Buncombe County Declares Local State of Emergency and Announces Three Shelters Ahead of Winter Storm Fern

Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and emergency partners continue to urge residents to prepare now for Winter Storm Fern. The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning for Buncombe County from Saturday, Jan. 24 at noon through Monday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. Predictions from the National Weather Service show we can expect a half-inch of ice in most of the county and up to an inch in the southeastern part of the county. According to the National Weather Service, ice accumulations over ½ inch easily create dangerous road conditions, down tree limbs, branches and power lines, and can create numerous to widespread power outages possibly lasting several days.

State of Emergency

Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Edwards announced Buncombe County’s declaration of a local state of emergency effective Jan. 23 at noon. This declaration, which is scheduled to go through 6 p.m. Monday evening, also applies within the municipal limits of the City of Asheville, the Town of Weaverville, the Town of Woodfin, the Town of Black Mountain, the Town of Montreat, and the Town of Biltmore Forest. A local state of emergency allows increased staffing to enact emergency plans and will allow further coordination with state and federal agencies. Governor Josh Stein has also declared a State of Emergency for North Carolina.

County Closures

To help keep employees and community members safe, Buncombe County Parks will close Friday at 5 p.m., and all libraries and parks will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 24. The landfill and transfer station will be open on Saturday, but only from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Mountain Mobility will also stop operations beginning Saturday at 12 p.m. and will remain closed through Sunday.

Shelters

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, Buncombe County will open three shelters in coordination with the Red Cross. Once these shelters open, they can be accessed at any time.

Swannanoa: Hearts with Hands, 850 Warren Wilson Road
Northwest Buncombe: Erwin High gymnasium, 60 Lees Creek Road, Asheville
South Buncombe: Reuters YMCA, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville

At Friday’s briefing, Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director David Sweat shared key details about shelters. Each shelter will have a generator to ensure continuity of operations. Hearts with Hands will provide meals to those individuals who are sheltering. Because of respiratory illnesses circulating in the community including measles, nurses will be providing health screenings. These are not medical shelters and cannot administer medical care. Shelters will also serve as warming stations, and people accessing shelter locations are not required to stay overnight.

Residents should come prepared with the following items:

Changes of clothes
Blankets and pillows
Toiletries
Snacks
Chargers
Prescriptions
Therapy animals only (at this time, we cannot allow pets)

Code Purple remains activated increasing hours and access to shelters for our unhoused neighbors. Get more information about Code Purple shelters here.

If you are currently in isolation due to measles exposure, we cannot allow you to enter our shelters. If you are experiencing symptoms of measles – a splotchy rash that starts on your face, high fever, cough, and red itchy eyes – call your medical provider before going into any facility. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses and can linger in the air for two hours after a single cough. Please seek accommodation at a motel with exterior-facing entry points and bring food that can be easily prepared in rooms. HHS staff who conducted the contact tracing can help assist individuals in isolation get connected to lodging.

Cooperating Hotels

Aside from therapy animals, pets are not allowed in shelters, but there are many hotels that allow pets. Explore Asheville is working with Buncombe County and the local lodging community to support residents during this winter weather emergency. Many local hotels have identified rooms for residents in need, with many recommending that residents call the property directly. Many hotels are providing “snow rates” for locals seeking shelter. For more information and the full list of cooperating hotels, visit www.exploreasheville.com/winter-weather-alert. If you choose to go to a hotel, bring food that can easily be prepared in your room. Food delivery services will likely not be accessible. It is important to note that hotels may also experience power outages if they don’t have access to generators.

Storm Preparation Reminders

At the briefing, Buncombe County Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole shared how important it is to take this storm seriously. Residents should gather enough food and water on hand for several days, ensure any prescriptions are filled, and make plans for power loss. Residents should not attempt to drive on ice, even with four-wheel drive vehicles. Roads could be impassable, even with salting efforts. Our roads must stay clear for first responders and road crews to work. Cole emphasized the duration of freezing conditions and community members should plan to remain in one place for several days over the weekend. If you have to go outside, watch for the signs of hypothermia. Never attempt to walk on frozen bodies of water.

Check in on your neighbors, especially elderly or more vulnerable neighbors. Resources to help residents prepare, including a list of important phone numbers and supplies that help during an emergency, are available at www.buncombeready.org. Do not use 911 to ask general questions. Text or call 911 only for emergencies.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Update

David Uchiyama with the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) shared updates about road preparations and conditions. “This storm has our attention. Our most important message is stay off the roads,” Uchiyama said. Interstates I-40, I-26, I-240 have all been salted and NCDOT is moving on to preparing other roads. Crews are working 24/7 across Western North Carolina. If you must drive, check DriveNC.gov for current road conditions and hazards.

In the City of Asheville, park vehicles off roadways after 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 to allow snowplows to operate throughout the weekend as needed. City of Asheville parking decks will be open and free beginning Friday at 5 p.m. to encourage residents to park off city streets. Learn more about parking availability here. County parking garages are being used for staging and will not offer free public parking.

Trusted Sources

County officials urge residents to trust verified sources for news and updates. Between AI-generated content, hobby meteorologists, and accounts that benefit from spreading misinformation, there can be confusion especially online.

Stay informed

For updates and critical information, visit www.buncombeready.org or follow our social media channels. Buncombe County will not host any community briefings over the weekend, so look to our municipal partners and agencies like the NC Department of Transportation directly for updates. Due to a targeted cyber-attack suffered by the vendor, Buncombe County is unable to send emergency alerts at this time, and community members cannot sign up for Code Red/BCAlerts. The county is working with the City of Asheville to send messages and updates via AVLAlert. Community members will still receive critical life-safety messaging via IPAWS or “reverse 911” with no need to sign up.