Asheville Rebounds After Storm Helene
Asheville, N.C. is showing its resilience more than three weeks after the storm Helene brought its wrath upon the area. Thanks to the hard work from various sectors, progress is being made to reopen the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, clean up dangerous storm debris, and ensure that Asheville’s water system remains safe for its residents.
Progress on the Blue Ridge Parkway
During a daily Buncombe County briefing held on Wednesday, officials from the City’s Water and Sanitation Departments, along with the City Manager and representatives from the National Park Service, shared positive news. For the first time since the storm, a spokesperson from the National Park Service announced that a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, specifically the section running near Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain from exits 285-305, has officially reopened! While that’s a step in the right direction, there is still no timeline available for the reopening of other affected sections of the parkway, which experienced significant damage due to 30 landslides, ten of which were classified as major.
City Support and Recovery Efforts
City Manager Debra Campbell provided updates on the ongoing recovery efforts as well. It’s heartening to note that Asheville has distributed an impressive 1.26 million bottles of water since the storm. Although the Fairview Elementary and Reynolds High School food and water distribution sites will be closing, a new distribution site will be opened at Ingles, located at 225 Charlotte Highway, making access to supplies more convenient for residents.
Rising to the Challenge of Storm Debris
In terms of storm debris cleanup, the sheer scale of the task at hand is astounding. According to a Public Works official, the amount of debris accumulating in Asheville is equivalent to 140 football fields stacked 10 feet high. To manage this, the city is using three temporary locations to store the debris where it can be sorted, compacted, and prepared for permanent disposal. They’re also actively seeking privately owned sites for additional temporary storage. Jess Foster, the Sanitation Division Manager, reassured the public that damage from the storm is being handled with great care. The collection process is monitored rigorously to ensure compliance with FEMA regulations, with city staff checking the sites multiple times per week.
Water System Testing
Another important topic addressed during the briefing was the safety of Asheville’s water system. Clay Chandler, a spokesperson for Water Resources, shared that daily testing is being conducted at 35 out of the 184 sampling stations throughout the water system. This is great news for residents, as no signs of E. coli have been detected since the storm. However, a boil water notice remains in place due to the presence of sediment in the water. Residents may have noticed their tap water looking cloudy or brown, but Chandler emphasized that it’s merely a result of sediment and not an indication of contamination. Some testing is being carried out in-house with immediate results, while other samples are being sent to labs and may take up to 7-10 days to yield results.
Community Comes Together
Through all these challenges, the Asheville community has come together beautifully. Many local residents have shown their support for one another during this tough time, participating in candlelight vigils to honor those affected by Helene. It’s a story of community strength and resilience, and the progress being made is a testament to the dedication of those working behind the scenes to get Asheville back to normal.
At the end of the day, while there’s still work to be done, Asheville is on the road to recovery. With each step taken towards reopening and rebuilding, the spirit of the people remains strong, embodying the very essence of what it means to be an Ashevillean.
