The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, has brought about significant challenges due to a lack of running water in the area. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer has stated that the restoration of the water system is facing delays, leaving many residents without access to water in their homes.
Mayor Manheimer expressed concerns about the prolonged duration of the water system outage, indicating that it is unlikely to be resolved in the near future. As a result of the water system issues, all Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools have been forced to close indefinitely until the necessary repairs are completed.
The impact of the hurricane on the water infrastructure was particularly severe in certain areas of the county. Mayor Manheimer explained that the transmission lines supplying water were severely damaged by the flooding, creating a new river channel that disrupted the water supply. The destruction caused by the flooding has posed significant challenges for the restoration efforts.
In response to the crisis, a FEMA crew was mobilized to drill a new well to provide water to the city's main hospital. This emergency measure was necessary to ensure that essential services could continue to operate despite the ongoing water system outage.
The community of Asheville is facing a challenging recovery process as they work to address the impacts of Hurricane Helene on their water infrastructure. Mayor Manheimer and local authorities are coordinating efforts to expedite the repairs and restore normalcy to the affected areas.