City of Asheville Huricane Helene Response and Recovery Updates

Employee Assistance Network  Resources List

Additional resources for Hurricane Helene disaster Relief. This is a multi-county source list

FEMA INFORMATION

Incident Period: Sep 25, 2024 – Dec 18, 2024

Declaration Date: Sep 28, 2024

Quick Links

• Recovery resources: State & Local | National
• Connect: Social Media | Mobile App & Text
• 24/7 counseling: Disaster Distress Helpline

Individuals & Households

For FEMA Assistance:

• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov
• Use the FEMA App
• Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• In person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC locations click here).
• Contact Pisgah Legal Services at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/helene

To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

Pisgah Legal Services – Helene Resources

Pisgah Legal Services is here to help the people of our mountain region recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene.

We have been active in disaster recovery since immediately after the storm, assisting our neighbors throughout Western North Carolina with disaster-related issues including FEMA applications and legal issues such as housing problems, FEMA appeals, homeowners insurance denials, and consumer protection against frauds and scams. 

As always, you can apply online for our services, or call us at (828) 253-0406 or toll free 1-800-489-6144.

NEED HELP?

Upcoming In-person Disaster Legal Services – Free Legal Clinics:

• Marshall | March 14, 12:30pm – 6:00pm (community flier here)
Schedule an appointment online

• Asheville | March 17, 12 PM – 6 PM (community flier here)
All walk-ins welcome. No appointments needed.

• Burnsville | March 28, 1 PM – 7 PM (community flier here)
Schedule an appointment online

FEMA Application Assistance

The deadline to submit an application has been extended to March 8, 2025. Click here for more information about applying for FEMA aid.

Upcoming In-person Initial FEMA Application Clinic:

• Marshall | March 1, 10 am – 4 PM
Madison Early College High School, 5734 US Hwy 25-70, Marshall

FEMA Appeals –

Self-Help Materials for FEMA Serious Needs Assistance ($750) Appeals 

More Complex FEMA Appeals (home/property damage, housing assistance, etc.)  – Call Pisgah Legal at 828.253.0406, choose option 8.

Insurance Claims – Insurance Claims and Appeals (English) and Spanish

Need help with a Homeowner Insurance Denial or Dispute? Call Pisgah Legal at 828.253.0406, choose option 8.

Seek assistance or file a complaint with the NC Department of Insurance

Tenants/Renters Rights – What You Need to Know About Evictions and Repairs (English) and Spanish

• BPR Interview with PLS Housing Attorney David Bartholomew

Avoiding Consumer Scams – Avoiding Scams and Frauds (English) and Spanish

• VIDEO: Protecting Yourself from Scams After Helene
• VIDEO: Protecting Yourself from Title and Deed Scams 

Disaster Unemployment Benefits – Application Deadline Extended to March 10, 2025.

• How to Apply
• Tips on Applying

Health Insurance through Healthcare.gov/ACA and Medicaid

Community Resources – Click Here

Nonprofit Resources for Federally Declared Natural Disaster Relief

SUPPORT THIS WORK

Pisgah Legal’s Hurricane Recovery Fund

Ways to Give

Volunteering

Pisgah Legal Services is working in partnership with Legal Aid of NC and is sharing content and resources.

DisasterAssistance.gov

What You’ll Need When You Apply:

1. Social Security Number/Card (SSN) – Use yours OR the SSN of a qualified minor child.

Minor child must live in the household and be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen. The applicant or co-applicant must be the parent or guardian of the minor child.

To qualify for FEMA Assistance, the person named as the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen. If you need to apply under a qualified minor child who lives in your household, you must enter the child’s information as the applicant.

2. Annual Household Income – Include your household’s pre-disaster income before you deduct anything.

3. Contact Information – Include your phone number; home address at the time of the disaster; and current mailing and email addresses.

If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

4. Insurance Information/Policies – Include the type(s) of coverage and insurance company name(s) if you can access it.

If you don’t have insurance information right now, you can come back and add it later.

5. Bank Account Information – Include the name of your bank or financial company and your routing and account numbers.

If you qualify for assistance, we can deposit the money directly into your account. You don’t need to have a bank account to get assistance.

6. Proof of residence and/or ownership – Utility bill, copy of deed, etc.

If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

Report FEMA Denials Here

Please note: This link is meant to provide details on denials so that the city can work with FEMA to cut the red tape. It is not part of the official FEMA appeals process.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

General Requirements

To be eligible for DUA, individuals must:

• Provide proof of identity.
• Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen.
• File an application for DUA with the local unemployment insurance agency within 30 days of the date of the public announcement of availability of DUA^[2].
• Be ineligible for regular unemployment insurance.
• Be unemployed or partially unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster.
• Be able and available for work, unless injured as a direct result of the disaster (see conditions below).
• Have not refused an offer of employment in a suitable position.

Conditions of Unemployment

Applicants must meet one of the following conditions of unemployment or inability to perform services in self-employment as a direct result of the disaster:

• The individual has had a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began.
• The individual is unable to reach their place of employment.
• The individual was scheduled to start work and the job no longer exists due to the major disaster, or the individual was unable to reach the job.
• The individual became the major support of the household because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster.
• The individual cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster.
• The individual experienced a lack of work or loss of revenue when the employer (or the self-employed individual’s business) lost a majority of income or revenue from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the federal, state or local government as a direct result of the major disaster.

Small Business (SBA) Disaster Information

Apply for SBA Disaster Loans

Buncombe County On-Going State Of Emergency Alerts

24/7 Call Center for Hurricane Helene: (828) 250-6100 or  Visit buncombeready.org for updates.

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.

SHELTERS

• General Population Shelter:
  • AB Tech Conference Center – 16 Fernihurst Dr., Asheville, NC 28801 (Please use Victoria Road Entrance.)
  • The former’s Gold’s Gym –1815 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. This location has a playroom for children, so it may be more suitable for families. Please note that no pets are allowed at this location.
• Medical Emergency Shelter:
  • 10 Genevieve Cir, Asheville – for individuals who are dependent on medical equipment requiring power is located at 

The shelter at the Ag Center is full – please do not go there.

These shelters will provide a safe place to stay for individuals who have been displaced by Hurricane Helene. Everyone is welcome at the shelters, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or citizenship status.

If you come to a shelter, you are welcome to bring:

• Special items for children, like food/formula, diapers, extra clothing, toys, etc.
• Prescription medications and medical devices you may need.
• Comfort items like pillows, blankets, towels, change of clothing or other items you may want to have with you at the shelter.

The emergency shelter is staffed by a mixture of Red Cross and Buncombe County employees. Public health regulations do not permit pets in these two shelters. As we work through this disaster, we anticipate adding additional resources to these sites such as transportation shelter operations.

Only call 911 for life threatening situations only.

FOOD & WATER DISTRIBUTION

Distribution Locations:

Food and water distribution sites are open until 7 p.m. or supplies run out. Please bring containers to refill water

• William W. Estes Elementary School – 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
• Sand Hill Elementary – 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
• North Windy Ridge Intermediate School – 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
• Fairview Elementary School – 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview
• Black Mountain Ingles – 550 NC-9, Black Mountain
• Cane Middle Creek Middle – 570 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
• Leicester Elementary School – 31 Gilbert Road, Leicester

The City of Asheville also has sites:

• Asheville Middle School –  211 S. French Broad Avenue, Asheville – Until 7 p.m.
• Lindwood Crump Shiloh Community Center – 121 Shiloh Road, Asheville – Until 7 p.m.
• Pack Square Park – 70 Court Plaza beginning at 1 p.m. until dark.
• Lucy Herring Elementary School –  98 Sulphur Springs Road. Open 9 a.m. – 7 p.m

OXYGEN REFILLING STATIONS

• Palmetto Oxygen LLC 828-285-0235
• Blue Ridge 828-232-1110
• AeroFlow 888-345-1780
• Lincare 828-255-4545
• Accucare 828-236-3100
• Bradshaw Oxygen LLC 828-380-6287
• East Coast Medical Oxygen 828-252-7770

CELLULAR SERVICE

Temporary Verizon cellular satellite trailers OFFERING limited cellular reception within several city blocks of where it is parked

• Family Justice Center – 35 Woodfin Street
• Groce United Methodist Church 954 Tunnel Road

T-Mobile satellite cellular on light trucks in Asheville, providing cellular service along with Wi-Fi and charging stations

• Asheville Middle School – 211 S French Broad Ave, and
• Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center – 285 Livingston St.

MISSING PERSON REPORTING

• For missing persons, rescues, or well-checks, please visit www.unitedwaync.org or text PERSON to 40403

OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

• Visit buncombeready.org for donation locations
• Upload photos of adverse conditions such as downed trees and blocked roadways to report.buncombecounty.org.
• Check real-time road conditions via DriveNC.gov before traveling
• For questions about storm-related issues, call (828) 250-6100
• Home well water testing call 828-250-5016
  

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Duke Energy Updates
Carolinas Restoration

Report your outage by texting OUT to 57801, report online or call 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).

It’s been 11 days since Hurricane Helene made landfall in our area. Since then, we’ve restored power to over 1.4 million customers in North Carolina.

While Duke Energy workers have made substantial progress overall, extremely difficult and targeted work lies ahead before the company can restore additional customers in the hardest-hit communities.

We’ve shifted to a targeted approach for our operations and efforts to help our hardest hit areas of western North Carolina. A western N.C. facility will serve as the company’s base of operations while workers continue rebuilding the infrastructure needed to restore the remaining North Carolina customers impacted by Helene. Our engineers, designers, project managers and others will be in one place as they work, plan and make strategic decisions that aid in an efficient reconstruction of the power grid in the hardest-hit areas. This also allows us to collaborate with national, state and local government stakeholders from a central location to help ensure we continue to be coordinated in our efforts.

Learn more about this effort in today’s press release.

This morning, crews restored power to Hot Springs after installing a mobile substation, which will service the town until the Marshall substation is rebuilt. The town has been operating under limited capacity through a solar microgrid restored last week but still experiencing outages overnight.

Duke Energy also established a dedicated webpage, duke-energy.com/HeleneRecovery, to provide the latest information and resources for impacted customers in western North Carolina. The page currently includes a map of the repair and rebuild zones, common questions and answers and more.

You can also continue to check county-specific outage information here www.duke-energy.com/outage.

We greatly appreciate the patience, support and kindness our communities have shown – and continue to show – toward the men and women who are still working around the clock to rebuild the grid and restore power.

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.