Nearly 100 people still missing in NC after Helene, FEMA says misinformation ‘has got to stop’ in wake of threats against workers

• Nearly 100 people are still missing in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
• More than 10,000 customers remain without power in North Carolina.
  • Spectrum expects power restored to everyone by Oct. 19.
• Early voting locations open Thursday.
  • According to Karen Brinson Bell, director of the State Board of Elections, 76 early voting sites open Thursday throughout the 25 counties impacted by Helene.
  • People who lost their ID during Helene can pick one up at the county’s Board of Elections office.
  • See early voting locations and times here.
• If you expect fraud, call FEMA’s fraud hotline at 866-720-5721.

Governor Roy Cooper said during a news conference Tuesday that 92 people are still unaccounted for in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene killed hundreds across the southeast.

Helene has killed at least 125 people in North Carolina. At least 230 people have died nationwide.

Cooper also addressed the threats that FEMA workers have dealt with in recent days.

“This has been an unprecedented response to the worst storm in North Carolina history,” Gov. Cooper said.

Cooper said disinformation is hurting people who have lost everything to Helene. He said it’s preventing people from getting the help they need.

“Over the years, we’ve seen social media get more and more extreme,” he said. “This is happening in the middle of an election, where candidates are using people’s misery to sow chaos for their own political objectives. And it’s wrong.”

He called out Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, saying he’s responsible for perpetuating and spreading disinformation on social media.

“He needs to stop it,” Cooper said.

“This is a time when we all need to pull together to help the people of North Carolina. And it’s disappointing when candidates, knowing full well what they’re doing, are continuing this kind of disinformation filled with lies.”

‘It has got to stop’

Over the weekend, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had to cancel appointments and pause operations after threats were made against workers.

“The ongoing spread of misinformation about operations is not OK,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Tuesday. “It has got to stop.”

She said FEMA will not be deterred by misinformation and they will continue to help those impacted by Helene.

“These are people who put their lives on hold to help those who have lost everything,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking to see words or acts of hatred toward anyone, let alone federal responders who are here to help people in this critical time.”

Threats made against FEMA workers in western North Carolina have hindered the agency’s ability to assist those impacted by Helene. A man has been arrested in connection with these threats.

Criswell said in an update Tuesday that FEMA has resumed all operations. Cooper said law enforcement has been made available to workers and volunteers on the ground in response to threats and the spread of disinformation.

“Keeping FEMA staff safe while they are helping people in disaster impacted communities is always my top priority,” Criswell said Monday.

This week FEMA will be at fixed locations in the community. The current FEMA sites include:

• From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Black Mountain Ingles and Swannanoa Community Care Center Ingles Parking Lot.
• From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 572 Fletcher Martin Road in Asheville, Swannanoa Library, Food Lion in Fairview, EMMA Community Center, 1675 Barnardsville Highway, New Bridge Baptist Church, Nesbitt Chapel Church, and 44 Broad River Road in Black Mountain.
• From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Pack Square Park and AC Reynolds High School
• From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Montford North Star Academy.
• The Disaster Recovery Center at AC Reynolds High School is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

As of Tuesday, FEMA has provided more than $96 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 75,000 households. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

Water restoration remains top priority in Asheville as FEMA resumes normal operations in wake of threats

Buncombe County officials said Monday that there has been a “tremendous amount of progress” when it comes to restoring its water systems.

Water is now flowing to downtown Asheville after the bypass line at the Black Mountain water plant was repaired. Water service restoration will continue moving west, officials said Tuesday.

Not everyone in west Asheville will have water Tuesday, but officials said they are close.

On Sunday, the water resources department was finally able to supply water to areas west of Swannanoa.

“The damage to the Swannanoa area was more severe than expected,” officials said Monday.

Crews were able to get water to Hollow Creek Junction, which is a primary distribution point for the remainder of the system. Asheville’s Assistant City Manager Ben Woody called this a “major milestone.”

Preparations are underway to begin sending water to the Fairview area and to the higher elevation areas of south Asheville that do not have water, officials said Monday.

However, there’s still a lot of work to be done. And crews continue to find water main breaks.

“Don’t assume that we know where the water main breaks are,” Woody said Monday.

If you see a water main break, you can report it to 828-251-1122.

Dirt and sediment has entered water system because of these breaks. Residents are asked to flush their private water lines by running water through a bathtub or outdoor faucet for about 15 minutes.

“Flushing the system is going to be really important for recovery,” Woody said.

Water at the Town of Black Mountain continues to be for flushing only. Even if boiled, this water is not for human or pet consumption.

Here’s a breakdown of Asheville’s water system:

There are 54 unique pressure zones that have to be managed.

Asheville’s water system has 1,800 miles of city pipes that must be filled, pressurized and flushed, plus thousands more miles of individual pipes into neighborhoods and homes.

Then 37 water storage tanks need to be filled and pressurized. A total of 21 million gallons of water is needed for that.

The quality of water is improving as the system gets flushed, but boil water advisories remain in effect.

Residents are still advised to boil their water for one minute before consumption. Officials said boiling water is not necessary for laundry, dishes or showers, but it’s still recommend that residents use bottled water for brushing their teeth, cooking and drinking.

Officials said they’re continuing to test the water for bacteria.

As progress continues to be made, officials said they’re also shifting the focus to storm debris cleanup. County officials said it’s estimated that there’s more than 3 million cubic yards of storm debris.

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