Buncombe County death toll climbs to 30

(This article will be updated. Read our newest blog here.)

Relief efforts continue in Asheville and the Western North Carolina area where a major disaster due to Tropical Storm Helene has left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands without power.

Check back for live updates as they roll in throughout the day Sunday. Click here for ongoing updates on Monday.

Court actions delayed

The catastrophic conditions in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene have led North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby to issue an order extending the time and period of limitation for filing and acts in the counties impacted.

All pleadings, motions, notices and other documents that were due to be filed between the dates of Sept. 26 and Oct. 14 will be deemed timely if they are filed by the close of business on Oct. 14. The order further includes all acts that were due to be done between those dates in civil actions, criminal actions, estates, and special proceedings.

The counties impacted include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.

Water tanker in Canton

According to a news release from Haywood County, a water tanker will be stationed at the Canton Plaza (off New Clyde Highway) Monday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own containers, and the limit is 1 gallon per person per day.

Buncombe County death toll climbs to 30 confirmed fatalities

The confirmed death toll in Buncombe County has climbed to 30, the sheriff said at a Sept. 29, 4 p.m. briefing. That morning, 10 fatalities were reported, with numbers expected to increase. No names were released.

“We are still conducting search operations, and we know that those also may include recovery operations,” said Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller.

Delta, United to resume flights Monday

Asheville Regional Airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey shared several updates with the Citizen Times:

Delta plans to resume flying tomorrow morning.
United Airlines plans to resume flying tomorrow morning.
American Airlines is hoping to resume with arriving/terminating flights tonight (last arrivals of their schedule).

Please remember: Flight status can change at any time. Stay in close contact with your airline to check your flight’s status before coming to the airport.

Also – have an arriving loved one who needs a ride from the airport? Ground transportation providers (taxis, Ubers, Lyfts and others) are experiencing the same fuel shortage as all of us in WNC. Make plans to pick up your arriving friends and family if you can.

Cellular satellite trailer will provide limited service downtown

In light of minimal ability for cellular service, the city of Asheville is partnering with Verizon to deliver a temporary cellular satellite trailer to the Family Justice Center at 35 Woodfin Place, it said in a 3:23 p.m. news release.

This tower will offer an opportunity for limited cellular reception within several city blocks of where it is parked. The tower will be operational late afternoon, Sept. 29.

Duke Energy: Power expected back by Friday

In a statement, Duke Energy said a majority of customers are expected to have power returned no later than Friday evening. However, repair efforts are so widespread that very few areas have been assigned estimated times of restoration.

As of roughly 12:30 p.m., Duke Energy reported the following numbers in WNC counties:

Avery – 60% (805) of customers without power
Buncombe – 64% (95,182) of customers without power
Burke – 75% (17,012) of customers without power
Caldwell – 72% (17,423) of customers without power
Catawba – 24% (18,412) of customers without power
Cleveland – 85% (28,211) of customers without power. Estimated time of restoration Sept. 29, 11:45 p.m.
Haywood – 35% (8,837) of customers without power
Henderson – 100% (69,195) of customers without power
Jackson – 30% (8,329) of customers without power
Macon – 15% (4,044) of customers without power
Madison – 62% (404) of customers without power
McDowell – 93% (18,443) of customers without power
Mitchell – 84% (4,700) of customers without power
Polk – 32% (11,451) of customers without power
Rutherford – 90% (25,843) of customers without power
Transylvania – 79% (13,246) of customers without power
Wilkes – 32% (9,615) of customers without power
Yancey – 73% (472) of customers without power

Five confirmed dead in Henderson County

Henderson County spokesman Mike Morgan confirmed that there have been five Tropical Storm Helene-related deaths in the county.

The Biltmore Estate will remain temporarily closed

The Biltmore Estate is assessing damage and will remain temporarily closed.

“Due to significant flooding, impassable roads and widespread power outages in our region from Tropical Storm Helene, Biltmore is temporarily closed,” read a statement Saturday on the social media account for the historic house and museum.

They are asking people to check biltmore.com/weather-update for the latest. As of Sunday, a message on the website says they are still assessing damage from the storm and are working to reopen.

Guests who had tickets to visit the Biltmore Estate can use their tickets another day. When ready, they can call 800-411-3812 to reserve a date or time in advance or exchange their ticket in-person at the estate’s Reception and Ticketing Sales Center. They can also request a refund online.

Asheville residents watched Helene floods lift cars, buildings

Cars, trucks, billboards and whole houses. That was a short list of the things that Syd Yatteau saw, along with her family members Erik and Lana Maystruk, as the Swannanoa River hit approximately 26 feet at Biltmore Village, not far from Governors Road where they sheltered as Tropical Storm Helene battered Western North Carolina.

Walking through the mud and debris on South Tunnel Road on Sept. 28 — near upturned asphalt and a massive sinkhole that formed along the washed-out road — Yattaeu recalled the rapidly rising river as it became a “giant moat” in front of their home, wiping away several houses in their subdivision. Even as the flood waters rose, creeping up the side of a hill and onto their driveway, she said they did not receive an evacuation order. The breadth of damage was totally unexpected.

“It was really surreal,” she said of the rapid rise of the Swannanoa River. “Like, at the beginning it was all fun and games. Just watching the water be where it was.”

“And then it just kept going up,” she said.

Nearly 464,000 customers are without power in North Carolina

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said nearly 464,000 customers are without power due to catastrophic damage from Tropical Storm Helene during a press conference Sunday. This is down from a peak of more than a million, Cooper added.

The map below shows where people are without power in Western North Carolina.

City offices will be closed Monday

All Asheville city offices and parks will be closed Monday. Here’s who to call for the following issues:

Non-emergency issues: 828-250-6650
Downed power lines: Call Duke at 1-800-228-8485
Issues with Natural Gas: Call Dominion at 1-866-366-4357

What’s open in Western North Carolina?

The following grocery stores are open near Asheville:

Food Lion: 179 Paragon Pkwy, Clyde, NC
Trader Joe’s: 120 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Ingles Markets (Cash Only): 575 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC
Walmart: 1636 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC
Publix: 165 Weaver Boulevard, Weaverville, NC

Here’s our guide on where to find grocery stores and gas across the state.

Gov. Roy Cooper to hold press conference. Watch here.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and emergency management officials will share updates on Hurricane Helene during a press conference at 12:30 PM today. You can watch it below.

Fresh Market to distribute fresh water in Asheville

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

The State Emergency Operations Center will also be sending potable water to Asheville. Designated distribution points will be established and a distribution system is currently being put in place. As of a Sunday morning press conference, the water had not yet arrived and distribution plans were not yet available.

Here’s more information on how to stay safe during a boil advisory.

Cell service is still out in Western North Carolina

Major cellular providers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — are actively working to restore service, though none have provided a specific timeline for full restoration.

AT&T has announced it will waive talk, text, and data overage charges for AT&T Postpaid & Prepaid customers with billing addresses in 1,415 affected ZIP codes from Sept. 27 to Oct. 27. Charges for residential and business wireline orders placed through Oct. 27 will also be waived.

Verizon will waive postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 26 through Oct. 5.

Buncombe County receives 6,000 requests for wellness checks

As of this morning, Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger said they had received more than 6,000 requests from family members seeking a wellness check on someone who is missing or can’t be reached. 3,900 of those people are in Buncombe County, while the rest are in other parts of Western North Carolina.

The Family Assistance Form can be found at You can also call 828-820-2761.

Record rainfall in Asheville

National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw told the Citizen Times that the rainfall WNC saw beat the previous record for September in only three days.

Here are the rainfall amounts recorded for several WNC areas between Sept. 25-27 according to NWS records:

Spruce Pine – 24.12 inchesHendersonville – 21.96 inchesCandler – 16.18 inchesGrandfather Mountain – 15.42 inchesAsheville – 17.31 inchesWoodfin – 6.17 inchesBat Cave – 6.88 inchesLake Lure – 7.24 inchesMills River – 12.16 inchesSwannanoa – 13.21 inches

Scattered showers expected tonight

After several days of devastating flooding in WNC, flood and flash flood warnings are beginning to end. In Asheville, one flood warning for the Swannanoa River at Biltmore affecting Buncombe County remains active until 1 p.m. Sept. 29.

Some scattered showers are expected today into tonight – and while the rainfall amounts are expected to remain light this time – less than 1 inch in Asheville – the National Weather Service warned that isolated excessive runoff is possible for areas that received heavy rainfall and flooding from Helene.

10 confirmed deaths in Buncombe Count

There have been 10 confirmed deaths in Buncombe County as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, the sheriff said at a Sept. 29, 10 a.m. briefing.

Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said the county would not release names at this time.

“Without more phone and internet access, we cannot share those names without being absolutely certain that we have given their loved ones this information,” Miller said. “Our hearts are broken with this news and we ask that folks give our community the space and time to grieve this incredible loss.”

Travel nearly impossible in Western North Carolina

At least 200 roads are closed in North Carolina as of Sunday morning, including Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 at the Tennessee-North Carolina border, according to the state’s road closures map. The I-40 closure near the state line is termed long-term. I-40 also is closed at Old Fort Mountain. NCDOT estimates it will reopen there by noon Tuesday, Oct. 1.

You can follow road closures at drivenc.gov. State emergency officials have warned people not to travel in or to Western North Carolina.

Attorney General Josh Stein warns of price gouging

Attorney General Josh Stein reminded North Carolinians Sunday that it is against the law to unreasonably overcharge for goods and services during a state of emergency.

Residents can report price gouging or other Helene-related concerns to the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or www.ncdoj.gov/pricegouging.

Schools announce Monday closures

Though information on school closures in Western North Carolina is still sparse, several schools have now issued alerts in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

Asheville City Schools will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Buncombe County Schools will be closed for students Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1. Both days are annual leave days for staff.

Jackson County Schools will be closed for students Monday, Sept. 30-Wednesday, Oct. 2. Oct. 2 is a planned staff development day.

Families wait in line for water in West Asheville

Brandi Hayes, 37, stood in a long, snaking line of people outside the Ingles Markets grocery store on Haywood Road in West Asheville Sept. 29 hoping to buy water, bread and other essential food items.

Shea Davis, the store’s manager, told the Citizen a few minutes later, the store was nearly out of water, bread and charcoal. When the store opened at 7:30 a.m. dozens of people were already waiting in line, he said.

By 10 a.m. Sept. 29, no information about water distribution sites had been provided by the county.

Most flights canceled at Asheville Regional Airport

Many flights at the Asheville Regional Airport Sept. 29 are still canceled as airlines struggle with the recovery of phone service and internet access, according to an update from an Asheville Regional Airport Tina Kinsey.

All Delta flights before noon Sept. 29 have been canceled and no other airlines are currently operating.

While some flights and airlines may resume service as connections come back online, the airport is urging passengers to check with their airlines about the status of their flight. Asheville Regional Airport’s website is not updating accurately with flight information at the moment.

Biden declares major disaster aid in North Carolina

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the state of North Carolina, according to a Saturday White House press release.

The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the following counties and areas: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Asheville water distribution sites: What we know

The county is working to open water distribution sites and will announce the sites when they open, said Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder.

“We expect to have that up and running by tomorrow,” Pinder said.

“We continue to be without water, for most, without power and without cell service.”

Buncombe County Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole said Highway Patrol is trying to escort “needed supplies” and resources into the area.

Court actions delayed

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