ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — It’s been six weeks since the remnants of Hurricane Helene slammed Western North Carolina. And one of the emergency shelters in the Asheville area is set to close this weekend.

During a briefing Thursday, county officials also announced a new program to help property owners with demolition and debris removal. And a local nonprofit is helping families impacted by the storm get transportation.

Debris collection, private property assistance

Crews are working seven days a week, including holidays, to collect storm-related debris. Multiple passes will be made to ensure thorough collection across neighborhoods, and efforts will also cover private roads and waterways. Nearly 100,000 cubic yards have been collected in Buncombe County so far, officials said.

In response to Tropical Storm Helene, Buncombe County is launching a Private Property Debris Removal and Demolition Program. The program, designed in collaboration with FEMA, aims to assist property owners unable to clear hazardous debris on their own. Further details and the application process will be announced soon.

Transition of disaster shelters

On Nov. 10, the American Red Cross will transfer disaster shelter operations to Western Carolina Rescue Ministries to ensure continued support for those impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Shelter residents who need ongoing assistance will be moved from the WNC Ag Center to the Gold’s Gym location, where services will continue through Dec. 31. This transition is supported by the county, Novant Health and other local partners to provide stability and resources to those in recovery. As of Nov. 7, there are 164 individuals residing in Buncombe County’s disaster shelters.

Community organizations support recovery

Local nonprofit Working Wheels is providing free vehicle repairs for relief and recovery organizations and securing affordable, reliable vehicles for families impacted by the storm. Additionally, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity has launched a Disaster Repair program, extending assistance to low-income homeowners with storm-related repairs.

Community Care Stations continue service

Buncombe County’s Community Care Stations, which provide water, showers, laundry facilities and meals, will remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All locations have ADA-accessible showers and bathrooms, with laundry drop-off available at the Swannanoa Ingles. Residents can access these services at various locations throughout the county, including the At Home Store parking lot, Buncombe County Sports Park and Owen Pool, among others.

Food, water community care locations

Water and meals are available at key distribution sites daily at:

  • Sky Lanes Bowling Alley
  • Black Mountain Ingles
  • Swannanoa Ingles
  • Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
  • Pack Square Park
  • Buncombe County Sports Park
  • Fairview Ingles

Community Care Station locations:

  • At Home Store parking lot
  • Big Lots/Innsbrook mall
  • Buncombe County Sports Park
  • Bethel United Methodist
  • Fairview Ingles
  • Swannanoa Ingles
  • Owen Pool
  • Morgan Hill Baptist Church

Supporting Veterans in Buncombe County

The Buncombe County Veterans Services Office offers a wide array of services for veterans and their families. This includes support for disability compensation, survivor benefits and more. Buncombe County’s Veterans Services team, which includes decorated veterans and dedicated staff, is among the best in North Carolina.

FEMA and Additional Resources

Residents affected by Tropical Storm Helene are encouraged to apply for FEMA assistance at disasterassistance.gov or by visiting the Disaster Recovery Center in Fairview at the Cane Creek Pool. Mobile FEMA services are also available in Asheville.

As Buncombe County navigates recovery, our One Buncombe call center is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,at 828-250-6100. For urgent alerts, sign up for Buncombe County’s CodeRED notifications by texting “BCalert” to 99411 or visiting buncombecounty.org/codered.