9/26 2:30 p.m.
Asheville Rapid Transit
With the possibility of an extended boil water advisory or water outage due to severe weather from a tropical storm, City of Asheville Water Resources Department customers should include in their preparations these steps:
- Keep several gallon jugs of potable water for drinking, cooking, preparing bottles, brushing teeth and sponge baths. Keep enough for the entire family to have water for 24 to 72 hours. A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water for each person or pet in the household for each day you are out of water service.
- Keep several gallons of non-potable water for flushing toilets. It is advised to remember that toilets do not have to be flushed every time they are used to help conserve your water supply. The easiest ways to flush your toilet is to fill the tank with water and then flush as normal or pour water directly into the bowl until the pressure forces it to flush.
- Under any circumstances (emergency or non emergency) it is best to not flush any foreign objects other than toilet paper. Sanitary products such as wipes and feminine products should be placed in the trash. If disposed of in the toilet, it will take more water to flush the toilet and significantly increase the likelihood of clogged plumbing.
During an extended outage in the water system, emergency responders will work to ensure potable water is available to customers. However, having an emergency preparedness plan will help you and your family be ready for an unexpected event.
If your area is going to be affected by no water service or low water pressure during a tropical storm, an AVL Alert is the fastest and most direct way to be notified. If you are not signed up to receive AVL Alerts, please click here to do so.
9/26 11:00 a.m.
Trash, Recycling, and Brush Collection Information
Know your information sources
Please continue to monitor Asheville Fire Department social media for updates:
City of Asheville – You can also find updated information on impacts to City offered programs, activities and services by monitoring our the City of Asheville Website as well as updates on our social media accounts.
AVL Alerts
Stormwater staff will be using AVL Alerts to alert community members of issues in their more immediate area. So please make sure to sign up for AVL Alerts
Traffic / Road Closures
We are advising community members to monitor the WAZE app for real time closure and hazard information. Additionally Drive NC.gov
Community Partners
The City of Asheville also encourages community members to monitor other government or service provider websites and social media for their latest information as well.
The County has established a NON-Emergency line for community reports : 828-250-6650. This for things like downed trees, debris, power line concerns. Please call 9-1-1 for life threatening situations
- National Weather Service
- NCDOT Twitter: NCDOT_Asheville for local information or @NCDOT for regional/ statewide information
- Duke Energy
- Code Purple will be active Thursday and Friday.
9/26 9:00 a.m.
Additional Asheville Rapid Transit (ART) impacts
Events/ Facilities Impacts
- The WNC Nature Center will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Meetings / Commissions Cancellations
- All City of Asheville Board and Commission meetings Thursday and Friday are canceled.
Know your information sources
Please continue to monitor Asheville Fire Department social media for updates:
City of Asheville – You can also find updated information on impacts to City offered programs, activities and services by monitoring our the City of Asheville Website as well as updates on our social media accounts.
AVL Alerts
Stormwater staff will be using AVL Alerts to alert community members of issues in their more immediate area. So please make sure to sign up for AVL Alerts
Traffic / Road Closures
We are advising community members to monitor the WAZE app for real time closure and hazard information. Additionally Drive NC.gov
Community Partners
The City of Asheville also encourages community members to monitor other government or service provider websites and social media for their latest information as well.
The County has established a NON-Emergency line for community reports : 828-250-6650. This for things like downed trees, debris, power line concerns. Please call 9-1-1 for life threatening situations
- National Weather Service
- NCDOT Twitter: NCDOT_Asheville for local information or @NCDOT for regional/ statewide information
- Duke Energy
- Code Purple will be active Thursday and Friday.
9/25 8:30 p.m.
Heavy rains from Helene impact Asheville Rapid Transit (ART) routes and Parks and Recreation facility openings
Due to a road closure on Lodge St, detours are in place for ART Routes S1 & S5.
Bus stops along Lodge St, Sweeten Creek Rd., and London Rd., will be missed until further notice.
This includes: 170, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, and 650
All Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) parks, community centers, and facilities are closed on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27 due to inclement weather. Previously scheduled activities, events, programs, and rentals are canceled during this time.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions and announce any schedule changes as they become available. Visit this page for a list of APR locations.
9/25 at 4:10 p.m.
The City of Asheville will experience heavy rainfall and strong winds beginning tomorrow as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Staff from across the City are already hard at work preparing Asheville to weather the rain and wind forecasted to come our way.
Asheville Fire is proactively preparing for major weather impacts by activating specialty teams to include boat teams, saw teams, team leaders, safety officers, battalion and division chiefs for the duration of the weather event. This will allow Asheville Fire to continue to provide excellent service to the community while these personnel will respond to storm related emergencies.
Stormwater crews have been inspecting construction sites for on-going stormwater projects, clearing debris from flood prone areas, testing equipment in preparation of restoration efforts, and clearing storm drain grates.
City of Asheville staff across strategic departments will be on call and available to respond throughout the storm. Staff are meeting to coordinate preparation and response throughout this weather event to adjust plans as needed.
The National Weather Service forecasts 10 to 15 inches of rain are expected to accumulate in the Asheville area with potential for flash or localized flooding. You can follow updates at The National Weather Service website.
Tips to Prepare
- Stay Calm.
- Be Prepared. Develop an emergency plan and create an emergency kit. Visit NCReady for additional information. Inform yourself about floods.
- Keep a supply of fresh water and non-perishable food on hand.
- Fuel your vehicles.
- Clean out storm drains near your home or business, removing any debris.
- Create an inventory of your personal property and its approximate value. Save receipts from expensive items.
- Have a battery-operated flashlight.
- Have a battery-operated radio, TV, or internet access that does not rely on electricity.
- Do not approach downed power lines. Report a down power line here.
- Sign up for AVL Alerts.
Driving Tips: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Due to the potential of fast moving storm waters or flash flooding, the City of Asheville advises community members to use caution on the roads. If possible, travel when only necessary. If you must travel, the City will be updating on the AVL Alert system and updating maps on Waze to provide updated road information. As always, when there’s the potential of high water on the road, the phrase to keep in mind is: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Where to follow for information
Asheville Fire Department
During storm-related emergencies, the City of Asheville’s Fire Department is the lead agency to coordinate and manage the action plan and operations during the incident. As always, Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Please continue to monitor Asheville Fire Department social media for updates:
City of Asheville
You can also find updated information on impacts to City offered programs, activities and services by monitoring our the City of Asheville Website as well as updates on our social media accounts.
AVL Alerts
Stormwater staff will be using AVL Alerts to alert community members of issues in their more immediate area. So please make sure to sign up for AVL Alerts
The Waze App will be a source of information on road closures and hazards.
Community Partners
The City of Asheville also encourages community members to monitor other government or service provider websites and social media for their latest information as well.
- National Weather Service
- NCDOT Twitter: NCDOT_Asheville for local information or @NCDOT for regional/ statewide information
- Duke Energy
- Code Purple will be active Thursday and Friday.
Impacted Services or Events
As our community prepares for a weekend of wind and rain, it’s important to note some scheduled services, activities and events have been or have the potential to be impacted.
Parks & Recreation
- Parking lots are closed at all riverfront parks below beginning on Wednesday, September 25 at 5 p.m.
- Amboy Riverfront Park
- Azalea Park
- Azalea Dog Park
- Carrier Park
- Craven Street Bridge Boat Access Area
- French Broad River Park
- French Broad River Dog Park
- Jean Webb Park
- Pearson Bridge River Access Area
- Recreation Park
- Riverbend Park
Sanitation
- City of Asheville waste collection will run as scheduled. If any trash or recycling is missed Thursday due to weather-related issues, it will be collected Monday. Normal brush collection routes may be delayed in order to assist with emergency operations.
ART services
- There are no disruptions to Transit schedules at this time. Any delays or route changes will be communicated and noticed through iRide and Transit app
Events
- The Block Party Career Fair scheduled for September 26 has been canceled.
- Aston Park Tennis Center and the Municipal Golf Course are open until weather dictates a closure, and will reopen as possible. Please call the clubhouses in advance to check the status.
- AFD Fire Prevention Kick off event scheduled at the outlets on September 28 has been canceled.