Hurricane Helene update #8 from Congressman Edwards

October 5, 2024

Dear Friend,

We are turning a corner. Resources are here, the community is coming together, and it has been made very clear that victims are not in this recovery effort alone. Let me repeat that: You are not alone, and you will not have to recover from this hurricane alone.

I want to start today’s update by applauding every single person who has reached out to offer aid, traveled to Western North Carolina to help, donated their time, money, or supplies, or prayed for the people of these mountains.

For every new community I have visited over the past week, I have seen dozens of new volunteers serving North Carolinians in need, and this help isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Volunteers, you depict hope, which is something that has been desperately needed in NC-11 over the past week. Thank you.

Today’s update is jam packed. New information or resources have been added in just about every category and I’ve added a few completely new categories as well. These include resources for farmers, prescription access for veterans and the uninsured, new federal nutrition program flexibilities, and arguably most in-demand - resources for how to vote in a post-Hurricane Helene environment.

Today is update number eight and I will, of course, be continuing to provide you with more information over the coming days and weeks. As always, please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.

Food and Water

Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews.
- 96 water systems are on a boil advisory.
- 37 treatment plants have reported having no power and 41 systems are out of water.
  - Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction.
The state of North Carolina is continuing to provide a minimum of 40 trailer loads of water and 20 trailer loads of food daily through at least October 6, per their promise to the people of Western North Carolina.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date.
- To date, FEMA has delivered 5.4 million meals and 6.3 million liters of water utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit.
Walmart will also be 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
- Resource pick-up locations are listed below by county. As I learn more, I will keep you posted:
  - Buncombe County
    - Buncombe County has begun water distribution at multiple sites. Each will be available daily from 1:00 -7:00 p.m.:
      - Pack Square Park - you MUST bring your own container for this site
        80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801
      - William W. Estes Elementary School
        275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
      - Sand Hill-Venable Elementary
        154 Sand Hill School Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
      - North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
        20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787
      - Fairview Elementary
        1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730
    - The following major feeding site is 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.
  - 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:
      - 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.
      - 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
    - The following location offers hot meals daily:
      - Maggie Valley Fire Department
        2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
    - 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
  - Henderson County
    - Henderson County has stood up Resource Hub locations for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.
    - Distribution takes place daily, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the following locations:
      - Etowah Elementary: 320 Etowah School Rd., Etowah, NC 28729
      - Rugby Middle School: 3345 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
      - East Henderson High School: 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, NC 28726
      - North Henderson High School: 35 Fruitland Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      - Mills River Town Hall: 124 Town Center Dr., Mills River, NC 28759
      - Fletcher Town Hall: 300 Old Cane Creek Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
    - 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.
  - Madison County
    - The following locations are offering food and water distribution in Madison County:
      - 5580 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753
      - 225 Carl Eller Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754
      - 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743
  - McDowell County
    - McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m., depending on supply levels.
    - Distribution takes place daily at the following locations:
      - Hicks Chapel Church
        6008 US 221 N., Marion, NC 28752
      - Former TJ’s Discounts
        8153 US 221 N., Marion, NC 28752
      - Old Fort Town Hall
        38 Catawba Ave., Old Fort, NC 28762
      - New Manna Baptist Church
        225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752
      - Solid Rock Free Will Baptist Church
        7860 NC 226 S., Nebo, NC 28761
    - 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.
  - Polk County
    - The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need:
      - 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 Roseland Center
        56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782
  - Rutherford County
    - The following locations are open from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. for citizens to get food and emergency supplies:
      - Thomas Jefferson High School
        2527 US-221A Hwy., Mooresboro, NC 28114
      - Florence Baptist Church
        201 S. Broadway St., Forest City, NC 28043
      - Rutherford County Health Department
        221 Callahan Koon Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
      - Gilkey Church of God
        255 Oak Springs Rd., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      - Parks, Recreation, & Lake Office
        658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
      - Lake Lure Baptist Church - also has bathroom and shower stations
        6837 US-74 ALT, Lake Lure, NC 28746
      - Ingles at Lake Lure - meals only
        276 NC-9, Lake Lure, NC 28746
        Offers hot meals at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
      - Father’s Vineyard - also has shower and charging stations
        724 Oakland Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
      - Spencer Baptist Church - water distribution only
        187 N Oak St., Spindale, NC 28160
      - United Way of Rutherford County - water distribution and charging stations only
        668 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043

Debris Removal

If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take debris waste.
- 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, as of noon on Tuesday, October 1
- 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.

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, 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.
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:
    - Barnardsville - 28709
    - Cedar Mountain - 28718
    - Hot Springs - 28743
    - Rosman - 28772
    - Swannanoa - 28778
  - The following sites are closed with alternative facilities listed:
    - Alexander - 28701
    - Alternative location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
      - Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
      - Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    - Bat Cave - 28710
      - Alternative location: 1800 Four Season Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
        Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
        Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    - Chimney Rock - 28720
      - Alternative 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
      - Alternative location: 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
        Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
        Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    - Gerton – 28735
      - Alternative 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
      - Alternative 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.
    - Marshall - 28753
      - Alternative Location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
        Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
        Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    - Micaville - 28755
      - Alternative 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
      - Alternative 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.
  - The following sites are attempting delivery where safe to do so:
    - Arden - 28704
    - Asheville London Rd. - 28803
    - Asheville S&DC - 28810
    - Black Mountain - 28711
    - Brevard - 28712
    - Burnsville - 28714
    - Candler - 28715
    - Clyde - 28721
    - Columbus - 28722
    - East Flat Rock - 28726
    - Etowah - 28729
    - Fairview - 2873
    - Fletcher - 28732
    - Hendersonville Annex - 28792
    - Horse Shoe - 28742
    - Lake Toxaway (cash only/PO box) - 28747
    - Marion - 28752
    - Mars Hill - 28754
    - Old Fort - 28762
    - Rutherfordton - 28139
    - Saluda - 28773
    - Sapphire - 28774
    - Spruce Pine - 28777
    - Tryon - 28782
    - Weaverville - 28787
  - Due to internet outages and connectivity issues, the following sites are providing retail services with cash only, PO Box only:
    - Dana - 28724
    - Enka - 28728
    - Flat Rock - 28731
    - Hendersonville MPO - 28739
    - Lake Lure (OIC) - 28746
    - Little Switzerland - 28749
    - Mountain Home - 28758
    - Naples - 28760
    - Pisgah Forest - 28768
    - Ridgecrest - 28770
    - Skyland - 28776
    - Zirconia - 28790
    - Bostic - 28018
- Multiple United Parcel Service (UPS) sites continue to be affected by power, flooding, and downed trees/power and lines/storm related obstacles.
  - The Hendersonville and Asheville UPS buildings in North Carolina are currently operational and are being powered by portable generators.
  - Delivery of packages in these areas is increasing as road conditions improve daily.

Pharmacy Access

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 as of Friday, October 4.
- 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.
For individuals able to safely travel to fill a prescription, CVS at the following locations are actively open as of October 2:
- 324 Long Shoals Rd., Arden, NC 28704
- 505 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville, NC 28806
- 371 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
- 3450 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
- 1605 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
- 2001 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28792
- 111 S Main St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
- 773 Russ Ave., Waynesville, NC 28786
You can also use this link to locate non-CVS pharmacy locations open to the public by county.
How to Acquire a Prescription:
- If a store is closed, you can still call the number and the pharmacy’s phone lines have been rerouted to a nearby CVS Pharmacy that is open to help patients access their prescriptions.
- Patients can visit any CVS Pharmacy for assistance with immediate prescription needs.

Open Urgent Cares

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

Resources for Veterans

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 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 is beginning to 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.
On Monday, October 7, at 11:00 a.m., USDA is hosting a virtual briefing to share information on disaster assistance programs.
- You can join the event on Microsoft Teams using this link.
- Add the event to your calendar: Google, iCal, or Outlook.

Power and Gas

174,000 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina.
- Duke Energy is on track to restore an additional 27,000 customers by Sunday evening, October 6.
  - The remaining outages are in the hardest-hit areas of Western North Carolina.
- In the areas where catastrophic damage exists, 105,000 customers are without power.
  - Duke Energy is working closely with the state on plans to address these areas as quickly as possible.
- The number of customers seeing their power turn back on each day is slowing, but that is only because Duke Energy has been conducting significant work to repair and bring back online the 360 substations that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
  - The substations are the backbone of our energy grid.
  - Once restored, service for private homeowners and businesses will rapidly begin to come back online.
- So far, 95 percent of substations have been restored and significant substation work is continuing today.
- Power for the Greenwood Rock Quarry has been restored.
  - Restoration of the quarry’s power will help NCDOT to address gravel needs for road repairs.
- For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links:
  - Outage Map: duke-energy.com/outages
    o Outage Alerts: duke-energy.com/outages/alerts
    o Generator safety: duke-energy.com/outages/generators
    o 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 and Swain counties ARE FULLY OPEN to people who can access them through safe routes.
  - Please DO NOT try to visit or travel through the areas hardest hit by the storm such as Henderson and Buncombe counties.
NCDOT continues to make steady progress reopening roads in response to Hurricane Helene.
- New road reopenings include:
  - U.S. 19 - Partially open with two-lane two-way traffic into Tennessee
  - U.S. 321 - Cleared to the Tennessee line with a few one-lane stretches.
  - Bee Tree Road
    - Clearing of this road has restored critical access to the reservoir in Buncombe County.
NCDOT is partnering with Duke Energy to reopen roads leading to their substations to restore power.
In addition to repair and debris removal efforts, NCDOT has provided support and helped coordinate relief efforts for many agencies near or in storm-impacted areas.
- As of Friday, October 4, there has successfully been:
  - 472 evacuation trips
  - 2,003 people transported to safety
  - 523 trips to shelters
  - 2,076 people transported to the shelters
Air traffic has increased 300% in Western North Carolina since Helene recovery began.
- NCDOT’s aviation division is working 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.Air traffic has increased 300 percent in Western North Carolina since Helene recovery began.
  - 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.
The United States Forest Service is now and has been active in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests for the last few days.
- USFS’ primary mission is gaining access to remote communities through the forest.
  - This access is being used to:
    - Supplement normal transportation routes
    - Help isolated communities get their water systems back online
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 diligently working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina.
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

Cell Service

Even though you may have service again, you may notice it is different from your pre-storm service.
- The temporary connection links put in place as a temporary fix while the fiber is being repaired can accommodate smaller amounts of traffic.
  - Network capacity on temporary connection links may be maxed out more frequently, so service providers are encouraging customers to use the network sparingly to maintain room for first responders and community members who still need to reach help or critical resources.
  - Support and recovery personnel are also encouraged to minimize cell usage.
- Service providers are working to add additional capacity to cell sites and move mobile assets where needed to accommodate data increases, so I am requesting a little more patience on their behalf as providers work to fully restore our community’s network.
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.
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
- 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) in Asheville, 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
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

More than 1,475 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
- The total number of deployed guardsmen will continue to increase over the coming days.
Further, more than 525 vehicles, including 90 high-water vehicles, and 50 rotary wing assets have been deployed to Western NC.
- Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Ft. Liberty have all sent helicopters to assist with aerial initiatives in NC-11.
As of the afternoon of October 3, the National Guard has:
- Rescued more than 1,000 Western North Carolinians, including almost 200 by hoist, and 150 animals.
- Delivered nearly 2 million lbs. of resources to impacted communities by air.
The National Guard is continuing C-17 transport of supplies to Asheville.
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.
On October 2, the Secretary of Defense authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers, including soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division from Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg).
- Many of these soldiers have arrived in Western North Carolina and are supporting the delivery of food, water and other critical aid to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
  - 400 soldiers have already been stationed in Western North Carolina, with hundreds of others being positioned nearby to await directives while logistics are being finalized.
- The Department of Defense has also committed 22 helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
  - Seven CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Ft. Liberty have already been flying resupply missions for the past two days.
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 will be reactivating its Financial Recovery Program (FRP) to help you recover and open your doors again.
- The FRP will be back online to provide much needed assistance soon.
- More information to follow.
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.

For Individual Assistance through FEMA

North Carolina received a Major Disaster Declaration for the following counties: Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, 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.

To date, FEMA has paid out more than $17 million in housing and other types of assistance to more than 19,000 North Carolina households.

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 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.

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.

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 October 5:
- Buncombe
  - 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
  - Haywood County Government Armory
    - 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
- Henderson
  - Edneyville Elementary School
    - 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
  - Henderson County Recreation Center
    - 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
- Madison
  - Madison Early College High School
    - 5374 US Hwy 25-70, Marshall, NC 28755
- McDowell
  - Glenwood Baptist Church
    - 1550 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, NC 29640
  - YMCA of Western North Carolina
    - 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752
- Polk
  - Polk County High School
    - 1681 NC 108 Hwy. E., Columbus, NC 28722
- Rutherford
  - Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School
    - 641 US 221 Hwy. N., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
- Transylvania
  - Transylvania Parks & Rec
    - 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712
- Yancey
  - Cane River Middle School
    - 1128 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714

With my warmest regards,

Chuck Edwards
Member of Congress