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1 month ago | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
Governor Josh Stein appealed the federal government's decision to deny an extension of FEMA reimbursement following Hurricane Helene. In a letter to President Trump on Friday, Stein asked for reconsideration of FEMA's decision not to extend its 100 percent match for eligible storm-related costs in the state.
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Jan 6, 2025 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
This is a developing story and will be updated. A winter storm that pummeled the mid-Atlantic region brought freezing temperatures and precipitation to Western North Carolina on Monday evening. The cold front also brought a wind advisory from the National Weather Service which cautioned of 20-30 mph winds and gusts up to 55 mph. With temperatures dipping into the teens, hazardous road conditions are causing school closures and delays on Tuesday.
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
wfdd.org | Laura Lee
Helene Two months ago, Hurricane Helene devastated the North Carolina mountains and claimed at least 103 lives, but governmental organizations have declined to publicly identify any victims.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
Two months ago, Hurricane Helene devastated the North Carolina mountains and claimed at least 103 lives, but governmental organizations have declined to publicly identify any victims.
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Nov 18, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
Asheville residents have drinkable tap water for the first time in more than seven weeks after flooding and landslides during Hurricane Helene destroyed critical infrastructure. Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said the city tested 120 water samples this weekend, and the results showed no bacteria in the water, paving the way for the boil water notice to be lifted. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about safety, system repairs, and more.
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Nov 15, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
This is a developing story and will be updated. Asheville residents could have drinkable water in their taps as early as Wednesday of next week. Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said the city is testing water samples this weekend, and if the results are acceptable, the boil water notice could be lifted as early as Tuesday evening. The city has been flushing the system of untreated water for about a week, Chandler said.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
The drinking water challenge in Asheville expanded today. Without the city's normal mitigation measures, detectable levels of lead accumulated in internal plumbing at seven area schools. The finding raises issues for residents who may have lead exposure risk in their homes. "It is very important to note that the students have not consumed the tap water at any of these schools or childcare facilities," Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said in Thursday's briefing.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
More than 4.2 million North Carolinians cast their ballots statewide during early voting, surpassing the 2020 early voting total of about 3.6 million voters. Early voting statistics from the State Board of Elections (BOE) showed Hurricane Helene did not deter voters in Western North Carolina from casting their votes. "Voters in the 25 Western North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene continue to outpace the rest of the state in voter turnout," a statement from the state BOE said.
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Nov 1, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
This is a developing story and will be updated. Water restoration in the City of Asheville has a long-awaited timeline, according to Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman. In an Instagram video posted Friday morning, Ullman said there is a "Plan B" if the aluminum sulfate treatment (alum) treatment does not sufficiently reduce the sediment at the North Fork Reservoir. The plans will bring "an end to this crisis, hell or high water," she said.
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Oct 30, 2024 | 
bpr.org | Laura Lee
"Water resources has a really big week this week," Asheville Water Resources Public Information Officer Clay Chandler said at Monday's community briefing. The big week he described includes a second aluminum sulfate and caustic soda treatment of the city’s main reservoir, North Fork, in the hopes of moving it toward a drinkable condition. Asheville has been without consumable tap water since Hurricane Helene turned the reservoir "upside down" more than a month ago.
