JEFFERSON — In light of the disaster effects we are currently experiencing following Hurricane Helene, we want to reassure the public that Ashe County Emergency Management’s response is unwavering, coordinated, and effective. Our teams have been working relentlessly to deliver essential services and ensure the safety of all affected residents.
The Ashe County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been fully operational since Friday morning, coordinating closely with federal, state, and local agencies to address the needs of our community. Among these partnerships is the highly trained FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, which has been conducting extensive door-to-door assessments and damage evaluations throughout the upper northwestern areas of the county. Today, they continue their efforts in the northeastern region. Equipped with structural engineers and K9 units, the team is diligently working to ensure all areas are thoroughly covered and secure.
On Friday, the emergency operations center Pre-staged swift water rescue teams and USAR units in the county. These teams carried out 11 swift water rescue missions, resulting in the evacuation of 13 individuals and the rescue of three people trapped by floodwaters in homes or vehicles. Fire and rescue departments from across the state arrived Saturday to reinforce local emergency responders.
Since the storm cleared, local fire departments—including Pond Mountain, Creston, Lansing, and Warrensville—have confirmed access to all areas in the northwestern part of the county and remain well-supplied. Alongside deputies from the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, they have been conducting welfare checks and delivering vital food, water, and medical supplies across the county since Sunday. Additional resources, including Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), tarps, and informational flyers, are being distributed today to further assist affected residents.
Under the guidance of the EOC's Incident Management Team, a wide range of local and regional partners—including fire and rescue services, county and school employees, and numerous volunteers—have been working tirelessly to receive, sort, and distribute incoming supplies. In collaboration with the school system, we have established supply distribution centers at Family Central, Mountain View Elementary, and Blue Ridge Elementary. Water tankers have also been placed at Fleetwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Lansing Fire and Rescue, and the old cattle market on NC 16 North.
Our efforts have been bolstered by generous donations of supplies, arriving continuously by plane. Since Saturday, 399 plane loads of supplies have arrived. We have also integrated volunteer groups into our operations to deliver food and water to remote and isolated areas. Our mission remains clear: no one will be left without the support they need during this difficult time.
FEMA has approved both Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) programs. Affected individuals, businesses, and public entities are encouraged to apply for aid through FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/disaster/4827.
In addition to FEMA's efforts, the North Carolina National Guard is conducting aerial reconnaissance missions along streams to assess flood impacts and guide further action. Ground troops have been deployed to the northern part of the county to provide critical assistance.
Ashe County Emergency Management remains fully committed to supporting every resident and business impacted by Hurricane Helene. We encourage the public to rely on official updates from the EOC and local authorities, and to disregard unverified rumors or misinformation.
For more information, please contact Ashe County Emergency Management at (336) 846-5522.
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