postal Service/Mail Services Pharmacy Access Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services Dialysis Locations Oxygen Locations Resources for Veterans Resources for Farmers Power Roads Internet Access Cell Service North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense Asheville Regional Airport Federal Nutrition Programs For NC-11 Medical Providers For Local Government Resource Requests For Individual Assistance through FEMA To Connect with a Loved One Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates Free Legal Assistance IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Shelters Buncombe County Haywood County Henderson County Madison County McDowell County Rutherford County Transylvania County Yancey County Carolina Cruiser Mobile Office Hours FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Sites The following FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week to assist North Carolina survivors who have experienced losses from Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County: A.C. Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Comfort Care Center will also be available at this location where survivors can shower, do laundry and use other services. The Asheville Social Security office remains closed due to a lack of power and water. The Social Security Administration is maintaining staff at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center until the Asheville office reopens. Henderson County 2111 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jackson County Annex Building 198 WBI Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Transylvania County: Community Services Building 106 E. Morgan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. A 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. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon, and I will keep you posted as I learn about them. Disaster 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. Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass a disaster relief package when we return to session in November. I have begun conversations with leadership about how to best meet Western North Carolina’s needs in any supplemental relief package passed by Congress in the coming months. The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 on Oct. 9, 2024. This bill creates a new Hurricane Helene fund with $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. $250 million will go to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match to federal disaster relief funds. Another 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. $16 million will go to the Department of Public Instruction for “lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene” $2 million to provide local governments technical assistance with local recovery funds. $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. The bill also: Grants school calendar flexibility to public schools by allowing them to make up or mark as completed any number of the days or hours missed. It also allows the schools to use up to 30 days of remote instruction toward required instructional days. Waives DMV fees for things like obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, ID card, etc. Waives certain environmental requirements for state highway repairs. This provision will not reduce the safety of repairs conducted by NCDOT or negatively impact the environment. Housing The Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program through FEMA is currently providing temporary hotel stays to nearly 2,100 households. Inspectors have performed more than 16,000 home inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance evaluations. More than $108 million has been paid out in assistance to nearly 82,000 Western North Carolina households. FEMA is seeking residential properties to lease for Helene survivors. Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC FEMA is also seeking multifamily properties to house disaster survivors Interested 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. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC Food and Water Free drinking water testing is available by request through the Buncombe County Public Health Department. Just contact the Buncombe County Public Health Department to request a test kit. The 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. If you have a private well that flooded, the well should be disinfected and tested to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. The Division of Public Health is providing free, well-testing kits through local health departments. Contact your local health department (find your local department via this link) to obtain a free well testing kit. Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews. 26 water systems are on a partial or system-wide boil advisory. Only one treatment plant has reported having no power and five systems remain out of water. Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction. There are 186 wastewater treatment plants operating under normal conditions in the affected areas across Western NC. NCDEQ has provided the following resources to help community members track progress on water supply restoration efforts: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking - ArcGIS map with filters for system status, county, etc. linked here. DEQ Dashboard - links to additional maps, including mobile view of water system status, and environmental guidance linked here. North Carolina Emergency Management has delivered more than 6,400 pallets of water and nearly 8,000 pallets of meals to date. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date. FEMA has delivered more than 12.6 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to Western North Carolina utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit. Coca-Cola Consolidated has donated $3 million to Hurricane Helene relief. $1 million of this donation was in the form of an emergency grant to the American Red Cross which was used for the support of nearly 1,400 disaster workers, the deployment of 45 emergency response vehicles, and 70 shelters for more than 2,000 displaced people. Coke has also donated more than 35,000 cases of water and other hydration beverages to impacted areas, with more donations being delivered daily. Home Depot will be passing out free disaster relief kits every day starting at 9:00 a.m., while supplies last, at the following locations: Home Depot Asheville 795 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Home Depot West Asheville 127 Acton Cir., Asheville, NC 28806 Home Depot Hendersonville 401 Linda Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations: Hendersonville, NC Store 1242 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Portable restrooms Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily Arden, NC Store 1179 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Portable restrooms Laundry Showers Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations Buncombe County Buncombe 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. AC Reynolds High School 1 Rocket Dr., Asheville, NC 28803 Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park Complex 58 Apac Dr., Asheville, NC 28806 Black Mountain Ingles 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Fairview Elementary School 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Swannanoa Ingles 2299 U.S. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Leicester Elementary School 31 Gilbert Rd., Leicester, NC 28748 Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lucy Herring Elementary School 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. North Windy Ridge Intermediate School 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Pack Square Park 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oakley Elementary 753 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. William W. Estes Elementary School 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 The following resources sites are available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities: Biltmore Baptist Church 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church – Weaverville 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787 Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container. Supplies and bottled water. Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Fellowship Asheville 756 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday West Asheville Baptist Church 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church 102 Andrews Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Saturday hours: 3:00-4:30 p.m. Please note: This location is not open during mass. Hot meals are available at the following locations: World Central Kitchen in Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Serves 25,000 hot meals a day. Daily hours: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Shiloh Community Center 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Grovemont Park 251 Stonewall Ave., Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Manna Food Bank - Farmer’s Market 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Wesley Grant Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. West Asheville Ingles 669 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Nesbitt Chapel 12 Nesbitt Chapel Rd., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily hours: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Groce United Methodist Church – also distributing essential supplies 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805 Daily hours starting Wednesday, October 16: Only M/W/F/Sat, Supplies 12:00-4:00 p.m., meals 12:00-2:00 p.m. A Community Care Station is available at the following location: 2319 Hwy. 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Care Stations offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, wi-fi, potable and non-potable water, and counseling. Haywood County The 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: Fines Creek Community Center 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Open every day until 6:00 p.m. Pigeon Community Center 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cruso Community Center 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786 Includes shower access. Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maggie Valley Pavilion 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Woodland Baptist Church 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Covenant Church 767 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. IP Sportsplex 305 Silkwood Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bethel Elementary School 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Jonathan Valley Elementary School 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday St. Barnabas Catholic Church 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704 Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reynolds Baptist Church - Family Life Center 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill. Mountain Projects 2177 Asheville Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 The following location offers hot meals daily: Maggie Valley Fire Department 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Jukebox Junction 3606 Pigeon Rd., Canton, NC 28806 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Calvary Baptist Church 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751 The following location is offering supplies for horses and livestock: WNC Regional Livestock Center 474 Stock Dr., Canton, NC 28716 Henderson County Henderson County has stood up one Resource Hub location for water distribution and other supplies as they become available. 118 McAbee Ct., Flat Rock, NC 28731 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process. Jackson County In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County: The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location: 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717 The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location: 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783 The following locations are providing resources to displaced families and individuals in need: Mountain Projects 154-B Medical Park Loop, Sylva, NC 28779 United Christian Ministries 191 Skyland Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Sylva 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cornbread and Roses 1294 Savannah Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 Daily hours: Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Madison County The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County: Beech Glen Community Center 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. Center Community Center 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ebbs Chapel Community Center 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enon Baptist Church 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Freedom Christian Church 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc. Laurel Community Center - also has supplies 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Revere-Rice Community Center 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat) Spring Creek Community Center 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay. Walnut Community Center - also has supplies 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time. N.C. Cooperative Extension - Madison County Center 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only. McDowell County McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily. Distribution takes place daily at the following locations: Tom Johnson’s Camping Center 348 Resistoflex Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cherry Springs 6 Bull Walker Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00-6:00 p.m. Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. Restoration Church 2344 Ashworth Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Centro Unido Latino Americano 79 Academy St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Old Fort 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762 Daily hours: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday First Baptist Church Marion 99 N Main St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church 8066 Linville Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. New Manna Baptist Church 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hot meals are also being provided at the following location: Grace Community Church 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752 Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices. Current hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Polk County The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.: Mill Spring/Green Creek Community 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Columbus Community 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722 Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773 Tryon Community 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782 Sunny View 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 The following locations are serving hot meals daily: Tryon Equestrian Center 4066 Pea Ridge Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Roseland Community Center 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782 Daily hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m. Rutherford County The 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: The Green Space 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Warehouse #7 214 Vance St., Warehouse 7, Forest City, NC 28043 Transylvania County The following location is providing hot meals to county residents: Balsam Grove Community Center - daily until power is fully restored 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708 Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at: 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Water filling stations can be found at the following locations: City Sports Complex 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop 50 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours Cedar Mountain Outpost 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. DD Bullwinkles 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 No posted daily hours. First United Methodist Church 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pisgah Forest Baptist Church 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations: Anchor Baptist Church 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 423 Main St., Rosman, NC 28772 No daily hours posted Grace Brevard 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 12:00-2;00 p.m. Mary C. Jenkins Community Center 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Yancey County Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address: Former Fred’s Store 677 W. U.S. Highway 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address: 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714 Trash Services and Debris Removal Recycling services are available through Curbside Management for the following counties: Buncombe Clay Graham Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison Polk Rutherford Yancey Some communities have halted recycling services to prioritize trash collection. If 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: 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, NC 28804 If 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. If Hurricane Helene caused damage to your home or belongings, make sure to document it. This is critically important in getting reimbursed. Take photos before you begin cleaning up. Make a list of damaged or lost items and gather receipts. Doing this helps speed up the process with insurance and other assistance programs, and ensures you get properly compensated. Before you start the clean-up process, remember: Wear PPE such as long pants, goggles, gloves and sturdy shoes. Stay off damaged structures. Be aware that snakes or other hazardous animals could be present. Call your local fire department to inspect or removal chemicals, propane tanks, and other hazardous materials. If you suspect debris contains toxic substances, seal them in plastic bags to prevent them from becoming airborne. To reduce the risk of accidental fires, please DO NOT burn your storm debris. Emergency personnel are continuing to work on other storm recovery and response efforts, limiting resources to respond to accidental fires. Please discard storm debris at a local transfer site or via curbside debris pickup. Debris should be placed curbside and not block the roadway or access to the property. Please place debris away from trees, poles or other structures (e.g., fire hydrants, meters, etc.) to make removal work easier. Contact your local municipality for curbside storm debris removal collection schedules or see below for additional information on debris waste removal by county. Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take household trash and debris waste. Buncombe Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers. The following materials cannot be collected at this time: Mud, construction debris, concrete and other bulky or hazardous items. Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October. The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY: Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Please Note: Yard waste, bulk items, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. Waste Pro collection service has resumed for regular Monday route customers. Haywood Household 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. White Oak Landfill has reopened. Henderson Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees. Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service. The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property. Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc. Please be patient. The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible. Madison The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY: Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual. Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself. The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time. Polk The 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. 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 Drop-off of residential trash is $10. GFL trash services will continue the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene. Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility. Transylvania The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup. Yancey The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers have resumed operations. Daily hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday Voter Information The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election. To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link. The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location if you have a new permanent address, county board of elections, office closures and more. For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections. Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered. I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election. United States Postal Service/Mail Services USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads. Social Security checks are being routed to all units for delivery and/or are available for customer pick up. For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, please be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. There are some facilities unable to provide full retail and mail delivery due to road closures and current conditions. No drop shipments will be accepted at any of the locations listed below. The following sites are closed with no retail, but delivery is being attempted where it is safe to do so: Newland - 28657 Cedar Mountain - 28718 The following sites are closed with alternative facilities listed: Alexander - 28701 Alternative location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.; closed 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for lunch Open Saturdays: 8:00-10:00 a.m. Bat Cave - 28710 Alternative location: 3979 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; closed 12:00-1:00 p.m. for lunch Barnardsville - 28709 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. Open Saturdays: 8:30-10:30 a.m. Chimney Rock - 28720 Alternate location: 2432 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746 Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00-1:00 p.m. Edneyville - 28727 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; closed 12:00-1:00 p.m. for lunch Gerton – 28735 Alternate location: 1352 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730 Daily Hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Green Mountain - 28740 Alternate location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Hot Springs - 28743 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; closed 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for lunch. Open Saturdays: 9:00-10:30 a.m. Marshall - 28753 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; closed 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for lunch. Open Saturdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Micaville - 28755 Alternate location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Montreat - 28757 Alternate location: 2 Tucker Rd., Ridgecrest, NC 28770 Daily hours M-F: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Penland - 28765 Alternative location: 899 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine, NC 28777 Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Rosman - 28778 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; closed 12:30-1:30 p.m. for lunch. Open Saturdays: 10:00-11:00 a.m. Swannanoa - 28765 Alternate location: Mobile Retail Unit Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. All remaining locations are attempting delivery where it is safe to do so. Pharmacy Access Pharmacy Locator Hundreds of pharmacies never closed or have reopened across Western North Carolina. Use this link to locate pharmacy locations open to the public by county. The 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. The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene. Through the program, uninsured residents can: Request 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. Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics. Uninsured 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. Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location: 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Open Urgent Cares/ Health Care Services There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows: 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714 The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries: Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Brevard 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712 Locations open between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Mercy Urgent Care Columbus 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722 Locations open between 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Mobile Urgent Care Clinic 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Pardee Urgent Care 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Other locations available: Heart to Heart International - in Haywood Department of Health Parking Lot 157 Paragon Pkwy., Ste. 800, Clyde, NC 28721 Daily hours: Not available at this time. Free mental health services - All available for drop-in If 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. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. Care 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. Services 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. Hot Springs Elementary School - Art Room 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743 Daily hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Pearl Institute 55 Academy St., Waynesville, NC Daily hours: 12:00-6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Free telehealth appointments are also available. To book a telehealth appointment, you can email info@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org or call/text (828) 400-7091 Community Support Group 221 Mills Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Mary C. Jenkins Community & Cultural Center Hosted by the City of Brevard, AARP, and Blue Ridge Community College 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on October 14, 28, and November 18. All University of North Carolina System students have access to free mental health through their university. Please monitor your student email for more information on how to access these services. The 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: EmergeOrtho Hendersonville 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 EmergeOrtho Arden (South Asheville) 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704 EmergeOrtho Waynesville 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785 EmergeOrtho Brevard 89 Hospital Dr., Ste. A, Brevard, NC 28712 EmergeOrtho Weaverville 159 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787 Dialysis Locations The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11: Pardee Hospital 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 This location can dialyze 30 patients a day. DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available: DaVita Greer South Dialysis 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650 Contact Number: (864) 801-2065 DaVita Saluda River Dialysis 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673 Contact Number: (833) 378-2702 DaVita Wofford at Home 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303 Contact Number: (864) 583-4788 DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Contact Number: (833) 458-4809 Oxygen Locations Hendersonville High School 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital. Lincare is only serving established patients. Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations: Asheville Lincare 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804 Fax number: (866) 234-6698 Greenville Lincare 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607 Fax Number: (864) 288-0339 The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment - fire departments are available 24/7: Boiling Springs Fire Department 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Reidville Fire Department 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388 Inman City Fire Department 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349 First Presbyterian Church 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651 Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Croft Fire Department 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Arkwright Fire Department 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306 Roebuck Fire Department 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376\ North Spartanburg Fire Department 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316 Resources for Veterans Outpatient clinics have rescheduled 66 percent of the appointments that were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, with more being rescheduled every day. The 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. You can access the web site via this link. The VA has established a Veterans Disaster Response Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 1(800) 507-4571. If 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. The call center is open 24/7. If you have a VA-backed home loan and are unable to make your mortgage payments, please contact your mortgage servicer. You can also call the VA at (877) 827-3702, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Home 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. Legionnaires, 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. Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000. Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000. To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024. The 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. Veterans can: Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or: Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives. Local pharmacies in the VA’s 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. Hickory, Forest City and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly. Due 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. Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce. Resources for Farmers The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members. If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs. Power Roughly 8,500 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina. This is down from more than 1.4 million customers without power directly after the storm hit. The majority of remaining power outages remain concentrated in Western North Carolina, with the highest percentage of outages being reported in Yancey County. Less than 2,000 Duke Energy customers remain without power. The remaining 6,500 customers are with local co-operative energy providers. Duke Energy has 4,734 total crews in Western NC and the co-ops have more than 500 reinforcements from more than 30 electric cooperatives in 11 states. Duke has established an Asheville-based Western NC command center to serve as the company’s base of operations for the region while line workers continue to rebuild the infrastructure needed to restore the remaining customers impacted by Helene. Approximately 98 percent of all originally reported power outages have been restored. NCDOT crews are coordinating closely with power companies to ensure service is being restored as quickly as possible, including along private roads, keeping in mind that cold months are approaching fast. For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links: Complex Repair & Disaster Rebuild Zones Map: duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators Power restoration process: duke-energy.com/outages/restoring-your-power Roads A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for most of Western North Carolina. Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel to the hardest hit communities. Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Swain, Macon, Haywood, Transylvania and Jackson counties ARE FULLY OPEN to non-essential travel for people who can access them through safe routes. Please DO NOT try to visit or travel through the areas hardest hit by the storm. Non-essential traffic in impacted areas hinders NCDOT’s efforts to reopen roads. Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties are each partially open to non-essential travel. The Pisgah National Forest will partially reopen beginning today, October 18. NCDOT “cut-and-shove” operations are 100 percent complete on impacted interstates, 98 percent complete on primary routes and 94 percent complete on secondary roads. Debris removal is 42 percent complete on impacted interstates, 34 percent complete on primary routes and 33 percent complete on secondary routes. NCDOT staff are now transitioning to temporary repairs and reconstruction of damaged roadways. The state has reopened 750 roads and are only reporting 516 remaining road closures. NCDOT central and eastern divisions have been asked to send any available patching/paving machinery and crew transfers to Western NC to help expedite repairs. To monitor road conditions in and around NC-11, use drivenc.gov. The website tracks NCDOT-managed road conditions in real time. NC DMV has reopened 13 of the 16 driver license offices that were closed due to Hurricane Helene. The 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: Cherokee County 1440 Main St., Andrews, NC 28901 Haywood County 290 Lee Rd., Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County 125 Baystone Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791 Jackson County 876 Skyland Dr., Ste. 2, Sylva, NC 28779 Macon County 16 Patton Ave., Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County 1685 NC Highway 213, Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County 3975 NC 226 S., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County 596 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043 Swain County 2650 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713 Transylvania County 50 Commerce St., Ste. 4, Brevard, NC 28712 All but five license plate agencies have reopened. Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC. NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by: Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents. Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air. Having 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. The 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. If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks. NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border. You can access the map here. Internet Access Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina. Fiber repair crews are also pairing with electric utility crews in the field to assist with any accidental fiber cuts. SpaceX is offering free monthly Starlink service for 30 days to any household or entity located in the disaster area. To apply for this free service, residents can go to starlink.com/residential and select the “Helene Relief” service plan at check out. Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process. As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch. To 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: 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 The following locations are offering free public wi-fi: First Baptist Church - Weaverville 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 Downtown Franklin The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown. Transylvania County Library - 24/7 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712 The Yard Brevard 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Visitor Center 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712 Available daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cell Service Approximately 92 percent of all cellular sites in Western North Carolina have been repaired and are now in service. Due to a drop in service caused by damage to telecommunications equipment during debris clearance efforts, calls for two emergency services departments are being routed to an alternate location. All 911 calls are being answered. Currently, 58 out of 901 wireless sites remain offline. The highest concentration of these outages are in Buncombe and Henderson counties. Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users. Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down. This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out. If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again. UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location: 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712 AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location: Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806 The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi. The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones. Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts. Wireless 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. Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations: A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Family Justice Center 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations: YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752 Two charging stations at this location WNC Agricultural Center 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732 Three charging stations at this location A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 One charging station at this location T-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: Asheville Middle School 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801 First Baptist Church 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711 Additional 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. North Carolina National Guard & Department of Defense As requests from some counties are decreasing, NC National Guard assets are NOT standing down, they are instead being reallocated to other areas. For example: The NC National Guard has two crews in Chimney Rock with DOT equipment assisting with debris clearance and other DOT-related efforts. More than 3,400 National Guard soldiers and airmen, active-duty service members, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact units (National Guard units from 12 different states) are deployed across Western North Carolina to provide support. This includes: Almost 1,300 vehicles 12 helicopters As search and rescue needs diminish and roads are being cleared and restored, the need for aerial support is decreasing and ground vehicles are becoming an increasingly more effective means of support. Snapshot: 765 rescues to date (546 by helicopter, 219 ground) Delivered more than 7,000 tons of commodities to affected areas. Transitioning from food and water to cold weather items such as fuel, generators, heaters, and blankets. Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities. If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators. Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG: HOTLINE: 888-892-1162 Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300 Donated goods: 919-825-2474 These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling. Asheville Regional Airport Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding. Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed. If 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’s lots flooded and all cars are fine. Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able. PLEASE NOTE: No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel. Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA. FEMA 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. Federal Nutrition Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved flexibilities due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. SNAP North 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. This 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. D-SNAP People living in the 25 major disaster declared Western NC counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply to receive a one-time benefit to help buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Pre-registration is available by using ePASS pre-registration tool. For the tool and more information, visit epass.nc.gov/. To be eligible, applicants must: Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency. Not currently receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Certain income and resource limits may apply. Child Nutrition The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs. Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may: Serve meals in a non-congregate setting Adjust the time of meal service Allow parent pick-up Allow service of meals at school sites Food and Nutrition Services Program People 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. This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to: Have a new eWIC card issued Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene For NC-11 Medical Providers If 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. For more information on the disaster relief fund, you can visit this link. Details on how medical practices can qualify and apply for funds will be coming soon. The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available: Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene For Local Government Resource Requests For 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. My 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. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is Dec. 2, 2024 for all counties other than Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties. Swain County’s deadline is Dec. 9, 2024. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available for Western North Carolinians in counties with a major disaster declaration, including: Buncombe Clay Haywood Henderson Jackson Macon Madison McDowell Polk Rutherford Swain Transylvania Yancey If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. File an application for DUA: File at des.nc.gov, or Call over the phone at (919) 629-3857 A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions: (866) 219-5262. For Individual Assistance through FEMA The deadline to file for FEMA Individual Assistance is Nov. 27, 2024. Please mark your calendars and ensure all applications are submitted on time. North 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. People 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. Funds 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. Individual 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. Find steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm: www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/news-media If you were initially denied for Individual Assistance, please see below for useful tips to help you file an appeal with FEMA: Understand why FEMA denied your claim before writing the appeal. It could be as simple as a missing document, which you can submit with your appeal. Read FEMA’s letter from beginning to end to completely understand what the agency needs from you. Make sure you provide evidence for your appeal. Depending on your situation, documentation may include: A copy of your flood insurance declaration page. Proof of occupancy, which could be an employer statement, lease, utility bill, credit card statement, or other recent, formal document that states your address. Proof of ownership, which might include your mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts, deed, etc. Can’t write the appeal yourself? I recommend having a trusted friend, family member, or lawyer write it for you. Know your deadline. You have 60 days from the date of your FEMA determination letter to appeal. Circle the deadline on your calendar or write yourself a note to keep the date in the forefront. Once FEMA reviews your letter, you may receive a phone call or a follow-up letter asking for more documentation. Don’t forget to sign your appeal letter! Once signed, there are three ways to submit your appeal: Fax it to (800) 827-8112 Send it by mail to: FEMA Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Upload all appeal documents to your disasterassistance.gov account. Include your application number on every page of the documents you submit. Expect a decision letter to your appeal within 90 days. To Connect with a Loved One Residents 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. People 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). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations. If 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. The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties. Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form. Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts. United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests. Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form. Resources for Utility & Other Status Updates For 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. Drinking Water Systems: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking Debris Disposal Sites: Active Temporary Debris Disposal Sites NCDEQ Situation Report Tracking System NCDPS Hurricane Helene - Storm Information NCDPS County Emergency Management Agencies How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene Free Legal Assistance Legal 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: Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome) Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards Medical and insurance claims Home repair contracts Utility disputes related to restoration of services Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures Bankruptcy Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster) If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline: (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262 The hotline is available from: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays. Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. IRS Guidance for Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Helene Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS 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. Click here for the full list of extensions and respective dates Click here for more information from the IRS on disaster assistance Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS 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. Click here for a general walkthrough of these policies (under header “Additional tax relief”) Click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses Click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments Disaster payments are usually tax-free: Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude the following payments from a government agency from their gross income. Amounts received for: Reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses. The repair or rehabilitation of your home. The repair or replacement of your home’s contents. You may be eligible for a disaster loss deduction: In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund. Taxpayers 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). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025. The IRS also has a special hotline specifically dedicated to taxpayers with disaster-related tax questions. Disaster victims can call the agency’s disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227. Shelters For 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: Buncombe County A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801 Gold’s Gym 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 WNC Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732 Haywood County Haywood County Government Armory 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781 Henderson County Henderson County Recreation Center 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 McDowell County McDowell County Senior Center 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752 Rutherford County Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church 252 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Transylvania County Transylvania Parks & Rec 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 Yancey County Blue Ridge Elementary 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714 Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours In 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. Folks can stop by to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them or ask for assistance with federal agencies. Visit my website for updated Carolina Cruiser hours and locations, linked here. With my warmest regards, Chuck Edwards Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-introduces-legislation-crack-down-unlawful-campus-protests,Murphy Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Unlawful Campus Protests,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NC,Gregory F. Murphy,M001210,murphy.house.gov,murphy,https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Greenville, NC — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing the Education Not Agitation Act, legislation to eliminate tax benefits for individuals who commit criminal offenses while protesting at institutions of higher education. ""Institutions of higher education are entrusted to cultivate robust world views,"" said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.""Unfortunately, many prestigious universities in America have become bastions of hateful ideology and criminal behavior. The First Amendment is sacred, and I encourage students to exercise their right to freedom of speech and assembly. However, protests on college campuses should remain peaceful and lawful. Those who abuse their privilege and disregard the law should not benefit from the tax benefits we have in place to financially help folks further their education."" Background This legislation disqualifies individuals who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from receiving education related tax benefits including the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, and the deduction on student loan interest.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://ross.house.gov/2024/10/ross-manning-nickel-request-briefing-on-possible-foreign-involvement-in-rampant-disinformation-following-hurricanes-helene-milton,"Ross, Manning, Nickel Request Briefing on Possible Foreign Involvement in Rampant Disinformation Following Hurricanes Helene, Milton",2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02) joined Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) and Representative Wiley Nickel (NC-13) in sending a letter to the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Avril Haines, requesting a briefing on potential foreign involvement in the rampant spread of disinformation following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In North Carolina, widespread disinformation online has seriously impeded Hurricane Helene disaster relief. Some Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers have been forced to pause relief efforts due to threats. After the 2023 Maui wildfires, researchers found that foreign adversaries, including China and Russia, used social media to spread disinformation, hindering recovery efforts. “Specifically, we are concerned about potential involvement in propagating or amplifying this disinformation from foreign governments or malign influences, with the intent of undermining public trust in our institutions and hampering emergency response efforts. Given the significant impact that such disinformation can have on public safety, morale, and the overall effectiveness of recovery initiatives, it is critical to address these threats in a timely and transparent manner,” wrote the lawmakers. They continued, “In light of these concerns, we respectfully request a briefing from your office on any intelligence assessments or findings related to these disinformation campaigns. Understanding the scope of these challenges and any foreign involvement would be invaluable as we work to ensure that accurate information reaches affected communities and that we can counter harmful narratives with effective measures.” Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z