High Country Press

App State, the Town of Boone, Watauga County and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce: Area Leaders Focus on Recovery from Helene

October 9, 2024 BOONE, N.C. — Today marks 12 days since Hurricane Helene hit the Boone area on Sept. 27. The storm brought wind gusts in excess of 40 mph and, combined with a predecessor rain event, dumped upwards of 10 to 21 inches of rain across the county, leading to massive flooding, significant damages to homes and businesses and two deaths in Watauga County.

Power Restoration Countdown: Blue Ridge Energy Crews Have Outages Down to 3,909

October 9, 2024 Lenoir, North Carolina (4 pm, Wednesday, October 9, 2024) – Blue Ridge Energy crews are making tremendous progress rebuilding its electric system in the cooperative’s heavily damaged service area and additional manpower has been mobilized to the most devastated areas with remaining outages. As of 4 pm Wednesday, outages stand at a total of 3,909 with 2,242 of those in Watauga County, 1,461 in Ashe County, 106 in Caldwell County, 51 in Wilkes County, 25 in Avery County, and 24 in Alleghany County.

October 9, 2024 Avery County Government has updated statistics and related information about the destruction Hurricane Helene caused when it swept through the area nearly two weeks ago. The totals were confirmed as of Wednesday morning, October 9. A State of Emergency declared by the county’s Board of Commissioners on September 25 at noon remains in effect. A curfew ordered by Commission Chairman Tim Phillips from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. is also in effect until further notice. Transportation in the county is limited due to some roads still not open and many being repaired from being flooded, including some that had pavement ripped off.There have been four fatalities confirmed in the county and four persons are missing. Fifty-eight (58) injuries have also been confirmed. By Tim Gardner

October 9, 2024 Asheville, N.C. – The entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway remains closed as emergency stabilization efforts and damage assessments continue in the wake of significant, and in some areas catastrophic, damage from Hurricane Helene. Blue Ridge Parkway crews and National Park Service employees from around the country are working on initial damage assessments and actions that will restore critical communications and re-establish safe access to facilities in need of repair.

Update from the Watauga Arts Council: Efforts We Currently Have On Our Agenda

October 9, 2024 We hope this note finds you safe as we face the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Our hearts go out to everyone who lost their homes and had damaged property. We are incredibly encouraged by our community’s resilience and unity in the face of this tragedy. Our residents and neighbors near and far have been selfless in service. Thank you for your contributions. We are committed to serving our residents and helping our artists during this difficult time. We are here for you. Come by the office anytime if you need to talk, charge your devices, use Wifi or our kitchen or make cards with us. We have drinks in the fridge.

AppHealthCare Recommendations for Well and Spring Disinfection and Testing

October 9, 2024 AppHealthCare urges safe water usage following Hurricane Helene and recommends disinfection and testing for wells and springs. We will be offering disinfection and bacterial test kits at no cost for private wells and springs. This will be a priority area for the AppHealthCare Environmental Health Team in the coming days and weeks as road conditions improve, power is restored and samples can be safely transported.
To request a disinfection or test kit, please complete this form and an AppHealthCare staff member will reach out to you once kits arrive. You can also call AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970 Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:45pm and select option 3 on the phone menu to be connected to the Environmental Health Team. Please note there will be a limited number of kits available.

October 9, 2024 We didn’t post to our usual column High Country Real Estate in High Country Press Online last week. What could we say? We’ve heard and seen the same words over and over in the past two weeks. Devastating. Catastrophic. Loss. Heartbroken. Psalm 31:9 keeps running through my mind: “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.” And in this distress, this sorrow, this grief, there are no new words to be found sufficient to address the devastation, the catastrophe, the loss, the heartbreak of what our communities and neighbors are going through. Someone once told me weddings, funerals and crises bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. In this crisis, I have to say, at least so far, they were wrong. I have seen nothing but the best. By Bill Aceto, REALTOR, Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, LLC

Information About Debris Removal in the Town of Boone

October 8, 2024 Town of Boone, N.C.- The Town of Boone would like to inform the public of the debris removal system that is in place for residents. Beginning Wednesday, October 9th, members of the public will see trucks labeled “SDR” driving throughout the Town of Boone. SDR is a debris removal company specializing in disaster debris removal. It has contracted its service to Watauga County and the Town of Boone to assist with cleanup. In following with guidance from FEMA, Town of Boone residents are asked to do the following:

Monday Update from the Watauga County School System

October 8, 2024 An important update from Superintendent Dr. Leslie Alexander on our relief efforts: Watauga High School will continue to be open this week from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Please stop by if you are in need of water, non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper goods or other household items. Our childcare site at Hardin Park School is now closed to new registration. We have reached our capacity for new students, but we will continue to serve all those already registered. The site is open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and we serve breakfast, lunch and a snack. Drop-off is between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. We cannot accept children after 9:45 a.m.

Voter Registration Deadline Is This Friday, October 11 for the 2024 General Election

October 8, 2024 Eligible individuals who want to cast their ballot by mail or on Election Day, November 5, must register to vote by 5 p.m. Friday, October 11. Individuals who miss that deadline may register and vote at the same time during the 17-day, in-person early voting period at any early voting site in their county. The early voting period begins October 17 and ends November 2. County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board of Elections’ Early Voting Site Search. (Important note: Some sites and schedules are likely to change in some counties affected by Hurricane Helene. If you live in one of those counties, please check the Early Voting Site Search closer to the start of early voting.)

Watauga, Avery Obituaries – October 8, 2024

October 8, 2024. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.

October 7, 2024 On Sunday afternoon the Banner Elk donation center was a hotbed of activity. Situated in the old Historic Banner Elk School, the Resource Center has been the place where local volunteers have been receiving donations. Volunteers were busy receiving, sorting and organizing donations of everything from toilet paper, to paper towels, to diapers, to canned soup, even MREs that have arrived from across the region. Nancy Owen of Banner Elk who directs the town’s Tourism Development Authority was on hand helping to coordinate the process Through purely exhausted eyes but with the vibrancy of the energizer bunny she remarked that, while overwhelmingly grateful for all of these donations, what the residents of Banner Elk and surrounding communities really need now was cash assistance. “We need cash. We are able to fill peoples basic needs of food and drinking water which they need in order to survive, but these folks are going to need money to move beyond this tragedy.” By Dolores Smith

October 7, 2024 Lenoir, North Carolina (Monday, 1 pm – October 7, 2024) – Catastrophic storm damage is extending grid repair and replacement work into this week as Blue Ridge Energy’s team of over 500 line technicians, tree specialists and grading contractors continue 24/7 efforts to restore power to the remaining 8,917 members without power as of 1 pm Monday. An updated general restoration timeline is available at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com. The most damaged locations are targeted for restoration by Friday, October 11, although power restoration will occur progressively in all areas throughout the week. Service crews are working to address tap lines going through neighborhoods and feeding homes and construction crews are dedicated to replacing broken power poles, which can take hours: many areas have been completely washed away with no ground to replace poles where they were originally located.

October 6, 2024 Lenoir, North Carolina (Sunday, 6:30 pm – October 6, 2024) – Blue Ridge Energy’s army of 500 line technicians, tree specialists, and grading contractors continue strong efforts to restore power to members in the wake of the worst storm to hit western North Carolina in decades. As of Sunday, 6:30 pm, outages have fallen to 9,957 from a high of 63,000 outages when the storm first hit over a week ago. Much of Blue Ridge Energy’s infrastructure was washed away by flooding, and mudslides or demolished by hundreds of fallen trees and raging swift water.

Blue Ridge Energy Weekend Progress: Outages Down to 11,683 Sunday Morning

October 6, 2024 Crews are making much progress as they continue 24/7 power restoration efforts: outages are down to 11,683 as of Sunday, 10 am after a high of 63,000 when Hurricane Helene left behind catastrophic damage last Friday. “We appreciate the support from members and communities,” said Renee Walker, director public relations. “Crews are working in extremely dangerous,” Walker said, explaining as one example the nature of tree removal from power lines.

Blue Ridge Energy Saturday Update – 500+ Strong: Teams Push Forward to Restore Power

Lenoir, North Carolina (Saturday, 2:30 pm – October 5, 2024) – Work continues this Saturday, as over 500 line technicians, along with tree and grading contractors, continue 24/7 power restoration efforts to some 14,000 Blue Ridge Energy members after Hurricane Helene left behind catastrophic damage to western North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Energy Friday Update: Army of 500+ Continue Power Restoration Efforts

Lenoir, North Carolina (Friday, 2:30 pm – October 4, 2024) – An army of over 500 line technicians, along with tree and grading contractors, continue 24/7 power restoration efforts to some 18,000 Blue Ridge Energy members after Hurricane Helene left behind historic damage to western North Carolina. Crews have made progress since last Friday when 63,000 members were without power at the height of the most damaging storm to hit western North Carolina in recent history.

Watauga County Schools will be Closed for Students and Teachers October 7th- October 11th

October 4, 2024 Watauga County Schools will be closed for students, teachers, and teacher assistants next week, October 7th- October 11th. Another critical factor to consider before reopening schools is the conditions of our roads. We will be working with NC DOT to determine when it is safe to put buses on our roads. Please know that we want to reopen school as soon as we can safely do so.

App State Classes are Canceled Through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11

October 4, 2024 Classes are canceled on the App State Boone and Hickory campuses and Adverse Weather Condition 3 (Closure) is in effect through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. With Fall Break, classes will resume no earlier than Oct. 16. The modality and locations will be determined based on conditions and infrastructure, and an update will be shared by Wednesday, Oct. 9. Road conditions vary and many roads in the area remain treacherous or impassible. Please limit travel and use extreme caution if you are traveling on foot or by vehicle. View Watauga County curfew information here. On the Boone Campus, Residence Halls, Central Dining Hall, Campus Markets, the Student Union, Student Health Service and the Student Recreation Center remain open and operational.

47th Annual Woolly Worm Festival Canceled Update

It is with pure heartbreak that I bring you the official decision that the 47th Annual Woolly Worm Festival has been cancelled. The main goal for this year’s festival was to connect our entire community to showcase how wonderfully unique Avery County truly is. We wanted so badly to be able to share our magic with you all but we simply can’t do that justice when so many of our locals are suffering. I suppose the irony in this horrific circumstance is that we are indeed showcasing the county to the world, maybe not with racing worms and funnel cakes, but with the strength and resilience that our people have. Mountain folks are truly built differently, they take care of one another regardless of circumstance. I experienced it first hand as my neighbors sheltered and fed us as our property was destroyed before our eyes. Everywhere I look, I see examples of selflessness, determination and tenacity. From our county and town leaders to our first responders, line men and local business owners, everyone has jumped in to help. We are simply blessed to call this place home and I know we will build back stronger than ever.

Thursday Evening Outage Update

Lenoir, North Carolina (Thursday, 5:30 pm – October 3, 2024) – An army of over 500 line technician crews, along with tree and grading contractors, are working 24/7 restoring power to Blue Ridge Energy members after Hurricane Helene left behind historic damage to western North Carolina. “Over 80 percent of our 8,500 miles of line, power poles and substations were destroyed or severely damaged—it’s a herculean effort to rebuild a system that originally took years to construct, said Renee Walker, director of public relations.

October 1, 2024 Lenoir, North Carolina (Tuesday Noon –October 1, 2024) – Over 300 line technicians consisting of Blue Ridge Energy crews and crews from sister cooperatives, contractors, plus tree and grading teams, are working around the clock to restore power to its service area affected by catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene. More assistance is arriving daily from long distances to help in the effort. “It’s impossible to describe the disaster left behind from the storm in our part of western North Carolina,” said Renee Walker, director of public relations for Blue Ridge Energy which serves 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties as well as portions of Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties.

Rescue, Relief and Recovery Operations Continue in Western North Carolina

October 1, 2024 RALEIGH: Search and rescue efforts continue in Western North Carolina amidst simultaneous coordinated efforts to restore critical infrastructure and bring much needed food, water and other necessities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. “The response to this crisis so far has been a massive effort of coordination and logistics,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “As emergency responders continue search and rescue operations in Western North Carolina, local, state, federal, private and non-profit partners continue to work in concert to provide food, water, shelter and other basic necessities for people in need. Simultaneously, thousands of private sector and government employees are working 24/7 to restore critical infrastructure including power, water, wastewater treatment, cellular phone service and internet connectivity.”

Watauga, Avery Obituaries – October 1, 2024

October 1, 2024. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.

September 30, 2024 If you’re getting tired of still trying to turn on the lights instead of a headlamp in your dark house—if you’re lucky enough to have a headlamp—take a deep breath. The constant thump of helicopters and wail of sirens, sometimes together, reminds us there are a large number of folks bearing the hardest hit of a flood just now denting the national news cycle’s preoccupation with politics and war. Last Friday’s storm is easily being compared to the suffering of the 1916 and 1940 floods, adding a third apocalypse to modern memories as legendary as those earlier disasters. By Randy Johnson

+ More Articles

App State, the Town of Boone, Watauga County and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce: Area Leaders Focus on Recovery from Helene

Power Restoration Countdown: Blue Ridge Energy Crews Have Outages Down to 3,909

Avery County Government Releases Updated Statistics from Hurricane Helene Effects

The Entire Length of the Blue Ridge Parkway Remains Closed