Emergency Information & Services Update
Update: As of April 7, 2025, the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance has passed. As of April 15, the deadline to apply for the Private Property Debris Removal Program has passed.
Other important deadlines:
April 27: SBA Physical Damage Loan Deadline
June 30: SBA Economic Injury Application Deadline
OPERATIONS STATUS - County Parks
View a full updated list of Asheville park openings and updates.
OPERATIONS STATUS – CITY/COUNTY CURBSIDE COLLECTION
SOLID WASTE
Drop off residential bagged trash at:
- County Landfill: 85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
- Hominy Creek Transfer Station: 190 Hominy Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
FCC Environmental
FCC Environmental is Buncombe County's new trash hauler. Click here for more information.
DEBRIS PICKUP:
Public Right-of-Way: USACE was tasked to finish debris removal on the public right-of-way by April 1, 2025. Right-of-way debris removal has now ended in Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, and the Town of Black Mountain.
Buncombe County staff is aware of missed pickup locations and contractors with USACE are completing hotspot pickup in these areas.
Title Property Debris Removal: Vehicles and Vessels: The collection of cars, RVs, boats, and containers, known as title property began in January 2025. This is a very complex project as it involves various entities. The County is developing a process aligned with state statute and local ordinances. Teams will work across departments to locate owners and make arrangements for removal. More information will be shared on this process as details are finalized.
Waterway Debris Removal: Waterways debris removal currently taking place. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is tasked with the removal of debris from waterways.
PRIVATE PROPERTIES: Deadline to apply for PPDR is April 15.
Applications for the Private Property Debris Removal Program in Buncombe County are now closed.
Over 5,000 applications were submitted for the County’s Private Property Debris Removal program.
Here is what applicants can expect:
- Tetra Tech, a County contractor, will continue to process applications and gather required information
- Inspections will be completed to document debris and hazards
- Once that’s completed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will work with their contractor to schedule the debris collection; this may happen in several steps, but the debris will be picked up
For those who have applied and haven’t had debris cleared yet, the best way to expedite the process is to keep an eye on any calls, texts, or emails from Tetra Tech administrators who may be reaching out for any required additional information
For status updates on applications, reach out to the One Buncombe Call Center at 828-250-6100, option 2.
This center is available 7 days a week from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
If you have concerns about the work that was done on your property after it was completed, please email the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at DLL-CESAW-NC-Helene-PPDR@usace.army.mil.
OPERATIONS STATUS – ART PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE
ART has resumed normal service hours. For routes in operation, check here or call customer service at 828-259-5943.
OPERATIONS STATUS – BUNCOMBE COUNTY INSPECTIONS & PERMITS
Permit applications are available at electrical supply companies that are open and the Permits Office, now located at the new consolidated Government Services Center at 35 Woodfin St., weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Electronic permit applications are accepted on the Development Portal .
- If a home is located within a special flood hazard area and significant damage occurred, call the flood plain administrator for guidance at 828-250-4830.
- A permit is required for a project when the cost is more than $40,000.
- Always work with a licensed general contractor.
- A permit is required for any structural repair or for any trade work such as electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and gas piping.
- Be cautious of door-to-door offers of repairs services and flyers.
- If you are in a special flood hazard area, you will have additional requirements specific to your project. Check your area and special requirements.
Visit buncombecounty.org/permits to learn more about the permitting process or call 828-250-5360.
OPERATIONS STATUS – WATER & SEWER
Click here for information about the City of Asheville's water testing and other water-related FAQs
Lead Awareness: Water Resources advises that residents with plumbing installed before 1988 follow a flushing protocol with each water use by running cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before gathering water for consumption. That process should be followed daily. More information about lead and testing kits can be found here.
Call (828) 251-1122 for billing questions.
Sewer emergencies should be reported immediately to (828) 255-0061.
PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL DELAYED
On October 15, 2024, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to delay the 2025 reappraisal until January 1, 2026. A recording of the meeting is available on Facebook.
COMMUNITY CARE STATIONS: Showers, Laundry, Food, and Water Resources
Update April 16: The Community Care Station at Owen Pool continues to be a resource for storm survivors in Buncombe County. Recognizing the need to create a sustainable long-term plan, the County is partnering in the community to support showering and laundry.
Laundry: Thanks to funding from United Way, Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries at 101 N. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain is offering survivors free pre-loaded cards for laundry services at Black Mountain Coin Laundry, 107 WNC Shopping Center Drive, Black Mountain (off of Highway 70), which operates 24/7. Community members can register for these cards between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday from Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries.
Beginning April 16, a shower trailer, similar to the one currently at the pool, will be available in Beacon Village at the Swannanoa First Baptist Church, 503 Park St., Swannanoa between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7-9 p.m. weeknights, and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. This shower trailer is also equipped with a family shower space.
Flyers for both of these offerings along with the supports available through the Helene Resource Center are being distributed to individuals utilizing the Owen Pool Community Care Station. The Owen Pool CCS will close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 30.
We are thankful for all the staff who worked to get eight Community Care Stations open throughout Buncombe County during a time when many of us still had no access to basic necessities, and we are thankful for the staff who continue to operate the last station until its transition next week, seven months since the storm changed life as we know it in Buncombe County.
Helene Recovery Center
Find representatives with FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration, one-on-one Helene recovery assistance with the N.C. Disaster Case Management, information on no-cost projects that can make your property more resilient known as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and more.
Visit us at 94 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can park for free across the street and transit is available nearby through ART.
You don’t need an appointment, so visit the center at a time that works for you.
While the deadline to apply for FEMA has passed, stay in communication with FEMA and provide any necessary documents.
EBT/SNAP/NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
People and families enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program can use benefits to purchase hot food; full news release.
FOOD SERVICES PROVIDERS
Food service establishments that experienced an interruption in water or power need a visit from our office to re-instate their permit. We have been able to accommodate either same-day visits or schedule a visit at a time convenient with the operator. Food service establishments that do not have a functioning municipal water source AND would like to reopen need to complete an Emergency Operations Plan application. Those applications have been emailed out to all restaurants in our database. These plans are being reviewed by the state’s Environmental Health section. Once the plans are approved, our inspectors are making visits to reopen the establishments. Food service establishments with water and under a boil water advisory need to follow best practices as outlined on our Boil Water Fact Sheet found on buncombecounty.org/eh AND do NOT need to submit an Emergency Operations Plan AND do NOT need a visit from our office prior to opening. Food service establishments that did not experience an interruption in power or water need to reach out to our office and let us know.
For any questions, please call 828-250-5016 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
- Feeling overwhelmed and need support immediately? Text or call 988, or chat 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support.
- Disaster Distress Helpline for those specifically impacted by or responding to disasters, including hurricanes: call or text 1-800-985-5990 24/7, 365-day-a-year. Help is available in English and Spanish. Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers can call or text through their preferred Relay provider. In-person services are available at 130 Montreat Road, Black Mountain, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- NC Peer Warmline at 1-855-PEERS-NC to speak to a peer living in recovery from mental health or substance use issues
- Hope4NC available for volunteers and first responders, 1-855-587-3463
- VAYA Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127
- The Disability Disaster Hotline, 800-626-4959, provides information, referrals and guidance to people with disabilities and their families during disasters. Help is available 24/7.
Opportunities for Connection
Reconnecting Through Hard Times Tuesdays through November 19
11 a.m. to noon or Thursdays through November 21, 3 to 4 p.m.
Call 646-876-9923 (meeting ID?859 8501 0699) or click here to access the meeting.
Listening Circles for Therapists Tuesdays through November 19
8 to 9 a.m.
Call 646-876-9923 (meeting ID?836 0452 5149) or click here.
PERSONAL FIRES/BURNING*
Many residents and businesses are turning to open burning as a means of disposal, but as our region dries out, our fire chiefs and our Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency urge community members NOT to burn. Storm debris collection is beginning, so please use the collection services that are offered. Today, debris collection trucks will be in Swannanoa, Barnardsville, and outside of Woodfin.
For storm debris that is being gathered with the intention of conducting open burning including the use of air curtain burners, permission is required by the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency and there are certain requirements that must be met. Please contact the Agency at 828-250-6777, airquality@buncombecounty.org, or abairquality.org. Never burn synthetic materials or trash.
If you determine that you absolutely must burn, help prevent wildfires by following this guidance from our fire marshal:
- Keep debris burning to small, three-foot in diameter and height piles.
- Do not ever leave a fire unattended.
- Have a method of extinguish a fire: water, dirt/sand, motorized equipment, or fire extinguisher.
- Keep all burn areas clear of any combustible debris or vegetation.
- Stay 25 feet or more from structures and all wooded areas.
- We have increased this recommendation from 15 feet based our current conditions.
*This information is analyzed daily by the “fire weather forecast” as published by the NC Forest service. We are constantly monitoring the conditions and the forecast.
Reminder that burning debris is never allowed in municipalities.
TRASH
SOLID WASTE
Drop off residential bagged trash at:
County Landfill: 85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
Hominy Creek Transfer Station: 190 Hominy Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
TRASH SERVICE TRANSITION (SIGN UP FOR FCC)
Buncombe County has transitioned to our new trash and recycling pick-up service provider, FCC Environmental Services effective Jan. 2.
Waste Pro customers will need to sign up for service with FCC Environmental to continue household trash and recycling pick-up after Jan. 1. We know it is really tough to add one more thing as we’re going through our disaster recovery response, but we ask you to get signed up now so your trash and recycling can be picked up in the new year.
To sign up call 828-820-7022 or visit fccenvironmental.com/buncombe-county.
Stay Informed
For the latest recovery updates, visit engage.buncombecounty.org/buncomberecovers.
For any Helene-related questions, contact the One Buncombe Call Center at 828-250-6100 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
Updated Apr 23, 2025 01:39 PM