ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Guzman was in town Tuesday to meet with local leaders and tour Asheville’s historic Biltmore Village that was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Guzman, U.S. Representative Kathy Manning and Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer planned to assess the storm’s impact and meet with business owners whose businesses were harmed by the storm.

The SBA has opened an assistance center at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce to focus on providing disaster relief in the form of low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters impacted by the storm.

Click here for more information or visit SBA representatives in person at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Ave). Hours of operation are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Food and water

Food and water distribution locations in Asheville continue to provide bulk toilet flushing water in addition to drinking water. Drinking water is provided in bottles. The public will need to bring their own containers for flushing water.

City of Asheville food and water distribution sites are open 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

  • Pack Square Park, 70 Court Plaza
  • Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave.
  • Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road
  • Lucy Herring Elementary, 98 Sulphur Springs Road
  • Oakley Elementary School, 753 Fairview Road

These sites also have printed and posted daily updates of important information and resources.

Trash collection resumes

Trash pickup resumed Monday, starting with Monday and Tuesday regular routes. Because of roadway challenges, crews were unable to complete all planned trash routes and will pick up where they left off Tuesday. Updates for the remaining routes will be provided as information is available.

The Buncombe County Transfer Station (190 Hominy Creek Road) will be open starting Wednesday, Oct. 9, for residential bagged trash drop-off only. Fees will be waived temporarily. Commercial or large vehicles are not permitted at this time. Hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.

City of Asheville Sanitation customers can download the AVL Collects app to receive notifications about trash and recycling pickup in their area. (This does not apply to WastePro customers; only customers with city carts.) There will be no recycling pickup until the recycling plant is operational. Residents should use recycling and trash carts for household waste.

Do not put limbs, yard debris, construction debris, carpet, concrete or other bulky or hazardous items in trash carts. These materials will be collected separately by a contractor at a later date.

FEMA Disaster Assistance

DSA team locations will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday.

DSA teams will be able to register people for FEMA assistance. People may also download the FEMA app or call toll-free 800-621-3362. The below sites may change daily, in coordination with local Emergency Management, in order to accommodate the areas of greatest need.

  • Black Mountain, 550 Hwy 9
  • A-B Tech Shelter, 16 Fernihurst Drive between the parking center and parking deck
  • Park Square Park, 80 Court Plaza
  • Community of Emma (Spanish Speaking), 528 Emma St.
  • New Bridge Baptist Church, 199 Elkwood Ave.
  • Laundry Use Trailer, Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St.
  • Walmart, 60 Airport Road

ART Bus Service

ART is now operating a modified schedule on select routes where road conditions have improved. These routes will run on a modified Sunday schedule, with all outbound trips ending at 5 p.m. ART services will be free of charge until further notice.

The modified routes will have flag stop service, allowing passengers to signal the driver and board at their preferred location along the route instead of at designated stops.

ART Paratransit services are resuming where possible. Paratransit customers should call 828-250-6750 to schedule transportation.

Donations

Three donation sites have been established for the drop off of small donations from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

  • Harrah’s Cherokee Center – 87 Haywood St.
  • West Asheville – 1298 Patton Ave.
  • Arden Presbyterian Church – 2215 Hendersonville Road

The most impactful way to support the recovery effort at this time is monetary donations to recognized disaster relief organizations. Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery.

Water service restoration

Water restoration is contingent on two important things happening:

  • Completion of North Fork’s 36-inch bypass line rebuild, which officials hope will be finished later this week.
  • The ability to put water into the system. Pushing the sediment-filled water through filters would damage them beyond repair and set back the process.

The city is working with the Environmental Protection Agency on turbidity-reducing measures. Once water is able to leave the North Fork, city crews will have to fill tanks, repair pipe leaks and remove air locks from the distribution system.

Mills River treatment plant, which serves South Asheville, is operating at normal output.

While most of the service area has been pressurized, there are still pockets that have not received water service.

Water Resources maintenance staff is working to bring water to the entire service area as quickly as possible. A boil water advisory remains in effect for those whose water has returned.

Customers with water service are being asked to conserve it as much as possible.

Water restoration will occur slowly and incrementally. Full operation of the water system could potentially be weeks away.

Meetings

Board and Commission meetings are suspended until further notice.