The following cry for help from Asheville was sent on Tuesday. Perhaps the situation is less dire today, though only marginally probably.
I am writing because Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding towns desperately need news coverage regarding our dire situation. We need drinking water IMMEDIATELY.
Following hurricane Helene, our water system was severely damaged. The city of Asheville reported there is no estimated date for water restoration. Our city has issued a boil water advisory, but we have no water to boil.
Residents, including myself, have not had water, power, or internet service since Friday morning. Many people have resorted to drinking from creeks, small pools, or hot water heaters, but others have no options at all. People without gas stoves are unable to boil water. Neighbors have shared what they can, but everyone is running out.
Asheville is going on the 5th day with no drinking water. No water for flushing toilets. No water for bathing. Sewage is backing up in homes and apartment buildings. Diseases and illness will spread.
This is such a large-scale disaster that there are not enough workers to help. First responders have been working around the clock, tirelessly to rescue people. Our utility workers are working nonstop to restore power. Churches, businesses and nonprofits have organized to provide basic needs. We have heard that rescue workers from around the country and even outside the US have been rushing to help us, and we are so grateful. The water system has sustained catastrophic damage. There is no quick solution, and disaster relief for emergency water delivery is terribly lacking.
I was one of the lucky ones that had enough gas in our vehicle to evacuate today. My husband, 17-year-old son and our dog were able get to South Carolina this afternoon. It was an intense trip that involved siphoning gas from our son’s car, and searching frantically for a gas station (with power, and not cash-only). Since I am no longer in survival mode, I’m able to focus on bringing attention to this water situation in the hopes that Asheville and Western North Carolina will receive help.
Reaching out for help has been very difficult for Asheville residents as we have had no Internet access or power since Thursday night. In addition, a lack of sleep, minimal food and heightened stress has made life extremely difficult. For many, each day is spent frantically searching for water, food, gas, medication and other supplies like batteries, baby wipes, and candles. We are surrounded by floods, downed trees, power lines, debris and toxic mud. We are constantly hearing the sounds of helicopters, sirens, and chainsaws. Asheville is apocalyptic.
Most of our resources we have received are from each other. Our neighborhood organized daily meetings to connect neighbors to resources and provide emotional support. Sadly, many of our neighbors are living in substandard homes that have trees through them, or water pooled in their basement. Some homes are overcrowded with families taken in after their losing their homes. I briefly had a family of four living with me after their near death experience when four trees destroyed their home.
Many of us feel like we have been forgotten. We have not heard a word from FEMA about food, water or shelter. Why are there hydrating fluids sitting on shelves in closed grocery stores and warehouses? We have many amazing local businesses that have donated food and water. And then there are those who don’t. Why aren’t drinks like boxed milk, soda or juice being released from the many closed grocery stores? Instead, these stores are locked and watched by guards.
Why is our government not distributing pamphlets, or making nonstop radio announcements providing practical advice? Such as… Don’t use the toilet if you can’t flush. Suggest alternatives for disposing of feces. For drinking water, drain your hot water heaters. Collect rainwater in buckets or on trash bags. Say SOMEthing!
Our leaders could send texts or radio announcements and updates, at least hourly. Instead, I heard only occasional vague announcements regarding water restoration. I often tune in and hear local radio shows that have no bearing on our dire situation. A local for-profit radio station 104.3 has provided nonstop news coverage and empathy to locals calling in. Empathy goes a long way.
Where are the adult protective services workers? Our disabled and elderly neighbors cannot get out to find food, or fill up jugs of water from the creeks. Or from donation sites. Our unhoused neighbors have no access to notifications of distribution sites and no transportation. We have no public transportation.
This is not a problem just in my neighborhood. It’s all throughout Asheville and in the surrounding Western NC communities. There are families in hard to reach areas like Barnardsville who are stranded and have no way to come to donation centers.
Today there was a distribution of 1 gallon of water per household member at a handful of city locations. Many neighbors did not have gas to go pick up water. Elderly and disabled people could not go pick up heavy jugs of water. The city gave no concrete plan or date they would deliver water to them.
Please, PLEASE bring attention to this story. My neighbors won’t last much longer without drinking water.
We need an immediate federal, state and local government intervention to deliver water to all of Asheville and the surrounding areas. DELIVER water. Not announce distribution centers. We also need our leaders to encourage grocery stores to have a heart and allow people to gain access to any hydration. If such businesses choose to guard their stores rather than rescue their customers from hunger and thirst, we should boycott them when they reopen and the crisis has passed. We need stores throughout the state and country to make water donations. We’d welcome individuals who could to come to WNC with a truckload of water. (But be sure to arrive with a full tank of gas so that you can get back out!)
Please bring this issue to light. Report on this story ASAP and urge immediate action. Western North Carolina deserves help. My neighbors are a diverse group of wonderful, kind, gentle people that love our mountains and each other. I fear we are about to lose as many people from this water disaster as we tragically lost in the hurricane.
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