Buncombe County officials provide October 1 update; I-40 East near Old Fort opens

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County leaders held a morning press conference Oct. 1 to provide an update on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Comments were made by Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder, Montreat Town Manager Savannah Parris and UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort, who provided an update on the university’s students and the status of its structures.

Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder opened the conference by announcing that a key section of Interstate 40 would be reopened.

“I-40 from Buncombe County to McDowell County at Old Fort is now open,” she said.

BISSEL PET FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY by flying pets to other animal shelters

Water and food distribution continues; The death toll remains at 40

Pinder said water and food distribution will continue throughout the day at the county’s four distribution sites.

“We are distributing food as it becomes available, and that food will be in the form of MREs (meal, ready to eat),” Pinder said.

Even though sites sometimes run out of water and people are still waiting in line, Pinder said people should stay in line as supplies are being replenished.

“We now have more box trucks available so we can restock all locations throughout the day,” Pinder said.

There is also a water distribution point at Pack Square Park. Pinder said the county will also soon be able to deliver ice to distribution sites.

“This will be our first ice cream delivery. We have crews from the East Coast coming here to deliver ice to us,” she said.

Pinder said the death toll remained at 40 as of Oct. 1 as recovery efforts continued.

LIVE UPDATES, OCT. 1: Water, supplies offered; COMPANIES PROVIDE UPDATES

Montreat College evacuated

Parrish said the town of Montreat, like many other small towns in WNC, was devastated by Helene. She said there are many concerned parents who have students at Montreat College.

“Montreat College has been evacuated. The students are safe,” she said.

Parrish said repairs have been made to three bridges damaged by the hurricane and are now passable. She also said there were rumors of a dam failure on Lake Susan.

“That is not true. It worked as intended and is structurally sound,” she said.

All UNC Asheville students are safe

Van Noort said there were 1,600 students on campus before the storm and 300 were evacuated during the storm.

“There were 1,300 students still on campus when the storm hit, and those students remain in residence halls,” she said.

Van Noort said that since Friday the university has had no electricity, no running water and no internet, but staff and other colleagues have provided students with three meals a day and fresh water.

“We encourage students to find options for relocation,” she said.