Asheville, NC, isolated by flooding. Latest news about electricity, cells and more

Communities across western North Carolina are recovering after strong storms, heavy rains and severe flooding hit the state, leaving “biblical devastation,” authorities said.

Tropical Storm Helene swept across the region on September 27th, causing massive power outages, dam and reservoir failures, and countless fallen trees. Widespread disruptions in cell service and impassable roads left people cut off, disconnected or trapped in their homes.

Here’s what you need to know about Asheville after Helene’s devastation:

How extensive is the storm damage in Asheville?

While downtown Asheville, the largest city in western North Carolina, was not as badly affected by the flooding in Helene, the city of 95,000 was largely without power, cell service and water as of Sunday morning. Most shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses are closed.

But just outside the city and throughout Buncombe County and surrounding counties, Helene wreaked utter havoc. At least 10 people are dead in Buncombe County, but no names have been released as of Sunday morning.

When will Asheville get power again?

At least 95,000 power outages were reported in the Asheville area Sunday morning, according to Duke Energy’s outage map. Teams assessing the damage and carrying out repairs initially focused on the most affected areas. The restoration work is expected to take several days.

More than 300,000 outages were reported across the Western North Carolina region. Cell service is also down across much of Buncombe County, with no known timeline for restoration.

What is the condition of Asheville’s water system?

A boil water advisory is in place for Western North Carolina, and preliminary assessments show severe damage to Asheville’s municipal water system.

This is a “generational weather event,” Ben Woody, Asheville’s deputy city manager, said Saturday. “While it is impossible to provide an exact timeline, I want to be clear that restoring service will be a lengthy effort.”

Fresh Market will be handing out free bottled water in the parking lots of its Asheville locations starting Sunday at 6 p.m. The Fresh Market locations are 944 Merrimon Ave. and 1378 Hendersonville Road.

The State Emergency Operations Center will also send drinking water to Asheville. Designated distribution points will be set up and a distribution system is currently being set up. According to a press conference on Sunday morning, the water had not yet arrived and distribution plans were not yet in place.

Which roads are closed in Asheville?

All roads in Western North Carolina are considered closed and non-emergency travel is prohibited. Interstate 40 is impassable in several locations throughout Buncombe County.

Gov. Cooper’s office said Saturday evening that Interstate 26 south of Asheville was virtually the only major highway in and out of the city due to damage to Interstate 40 and other routes.

How many residents does Asheville have?

Asheville, the seat of Buncombe County in the eastern region of Western North Carolina, has a population of 94,589, according to the 2020 census.

It is known for the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Pigsah National Forest and the North Carolina Arboretum. The city is home to dozens of breweries, James Beard Award-winning restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene.

The River Arts District, the center of Asheville’s art scene, was completely obliterated by Helene.

Asheville, NC, isolated by flooding. Latest news about electricity, cells and more

ByJasper

How extensive is the storm damage in Asheville?

When will Asheville get power again?

What is the condition of Asheville’s water system?

Which roads are closed in Asheville?

How many residents does Asheville have?

By Jasper

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