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Appalachia Relief

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Communication

Alerts & Alert Signups

Radio & Other Alerts

Weather Updates

Postal Service Updates

News Updates

Resource Maps and Links

Cell Service

Wifi

Starlink Stations

Alerts & Alert Signups

Radio & Other Alerts

Public officials are holding news briefings each day at 11 a.m. The briefings are streamed live on the Buncombe County Facebook Page and broadcasted on Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM. You can also listen on the iHeart radio stations including 99.9, 104.3, 105.1, 105.9, 96.5, 98.1, 105.5 and 97.3 (Spanish) and 570 AM.

  • 88.1 or 107.9 FM blue ridge public radio
  • 570 AM radio
  • 99.9 FM
  • Asheville - 103.7 FM community radio
  • Asheville - 88.1
  • Black Mountain - 107.5
  • Brevard - 101.5
  • Bryson City - 94.7
  • Cullowhee - 89.7
  • Franklin - 91.3
  • Hendersonville - 99.3
  • Highlands - 103.3
  • Murphy - 88.5
  • Sylva, Dillsboro - 91.5
  • Tryon - 101.5
  • Waynesville-Clyde - 89.7
  • Waynesville-Hazelwood - 102.9
  • Mars Hill 90.5
  • Firestorm Bookstore has a mutual aid meeting everyday at 2pm - helpful for resource sharing. They now have power for charging
  • Barnardsville post office everyday at noon
  • If you're safe, you can text any message to (828) 888-0440. If you're trying to find a loved one, visit DisasterCheckin.com to see if they've checked in. If you don't have internet access, text "SEARCH XXXXXXXXXX" (replace the X's with their phone number) to (828) 888-0440 to check if they've registered with us.

Weather Updates

Postal Service Updates

The United States Postal Service is resuming service to many routes in Western North Carolina, according to a statement released by the agency late Tuesday (10/8). "Significant work" remains in order to "deliver a backlog of mail and packages and reopen routes in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene," the statement said.

Locations with ZIP Codes beginning in 286, 287, and 288 saw the most impact to service from the storm.The Postal Service operates 838 facilities across the state. As of Monday, all USPS North Carolina processing facilities were operating.

Most retail and delivery units are also running but for those that remain inaccessible, USPS relocated operations to nearby units. Forty-four retail offices are operating on a cash only basis.Thirty-five routes remain inoperable.Mail sent to inaccessible addresses is being held at local post offices office until it is safe to deliver.

"We remain committed to delivering mail wherever it's feasible and safe, constantly adjusting our operations for a swift restoration of services," the statement said.

Postal service employees will be on site to assist residents of temporary shelters with change of address forms and alternative mailing locations. Customers can also call 1-800-ASK-USPS with questions about facilities and delivery.

News Updates

Text mirror for BPR: https://text.bpr.org/

  • Buncombe County briefings daily at 10am and 4pm

Resource Maps and Links

Cell Service

The City has partnered with providers to provide cell service and wi-fi in several locations.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 (𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆)

  • Groce United Methodist Church at 954 Tunnel Rd

𝗧-𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘀 (𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝘄𝗶-𝗳𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴)

  • Asheville Middle School at 211 S French Broad Ave
  • Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center at 285 Livingston St

𝗜𝗧𝗗𝗥𝗖 (𝘄𝗶-𝗳𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴)

  • Sam’s Club at 645 Patton Ave
  • Haw Creek Commons at 315 Old Haw Creek Rd

*There is no longer a Verizon trailer at the YMCA on Woodfin St.

TTN Western NC: providers have enabled “disaster roaming.” Regardless of what service a person has, if they are in an area with any functional network, they will be able to make calls or send text messages. Go to settings, Then connections, under mobile network settings make sure roaming is enabled.(For iPhone users: Go to settings, Cellular, Cellular Data Options, and toggle on Data Roaming.)

  • How to text via satelite
  • 10/7. 2pm to 4pm. Emote. 444 Haywood Rd. West Asheville. Charging stations. Also: Shelf-stable food, hygiene items, and other items. (Source: AshevilleRelief.com website submission, 10/5)
  • Asheville Middle School 211 S French Broad Ave, Asheville (10/2 WLOS)
  • Dr. Wesley Grant Senior Southside Community Center 285 Livingston St, Asheville (10/2 WLOS)
  • Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road, Asheville. This tower will offer limited cellular reception within approximately 200 yards of where it is parked. (source City of Asheville webpage, 2pm update)
  • Earth Magick in downtown Asheville on Lexington next to Dobra Tea. We are  offering free phone and computer charging! 9-5pm! (9/30/24)
  • River Arts District - higher up you go the better service, Bartlett st is very good
  • Ingles in Reynolds
  • 12 Bones SAVL - CELL SERVICE
  • Full Verizon service in the 12 bones parking lot.
  • DoubleTree off Haywood and Carter
  • Louisian and Patton Firehouse
  • STRONG CELL SIGNAL near Waffle House at BatCave exit of 26 in Hendersonville. 100 Sugarloaf Rd.
  • 310 W State St., Black Mountain, NC, 28711. Monte Vista Hotel
  • Good service at Asheville mall on south tunnel. Had success in chic fil a parking lot.
  • FAIRVIEW–Daymoon Cafe, 381 Old Charlotte Hwy, Fairview NC, 28730
  • UNCA Campus Reported signal available from observatory hill
  • MILLS RIVER–Ingles, 3338 Boylston Hwy, Mills River, NC 28759
  • WNC Ag Center (765 Boylston Hwy, gate 5): T-mobile has set up a charging station and cell service. Reps from T-mobile May also be on-site; they have discussed getting Wi-Fi into the Ag Center shelter.
  • HENDERSONVILLE: As of Oct 1 @ 830am VZW data services are offline from 1:23am. ETA has not been provided.
  • ASHEVILLE–Mad Genius Studios, 121 Sweeten Creek Road Suite 20 Asheville NC 28803 (located in the very back of Atelier Mason Co.  (9/30) strong cell signal, power on to charge, supply drop-off
  • ASHEVILLE: Sam’s Club. 645 Patton Ave. Cell service. Chargers and computers are available for use. (10/3)
  • Most areas of Brevard have has resorted cell service
  • BLACK MOUNTAIN: Verizon Tower in front of Epic Cycle 102 Sutton Ave.
  • 12 Baskets. 610 Haywood Rd. Cell phone charging: 10 am to 4 pm Mon - Fri. (10/3)
  • BLACK MOUNTAIN, First Baptist Church, 130 Montreat Rd.  A mobile charging and internet connectivity station is set up in the lower parking

Wifi

ATT is aware of massive fiber trunk damage and currently working on repairs but has yet to announce an ETA.

  • North Asheville Library. 1030 Merrimon. Password: readmore (10/4 - AVL Today)
  • 36 Montford Ave (Chamber of Commerce)
  • Citizen Vinyl 14 O'Henry Avenue 28801
  • Moxy Hotel  61 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
  • The Plug Shop - 34 S Lexington Ave and  1356 Patton Ave
  • Center for Craft 67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
  • Patton Ave Pet Co - 109 Patton Ave,1388 Patton Ave
  • AMOS - Science! Asheville Science Museum 3 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
  • Mosaic Cafe in Biltmore Park  1 Town Square Blvd Suite 150, Asheville, NC 28803 - Mosaic Cafe Guest 2 - just log in with your name and email. No password. Also will A be back open at noon Monday 9/30
  • Waynesville Lowe's 100 Liner Cove Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786
  • North Asheville Library 1030 Merrimon Ave–password: readmore
  • Downtown library 67 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
  • 90 Southside Ave 28801
  • Register of Deeds 205 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
  • West Asheville Fire Station 970 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
  • Kmart parking lots
  • Chamber of Commerce 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
  • REI in Biltmore Park 31 Schenck Pkwy, Asheville, NC 28803 (
  • Wicked Weed 91 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
  • Pac Memorial Library 67 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801–password: readmore
  • Buncombe County Health Services
  • Ken Wilson Ford in Canton has Wifi.
  • ASHEVILLE Whole Foods on Merrimon
  • ASHEVILLE Whole Foods on Tunnel Rd (10/1 9am)
  • WAYNESVILLE Best Buy
  • ASHEVILLE Mission Hospital guest-wifi
  • WNC AG CENTER - WIFI & CHARGING
  • ASHEVILLE Family Justice Center, downtown Asheville
  • Woodfin Street
  • WEST ASHEVILLE  Home Depot
  • WEST ASHEVILLE  Library password: readmore
  • Itto Ramen at 630 Haywood in WAVL - 10/2 - available outside, strong signal, ask folks for the password 10/3 4:15 pm - signal slow despite not seeing a lot of folks, but usable. Spectrum shows Itto as a hotspot but didn’t see it as an option.
  • Downtown black mountain in the square by fire dept has a Verizon WiFi tower up
  • ART transit station on Coxe Ave
  • ASHVILLE  Middle School at 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
  • Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center at 285 Livingston St. Asheville, NC 28801
  • A-B Tech Community College at 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
  • Dimensions Studio 740 S. Main St. Mars Hill, NC 28754 - guest wifi and outdoor outlet in parking lot
  • The Hop Ice Creamery 167 Haywood Rd #20 Asheville, NC 28806 - wifi and power strip outside
  • Mad Genius Studios, 121 Sweeten Creek Road Suite 20 Asheville NC 28803 (located in the very back of Atelier Mason Co.  (9/30) strong cell signal, power on to charge, supply drop-off
  • Asheville YMCA for Wifi and charging
  • Pisgah Legal Services office - 62A Charlotte St. Guest network. Password: Here2help!
  • 30 Town Square, Suite 218, Asheville NC 28803. WIFI & POWER AVAIL. Medical assistance for women also available. Dr. long & Dr. Ellis

NORTH OF ASHEVILLE (Spring Creek, Wolf Laurel, Mars Hill, Marshall Bypass Cedar Hill)

  • 𝗔𝘀 𝗼𝗳 10/2 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭,𝟲𝟬𝟬 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮. 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶-𝗙𝗶 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 "𝗙𝗕𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿-𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆", 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲. 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 – 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗶-𝗙𝗶 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Starlink Stations

for public use

SPOT 1: DoubleTree Hilton Downtown 199 Haywood

SSID: SORTOR STARLINK

Pass: ncstrong

SPOT 2: Asheville Shelter Ferguson Building 340 Victoria Rd

SSID: HALL STARLINk

Pass: ncstrong

Starlink in Black Mountain on Lower Flat C in reek Rd

Network ends in Mesh-Guest

Password: TRFlatcreek1! No
(If this pw doesn’t work, try ncstrong. Someone please report back on success.)

From Ham Radio - Mt. Mitchell repeater EOC

BLACK MOUNTAIN STARLINK INTERNET ACCESS

There is Starlink internet access in Black Mountain located at 108 View St.

Reception is best on the Mountain Street side, and the password is NCStrong. No SSID info, but I don't think it will be hard to find. Not sure about the capitalization on the password.

Hands On! Children’s Museum in Hendersonville

For those in areas that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, Starlink is available and temporarily offering free service until the end of the year. If you are impacted by Hurricane Helene, or are looking to enable rapid assistance for responding to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, and need to access this free service option, please follow the steps below:

New customers:

    1    Go to starlink.com/residential (https://starlink.com/residential)

    2    Enter your address, and click order now

    3    Select the "Helene Relief" service plan and check out

    •    Note - Only service areas impacted by Helene will display the "Helene Relief" service option. if you do not see the $0 option, your area is not eligible. If you believe this is in error, please

let us know by contacting support.

  • Also note, only the service is free for 30 days, hardware is still needed to connect to Starlink. If you have a starlink and are in the disaster zone it will automatically work without a paid account. See Elon Musk tweets for guidance as needed.  
  • West Marine had starlink routers in stock and can ship express in 1 day. Given road closures in asheville best to ship to someone outside of asheville

ARCHIVE–STAFF USE ONLY

Temporary Verizon cellular satellite trailers are located at the Family Justice Center at 35 Woodfin Street and  Groce United Methodist Church at 954 Tunnel Road. These towers offer limited cellular reception within several city blocks of where it is parked. Additionally, T-Mobile has set up satellite cellular on light trucks in Asheville, providing cellular service along with Wi-Fi and charging stations at: Asheville Middle School at 211 S French Broad Ave, and Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center at 285 Livingston St. (City of Asheville, 10/3)

  • Family Justice Center 240 & Charlotte / 35 Woodfin across from Asheville ymca (Verizon dropped off mobile tower along with City 9/29), should be available for a few blocks nearby (confirmed 10/2 WLOS)

MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR SWANNANOA RIVER VALLEY

Last updated: December 12, 2024, 3:27 am