Buncombe County Alerts
Read Buncombe County State of Emergency Announcement
Click Here For More Safety Tips
Text BCALERT on your smart phone to 99411 to receive alerts on important information such as floods, communicable disease, county office closings, and relevant traffic safety notifications
Read Duke Energy Press Release
Report your outage by texting OUT to 57801, report online or call 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
Hurricane Helene is on its way to the Carolinas and Duke Energy is ready. We’ve positioned lineworkers, tree trimmers, damage assessors and other support personnel throughout the Carolinas. They are prepared to respond to whatever Helene brings.
Below is this morning’s Storm Precipitation and Max Wind Gust forecast maps from the National Weather Service.
Updated lake level information including real-time levels is available at Duke Energy – Lake Levels Data (duke-energy.com). Click on the appropriate river basin and then look for the lake you are interested in. You can also click on the “Lake Message Update” to see the latest information for that specific lake. Information is also available by calling 800-829-5253 and on the Duke Energy Lake View mobile app.
We encourage individuals who live along lakes and rivers and in flood prone areas to pay close attention to the local media and weather forecasts for changes in lake levels.
Duke Energy is asking all other customers in the Carolinas to ready themselves and their family members for impacts that could include potential power outages. For more tips on how to prepare for storms, and how Duke Energy can help, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Electrical safety guidelines for floods
- If rising water threatens your home or business – or if you evacuate due to flooding – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed electrical lines.
- Don’t drive over – and don’t stand near – downed electrical lines.
- Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands, or while standing on a wet or damp surface.
- If your home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a licensed electrician. If there is damage, an electrician will need to make necessary repairs and obtain verification from your local building inspection authority before power can be restored.
Steps to take in the event of a power outage:
- Report outages through our website, mobile app, text OUT to 57801, or call 800POWERON (800.419.6356).
- Sign up for Outage Alerts and regularly check our Outage Map for estimated restoration times.
- Visit our Storm Center for comprehensive safety tips before, during, and after severe weather.