Water Distribution
The City has now opened a new bottled water distribution site at Asheville Middle School in addition to the bulk water distribution still happening in front of City Hall. The City stil encourages people to bring their own containers to City Hall, but the City now has containers available for people who don’t have them.
The expectation is that there will be more sites starting tomorrow and that food will also start to be distributed at these sites. The City has also begun delivery of bottled water to vulnerable communities. If you know a community that needs a targeted delivery of water (elderly, people without cars, etc), please let me know and I’ll pass it on.
Buncombe County is also continuing its four distribution sites for water and food
William W. Estes Elementary School – 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary – 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School – 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School – 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview
Other Water/Food Distribution
There are many, many private entities providing food and water. Here are just a few.
Walmart is distributing water at its 60 Airport Rd location in Arden. Walmart lists the resources it is providing here.
Biltmore Church in Arden distributing water, ice, and food at 35 Clayton Rd., Arden
Wine to Water is distributing food and water at the Wesley Grant Center, 285 Livingston St.
Manna Food Bank is distributing food from 1pm-4pm, Wed-Sat. at the Brevard Rd. Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Rd. They will also take donations of food from 8am-12pm each day at the same location.
Phone and Internet Service
These services are slowly returning to the city, and providers are sending more mobile boosters and internet hotspots every day. There is a Verizon hotspot in the parking lot of First Baptist Church downtown that will give you internet and phone access.
Healthcare and Prescriptions
If you need prescriptions refilled, here is a list of operating pharmacies in WNC. The eight in Buncombe are:
CVS/pharmacy, Buncombe County, 505 Smokey Park Hwy. Asheville, NC 28806, (828) 667-5457
CVS/pharmacy, Buncombe County, 324 Long Shoals Rd, Arden NC 28704, (828) 654-0812
Pinnacle Apothecary Candler, Buncombe County, 1388 Sand Hill Rd, Set 100, Candler, NC 28715, (828) 761-6244 “Phone isn’t working currently, so come by. Hours M-F 10-4 until we resume power, then normal hrs M-F 8-6″
PSA Pharmacy/Associated Pharmacy Services, Inc., Buncombe County, 2294 US Hwy 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778, (828) 686-3804, Open but with no internet access
Publix Pharmacy, Buncombe County, 1830 Hendersonville Rd. Asheville, NC 28803, (828) 274-6293; hours Saturday 9AM-7PM; Sunday 11AM-6PM; Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM
Publix Pharmacy, Buncombe County, 165 Weaver Blvd. Weaverville, NC 28787, (828) 658-1053; hours Saturday 9AM-7PM; Sunday 11AM-6PM; Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM
Walgreens, Buncombe County, 2501 Hendersonville RD, Arden, NC 28704, (828)684-5375, Cash Only
Walgreens, Buncombe County, 1835 Hendersonville RD, Asheville, NC 28803, (828)274-7560, Cash Only
Adult residents (ages 18+) of Western North Carolina can see a UNC Health primary care provider for mild symptoms without an appointment through UNC Health Virtual Care Now free of charge for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
You can get in line for Virtual Care Now through My UNC Chart. If you do not have a My UNC Chart account, you can easily get one when you get in line. Virtual services are available 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., 7 days per week.
Apply for FEMA Assistance
Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST. Learn more here: https://wllmsg.co/WBSciE.
Donations and Volunteering
If you hear of a person or company or nonprofit that wants to donate materials or volunteer with the recovery effort, here’s information to connect them with the right people.
Large agency donations of food and water ONLY — Assistant City Manager Ben Woody and staff liaison Chris Corl: bwoody@ashevillenc.gov, ccorl@ashevillenc.gov
Donations of palletized goods: helenedonations@buncombecounty.org
Donations of ALL other materials: Deliver to 32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville.
Financial Donations can be made to the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County and the Red Cross.
Volunteers: Assistant City Manager Rachel Wood and Equity & Engagement Director Sala Menaya Merritt: rwood@ashevillenc.gov, smenaya-merritt@ashevillenc.gov; or helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org.
Websites with Additional Information
