Latest news on Helene’s recovery, death toll

(This article is being updated. Read our previous coverage here.)

On Wednesday, more areas in Western North Carolina began entering recovery mode after Tropical Storm Helene left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands without power. Many local and state officials warned residents, saying a return to normalcy would take weeks instead of days. The full extent of Helene’s devastation is not expected to be known for some time.

Check back for live updates as they roll in throughout the day on Thursday.

The death toll in Western North Carolina had risen to at least 94 people on Thursday, with officials saying the number could rise even higher as search efforts continued across the region.

In hard-hit Buncombe County, 61 deaths have been confirmed so far, according to Sheriff Quentin Miller.

Avery County Manager Philip Barrier confirmed five deaths from the Helene floods on Tuesday after false information began circulating on social media claiming 200 people had died in the county seat of Newland.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports the following deaths in the following counties:

  • Henderson: Six
  • Yancey: Nine
  • Cleveland: Two
  • Watauga: Two
  • Burke: One
  • Catawba: One
  • Gaston: One
  • Mâcon: One
  • Madison: One
  • Mecklenburg: One
  • Polk: One
  • Rutherford: One
  • Yadkin: One

— Staff reports

Earth Fare plans to give away more than $500,000 worth of food Thursday in the parking lot of its Asheville store at 66 Westgate Pkwy.

The company reports that it has approximately 10,000 individual meal kits (including vegetarian options) in four flavors to distribute to individuals and families starting at 11 a.m. Boiling water is required to prepare meals. The kits are limited to six per person, but officials are happy to accommodate larger families if necessary, the company said Wednesday in a news release announcing the giveaway, which was organized in partnership with supplier Inland Foods.

— Staff reports

The North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections said another 800 people incarcerated at the Mountain View Correctional Institute in Spruce Pine and from the Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville were evacuated from the facilities Wednesday. The men from both prisons were sent to other locations in the state.

The department is asking family and friends not to call the jails to check on their loved ones, noting that everyone is safe.

Adult corrections evacuated more than 2,000 people from five different facilities in the western part of the state this week due to the lack of water and power in the area.

For more information, including details on where the prisoners were sent, you can read the full story here.

– Joyce Orlando, USA Today Network

Several churches, businesses and organizations are offering hot meals to those affected by Tropical Storm Helene in Western North Carolina. Here is a list of known locations and when people can visit:

Haywood County

Clyde Central United Methodist Church, 410 Charles Street, is offering meals daily from noon to 6 p.m., a Haywood County government spokesperson said in an email Wednesday.

Buncombe County

Tupelo Honey’s South Asheville Store, at 1829 Hendersonville Road, will serve free hot meals every day starting Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until supplies run out, Amanda Stevens announced Wednesday.

Tyson Foods will bring a Meals that Matter Disaster Relief team to Weaverville in northern Buncombe County later this week to distribute hot meals, water and ice. Volunteers will be stationed at the Walmart Supercenter, 25 Northridge Commons Parkway, on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday.

Transylvania province

Daily from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Hot meals at Cedar Mountain Community Center, 10635 Greenville Highway. Daily until power is restored, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Balsam Grove Community Center, 8732 Parkway Road. Daily, noon to 2 p.m. Meals at Bread of Life, 238 S. Caldwell St. Through Friday, October 4, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Hot meal from Smoke On in the parking lot of Champion Park, 38 Main St., Rosman. Until Saturday October 1st. 5:00 PM – 4:00 PM Hot food, water and supplies at Destiny Church, Tiptop Road 48. Through Friday, October 4, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Hot meal and food distribution by the Hunger Coalition at The Family Place, 970 Old Hendersonville Highway.Friday, October 4 , 5:30 PM and Saturday, October 5, 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Meal and supplies at the old Rosman High School gym, 749 Pickens Highway. Saturday, October 5, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Hot food at Bethel A Church, 290 Oakdale St.

— Staff reports

The University of North Carolina at Asheville campus will be closed at least until Oct. 14 and classes are not expected to resume until Oct. 28 due to a lack of electricity, running water and internet, Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said in a message of October. 1 update.

All traditional university activities have been suspended and only essential workers are allowed on campus, but Van Noort clarified that school is not out this semester, with academic continuity planning in the works and more information to follow as assessments continue.

“We have heard from many members of our extended UNC Asheville community who are eager to support our campus,” Van Noort said in the update on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. “Your expressions of solidarity and generous offers of assistance are greatly appreciated. As we continue to assess our needs and recovery efforts, a UNC Asheville Disaster Emergency Response Fund has been established. Your contributions will support the entire campus community.”

The UNCA Disaster Relief Fund is available at giving.unca.edu.

— Staff reports

As Wednesday drew to a close, the death toll in Western North Carolina stood at at least 73 people, officials said.

Buncombe County added four new deaths Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total to 61, Sheriff Quentin Miller said.

So far, six deaths have been confirmed in Henderson County, one in Macon County and five in Avery County, in addition to the deaths in Buncombe.

Welfare checks continued across the region.

— Staff reportS

Buncombe County provided a comprehensive update Wednesday evening with details on shelters, water, food distribution, law enforcement and other recovery information.

The update also included specific information for Asheville and Weaverville.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Shelter updates

  • A new general purpose facility has opened in the former Gold’s Gym, 1815 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. It has a children’s playroom, making it ideal for families. No pets are allowed.
  • General shelter is also available at the AB Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Drive in Asheville. Use the Victoria Road entrance.
  • An emergency medical shelter, 10 Genevieve Circle in Asheville, remains available for those who rely on medical equipment.
  • The shelter at the WNC Agricultural Center is full.

Power outage

Duke Energy reports that 91,000 customers are without power. The utility expects most of what can be restored to be back online by Friday. It will take months to repair two submerged substations in Swannanoa. But mobile substations will soon arrive to address the situation. Wi-Fi is now available at the Enka Candler Public Library. Use the password ‘read more’.

BeLoved Asheville Donations: Donations are no longer accepted on this site.

Weaverville update

A cooking advisory is in effect. Save water. If you cannot boil water, add 8 drops of bleach to a liter of water. Water will be distributed at North Windy Ridge Intermediate School, 20 Doan Road in Weaverville. Please bring your own water containers.

Pantry items and water are available Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Drive in Weaverville. Donations are accepted between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM

Waste collection will resume on October 7. A PNC Bank mobile ATM is located on Weaver Boulevard. T-Mobile is setting up a Wi-Fi and phone charging area behind Tractor Supply, 14 Monticello Road in Weaverville.

Asheville update

Water for toilet flushing is available at Asheville JCC Pool, 40 Clyde Street, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. Enter via Clyde Street and drive to the pool gate on North Crescent Street.

Water system

Flood restoration efforts are still underway, with many roads inaccessible for crews to make repairs.

Water treatment plants

  • The William DeBruhl water treatment plant is not accessible. North Carolina Department of Transportation crews are on site rebuilding the road to that plant. Once road repairs have been completed, people and equipment can be delivered to the site to begin repairs to the plant.
  • Mills River Treatment Plant is operating and providing water to some residents. The plant is being repaired and crews are working to get the pants up to full capacity as quickly as possible.
  • The North Fork Water Treatment Plant is operational, but is not providing water because there is no water available to treat from the reservoir. Reservoir water has high cloudiness and cannot be used. The factory is currently accessible and adequate repairs are underway.

Distribution systems

The damage to the water distribution systems is extensive. Even if the plants are operational, water cannot be delivered to the community if distribution systems are not available. Staff will make repairs to inaccessible areas as quickly as possible.

Law enforcement update

The Asheville Police Department (APD) has a full patrol staff. Many officers work overtime to ensure safety. APD also receives support from other police forces. The work includes monitoring food and distribution sites, critical infrastructure, medical facilities, as well as drone and search operations, recovery of the bodies of our neighbors who have lost their lives, welfare checks and reunification with families.

A reminder that when intersection traffic lights are not working, it becomes a four-way stop.

The curfew remains in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m

— Staff reports