(This article will be updated.)
Relief efforts continue in Western North Carolina area where a major disaster due to Tropical Storm Helene has left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands without power.
Check back for live updates as they roll in throughout the day Sunday.
Water, supplies distribution Monday
A news release Monday morning from Henderson County provides information about how residents can get some relief.
Beginning at noon Monday, Sept. 30, Henderson County will distribute water and additional supplies to individuals in need at six Resource Hub locations throughout the county.
The drive-through Resource Hubs will be open from noon-6 p.m. Monday, distributing supplies throughout the day as they are available.
- Etowah Elementary School, 20 Etowah School Road, Etowah
- Rugby Middle School, 3345 Haywood Road, Hendersonville
- East Henderson High School, 150 Eagle Pride Drive, East Flat Rock
- North Henderson High School, 35 Fruitland Road, Hendersonville
- Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River
- Fletcher Town Hall, 300 Old Cane Creek Road, Fletcher
Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal, and water as it is available. Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through Resource Hubs and remain in their cars unless instructed otherwise by volunteers, to ensure an efficient process.
In order for the Resource Hubs to function smoothly, efficiently, and safely, we ask for the public’s patience while waiting for their supplies. At this time, the Resource Hub operations are planned for today only. Details on future resource distribution, as well as donation acceptance instructions from the general public, will be communicated by the county as information is available.
Court actions delayed
The catastrophic conditions in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene have led North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby to issue an order extending the time and period of limitation for filing and acts in the counties impacted.
All pleadings, motions, notices and other documents that were due to be filed between the dates of Sept. 26 and Oct. 14 will be deemed timely if they are filed by the close of business on Oct. 14. The order further includes all acts that were due to be done between those dates in civil actions, criminal actions, estates, and special proceedings.
The counties impacted include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.
Rodeo Carolina rescheduled due to storm
Rodeo Carolina, which was scheduled to be held at Mill Spring, North Carolina, at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort from Oct. 2-5 has been rescheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 2, due to the storm.
Tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. Those who want a refund can request one here until Oct. 14.
Delta, United to resume flights Monday
Asheville Regional Airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey shared several updates:
- Delta plans to resume flying tomorrow morning.
- United Airlines plans to resume flying tomorrow morning.
- American Airlines is hoping to resume with arriving/terminating flights tonight (last arrivals of their schedule).
Please remember: Flight status can change at any time. Stay in close contact with your airline to check your flight’s status before coming to the airport.
Also - have an arriving loved one who needs a ride from the airport? Ground transportation providers (taxis, Ubers, Lyfts and others) are experiencing the same fuel shortage as all of us in WNC. Make plans to pick up your arriving friends and family if you can.
Duke Energy: Power expected back by Friday
In a statement, Duke Energy said a majority of customers are expected to have power returned no later than Friday evening. However, repair efforts are so widespread that very few areas have been assigned estimated times of restoration.
As of roughly 12:30 p.m., Duke Energy reported the following numbers in WNC counties:
As of roughly 12:30 p.m., Duke Energy reported the following numbers in WNC counties:
- Avery- 60% (805) of customers without power
- Buncombe- 64% (95,182) of customers without power
- Burke- 75% (17,012) of customers without power
- Caldwell- 72% (17,423) of customers without power
- Catawba- 24% (18,412) of customers without power
- Cleveland- 85% (28,211) of customers without power. Estimated time of restoration Sept. 29, 11:45 p.m.
- Haywood- 35% (8,837) of customers without power
- Henderson- 100% (69,195) of customers without power
- Jackson- 30% (8,329) of customers without power
- Macon- 15% (4,044) of customers without power
- Madison- 62% (404) of customers without power
- McDowell- 93% (18,443) of customers without power
- Mitchell- 84% (4,700) of customers without power
- Polk- 32% (11,451) of customers without power
- Rutherford- 90% (25,843) of customers without power
- Transylvania- 79% (13,246) of customers without power
- Wilkes- 32% (9,615) of customers without power
- Yancey- 73% (472) of customers without power
Two emergency shelters open in Henderson County
During a media briefing Sunday, Henderson County Manager John Mitchell encouraged residents to stay home if possible in order to clear roads for first responders. When traveling, avoid driving over downed power lines.
He also shared the following information:
- Two emergency shelters are now open in the county: the Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center at 708 S. Grove Street and Edneyville Elementary School at 2875 Pace Road.
- Limited water and supplies are available at Mills River Town Hall.
- In an emergency call 911. For all other information or non-emergency needs, call 828-771-6670.
- Henderson County Schools will be closed until further notice.
Five confirmed dead in Henderson County
Henderson County spokesman Mike Morgan confirmed that there have been five Tropical Storm Helene-related deaths in the county.
Nearly 464,000 customers are without power in North Carolina
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said nearly 464,000 customers are without power due to catastrophic damage from Tropical Storm Helene during a press conference Sunday. This is down from a peak of more than a million, Cooper added.
The map below shows where people are without power in Western North Carolina.
What's open in Western North Carolina
The following grocery stores are open near Asheville:
- Food Lion: 179 Paragon Pkwy, Clyde, NC
- Trader Joe’s: 120 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Ingles Markets(Cash Only): 575 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC
- Walmart: 1636 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC
- Publix: 165 Weaver Boulevard, Weaverville, NC
Here's our guide on where to find grocery stores and gas across the state.
Cell service is still out in Western North Carolina
Major cellular providers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — are actively working to restore service, though none have provided a specific timeline for full restoration.
AT&T has announced it will waive talk, text, and data overage charges for AT&T Postpaid & Prepaid customers with billing addresses in 1,415 affected ZIP codes from Sept. 27 to Oct. 27. Charges for residential and business wireline orders placed through Oct. 27 will also be waived.
Verizon will waive postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 26 through Oct. 5.
Record rainfall in Asheville
National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw told the Citizen Times that the rainfall WNC saw beat the previous record for September in only three days.
Here are the rainfall amounts recorded for several WNC areas between Sept. 25-27 according to NWS records:
Spruce Pine - 24.12 inchesHendersonville - 21.96 inchesCandler - 16.18 inchesGrandfather Mountain - 15.42 inchesAsheville - 17.31 inchesWoodfin - 6.17 inchesBat Cave - 6.88 inchesLake Lure - 7.24 inchesMills River - 12.16 inchesSwannanoa - 13.21 inches
Scattered showers expected tonight
After several days of devastating flooding in WNC, flood and flash flood warnings are beginning to end. In Asheville, one flood warning for the Swannanoa River at Biltmore affecting Buncombe County remains active until 1 p.m. Sept. 29.
Some scattered showers are expected today into tonight - and while the rainfall amounts are expected to remain light this time - less than 1 inch in Asheville - the National Weather Service warned that isolated excessive runoff is possible for areas that received heavy rainfall and flooding from Helene.
Travel nearly impossible in Western North Carolina
At least 200 roads are closed in North Carolina as of Sunday morning, including Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 at the Tennessee-North Carolina border, according to the state's road closures map. The I-40 closure near the state line is termed long-term. I-40 also is closed at Old Fort Mountain. NCDOT estimates it will reopen there by noon Tuesday, Oct. 1.
You can follow road closures atdrivenc.gov. State emergency officials have warned people not to travel in or to Western North Carolina.
