Link to watch: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/spJK48QLydMcrdY4/?mibextid=zWBbVw

County Manager

-Latest Duke Energy map shows over 100,000 without power today

-Water and MRE’s will continue to be provided at the four distribution sites from noon to 4PM. Please bring your own containers for water.

-Don’t bring donations to the distributions sites. Email [email protected] to donate

-BeLoved is distributing water, food, diapers, and baby formula at 32 Old Charlotte Hwy. You can also drop off donations there. They have Spanish speaking volunteers.

-Manna Foodbank is launching a distribution site at 570 Brevard Rd. You can visit mannafoodbank.org to make donations.

-The 911 call center is being supported by several other call centers (Raleigh, Fayetteville, I didn’t get the whole list)

National Urban Search and Rescue Team

-This county has miles and miles of complete devastation so please be patient.

-Local fire and police are going to areas that they can get into

-19 federal search and rescue teams are operating in addition to local and state search and rescue teams

-For immediate assistance email disasterassistance.gov, go to the FEMA mobile app or call FEMA help line at 800-621-3362

Buncome County Medical Director

-ABCCM at 155 Livingston Street is accepting donations of medications 9AM to noon. Must be sealed, manufacturer bottles that are not expired, do not require refrigeration, and are not controlled substances or cancer medications.

-ABCCM Medical Clinic is providing primary healthcare for all adults

-The NC Board of Pharmacies is maintaining a list of pharmacies that are open. The list is updated every 30 minutes. If you are a pharmacy that is open the notify the board of pharmacies. The Mission Hospital outpatient pharmacy is open 24/7 to fill prescriptions. Here is a list right now:

CVS – Smokey Park Hwy, Long Shoals Rd

Pinaccle Apothecary in Candler – M-F 10-4

PSA Pharmacy in Swannanoa

Publix on Hendersonville Rd and Weaver Blvd

Walgreens on Hendersonville Rd

Walmart on Airport Rd and North Ridge Commons in Weaverville and Hendersonville Rd

EMERGENCY ALLOWANCES: You can go to any open pharmacy with a prescription bottle to get a prescription refilled even if you don’t have any refills. This does not include schedule 2 substances like hydrocodone or Adderall. All health insurance plans are legally responsible to allow and cover prescriptions. It is okay for someone other than the patient to pick up the prescription. Some medications will require the person to have a copy of the patients ID, but most do not require that.

Anyone sheltered at the AG Center or AB Tech have been partnering with MAHEC to get prescriptions to people in the shelters who cannot get to a pharmacy.

-Only potable water should be used for drinking, food prep, washing dishes and hands, brushing teeth, bathing, or showering.

-If you are on a municipal water supply and are getting water from your tap you should boil your water for one minute or add 8 drops of bleach to a gallon or water.

-Do not use water from streams or creeks except to flush your toilets.

-Do not eat lunch meat, milk products, or soft cheeses that were unrefrigerated for 6 hours. Raw meat products that are cold to the touch and unspoiled can be eaten if thoroughly cooked. Any seafood needs to be thrown out. You can call 919-515-9842 for additional guidance.

-All food service operations without water, power, or sewer can operate unless they are operating under an emergency operations plan that has been approved by Buncombe County Environmental Health. You can reach out to 919-707-5999 for additional guidance.

Misc

-Duke alert – do not drive over downed power lines as power is starting to come back on line

-MSD treatment facility has been operating and treating the whole time. All major lines and 37 out of 40 pump stations are working. Three pump stations are still underwater. They are still without water or internet. They are expecting many problems throughout the system as everything comes back online.

County Sherriff

-There are 57 confirmed deaths in Buncombe County

Woodfin

-Water distribution at N Windy Ridge School

-Food is available at the Methodist and Baptist Churches

-Pantry Items and bottled water will be distributed at the community center above Lake Louise from 10AM to 2PM

-Curfew remains in effect from 7:30PM to 7:30AM

Media Questions

Carolina Public Press – Are there concerns with standing water – like mosquitoes?

Yes, we do have standing water and mosquitoes. They encourage people to use the appropriate precautions. If you are able to empty any buckets of standing water please do that.

Charlotte Observer – Looking for clarification on the delayed water delivery? They state says that water was delivered on the 27th or 28th.

The request was made for water through the state emergency management system at 4:49PM on September 26. Catastrophic flooding began early on the 27th. Supplied began to arrive by air on the 28th and late in the night by trucks. These supplies were not only for Buncombe County but were also for other areas. Buncombe County has a supply they can usually access in Swannanoa, but were not able to use that because it was destroyed by the flood waters.

BRP Radio – trash pickup? Does water need to be boiled for bathing? Are there any updates on mail service?

The Woodfin facility and the transfer station both sustained significant damage and are not operational. Right now only the landfill is accessible. There is not an ETA yet for trash pickup. You should boil water you use for bathing, washing hands, brushing your teeth. They have heard that some mail is being delivered. That service will continue to expand as areas become more accessible.

Asheville Watchdog – again on the water. The county has said that water was not received until yesterday (9/30) while the state says that water was delivered on the 28th.

County manager said that the water for Buncombe County arrived at 2:30AM on Monday morning. That was water that was specific for use by Buncombe County. There may have been water that came in before that for other uses, but the water for distribution ordered by Buncombe County came in on Monday morning.

Asheville Watchdog – why has there been a lower presence of city officials at the briefing than the county?

The city representative said he was only there to speak on the water system. It will take weeks for the water to be back on. The county press representative said that these are county briefings so the county is calling in representatives for the meetings.

Not sure the media outlet - There was an incident on Sunday where people found a semi truck with cases of water and began distributing it to people nearby and a law enforcement officer said that they were stealing and made them leave.

Sheriff said he was not aware of that incident but would look into it. The media asked if that was considered stealing. Sheriff said that they are arguing semantics. He said they are going to enforce the statutes that are on the books.

BRP Radio – what are conditions in the jail? There are reports of degrading conditions and self harm.

Sheriff said the jail operations are normal. There is false information circulating, but operations at the detention center are normal.

Other media – how are medical supplies, specifically oxygen, being distributed or handled?

There have been requests from the community for both oxygen and insulin. They have been working on the logistics of it. If someone wants to donate contact [email protected]. Insulin is difficult because it needs to be refrigerated. At this time they are trying to find ways to fill requests as they come in.

Is rain water or well water safe for drinking?

Rain water is not safe for drinking. Well water should be an acceptable drinking water source if it’s not compromised and you were drinking it previously.

What is the status of Swannanoa, Black Mountain, the RAD, and Biltmore Village?

County manager said that they went to Black Mountain and met with leaders there. They have their EOC (?) up and running. There is no more standing water on the roads in Biltmore Village but it is still blocked up because there is massive damage.

How are the deceased being handled? Is there discussion about mobile morgues?

The county does have mobile morgues that were purchased as a COVID procedure. They have been working with state and regional partners to determine how to treat members that have lost lives. They have also been working with local funeral homes and Mission Hospital.

Is there an estimate of how much of the area has been accessed?

There isn’t an exact measurement, and it is a very slow process. There is widespread devastation and lots of obstacles that make it extremely difficult to get everywhere. They are using every resource available to get to people.

Asheville Watchdog – can you speak to what geographical areas most fatalities have occurred in?

There is no one place that they have been that hasn’t had severe flooding. They are still working on accessing places so it’s really hard to say yet.

Are there buildings open to the public with WiFi?

The county doesn’t have information on that at this time. As things move forward they may use the libraries as wifi hubs.

Are there updates from the providers who brought in satellite options?

They have more teams coming in to help provide that.

Veterinary services?

The county doesn’t have any information about veterinary services at this time.

Why weren’t water reserves relocated before the storm?

The warehouse has long been an emergency supply that has been used before. The flooding cut the supplies off unexpectedly.

There is a report of a possible propane leak at Holston Gases in Oakley?

The Asheville FD investigated the report and didn’t find any issues, but they encouraged people to call 911 of you are smelling propane so that they can investigate it.

What’s the deal with the new portable toilets that were brought downtown?

They are for emergency services.

What aid is available for people who are out of work?

Anyone can donate at [email protected] and are working with United Way to develop a plan for distributing funds.