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Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority are keeping our community partners top of mind and heart in the wake of this unprecedented tragedy. We hope you, your family, and your team members are safe. Communities in Western North Carolina, including ours, are recovering after the devastating floods and aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While our downtown, lodging, and much of our hospitality infrastructure fared well, most areas are still without power and water service. Rescue efforts and early stages of recovery are ongoing in parts of our beloved community.
The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating, and critical highways like I-40 and I-26 are now accessible, making it easier to mobilize support. Right now, our priority is to care for our residents and workers, and to support first responders who have answered the call from all over the country— helping those impacted and addressing the economic and emotional toll at hand.
As our community continues to assess and address the damage, we are witnessing countless acts of kindness, support, and resilience among our neighbors. Despite widespread cell service disruptions, power and water outages, and impassable roads, able businesses have opened their doors to provide food and water to residents. Neighbors have checked in on neighbors. Hospitality businesses are serving first responders with food and shelter. We are grateful for the first responders working around the clock and have been heartened by the calls of love and support from all corners of the country. We will continue to find strength in each other, the deeply rooted communities of Western North Carolina, and our unceasing resolve to rebuild.
Explore Asheville staff and BCTDA board members are all safe and accounted for. Our entire team is working with community leaders and hospitality partners to compile information for residents, workers, first responders, and guests in Asheville and Buncombe County. We will continue to provide updates from the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, NCDOT, and Duke Energy.
This tragedy has presented a long road to recovery, but it is a road we will walk together as a deeply rooted and ever-evolving community. When you are safe and secure, we want to hear from you. Please share how you are doing, what you need, and the status of your business or organization if ready. In the meantime, please utilize these resources and share them with your networks.
Assistance for Individual Property and Businesses
On September 29, FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of North Carolina, including Buncombe County, to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals, including 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.
FEMA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Businesses: Grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621- 3362, or by using the FEMA App.
US Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance: Loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits affected by the disaster. This includes:
- Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
- Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses for repairing or replacing disaster-damaged property, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations are eligible.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans available to help small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses, and non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their financial obligations during a disaster recovery period.
We understand the SBA plans to set up offices here in Asheville for in-person assistance by the end of this week. We will share that information as soon as it becomes available.
Assistance for Artists & Arts Organizations
Arts AVL has created a webpage of emergency support resources, including relief grants for artists, musicians, and cultural institutions, as well as pro bono legal support.
Immediate Resources
World Central Kitchen has arrived in Asheville and began serving meals at Bears Smokehouse on Coxe Ave.
Buncombe County is offering ready-to-eat meals and water at William W. Estes, Sand Hill, and Fairview Elementary Schools as well as North Windy Ridge Intermediate Schools. Future locations will be posted here.
Food Connections WNC is partnering with Equal Plates Project and Sage & Spice to prepare and distribute individual meals. Please call 828-337-9557 or 828-226-4096 if you have viable food to contribute.
Free Community Cookout by Morrisette Packaging at The Mule at Devils Foot Beverage on Thursday, October 3, at 12 pm. Check @visitasheville’s stories to learn about other businesses feeding the community.
How to Help the People of Buncombe County
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