Full Notification

McDowell County 911 Administrative Lines Restored Following Fiber Cut
The recent fiber cut that caused a disruption to administrative lines at McDowell County 911 Communications has been successfully resolved, and all administrative lines are now operational. For any non-emergency needs related to 911 services, citizens are encouraged to call 828-659-2241. Multiple administrative lines are available for specific purposes, and any of these may be used as needed. For direct contact with McDowell County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or any needs related to Hurricane Helene, please continue to call 828-652-3241.

Ongoing Debris Removal Efforts in McDowell County
As of the end of the workday on November 1, AshBritt has collected 3,053 cubic yards of debris in the Town of Old Fort. To put this in perspective, that's enough to fill approximately 150 standard dump trucks, each holding around 20 cubic yards of material. Nine trucks are currently dedicated to storm debris removal in McDowell County, operating daily with additional resources planned to join in the coming days and weeks. The primary focus remains on the Town of Old Fort, one of the hardest-hit areas, while McDowell County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand removal efforts to other communities in the near future. William Kehler, Director of Emergency Services, emphasized the impact this operation is having in Old Fort: "As debris continues to be cleared from heavily impacted areas, we’re seeing hope restored for residents and businesses in Old Fort. This progress is a crucial step forward in our community’s journey to recovery." Residents are reminded to place storm debris within 10 feet of the right-of-way on both primary and secondary roads to ensure it can be safely accessed and collected. Multiple passes will be made along every DOT right-of-way to ensure thorough removal, and residents may notice different trucks collecting various types of debris. Please note that bagged household trash will not be collected by the contracted storm debris teams and should be handled through the usual waste disposal services. For residents on secondary roads in McDowell County, you can confirm whether a road is managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) by visiting the NCDOT road lookup tool at apps.ncdot.gov/srlookup/. This tool, provided by NCDOT as a courtesy, allows you to check road classifications; however, please note that while every effort has been made to ensure data accuracy, the site should be used for reference purposes only. For further assistance, please call the Helene Hotline at 828-652-3241.

Top 5 Reasons for Not Getting Approved by FEMA and What You Can Do About It
If FEMA says you are ineligible for assistance, it is not a denial. Often, you may need to send more information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue reviewing your application for financial assistance. The best way to send documents to FEMA Uploading your documents online is the fastest and easiest way to send them to us. Download the FEMA App or access the site directly by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov. Appeal your decision If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, you may appeal in any of the following ways: Online: If you set up an online account, appeals can be managed this way. Visit DisasterAssistance.gov, log into your account and upload all supporting documents using the correspondence tab and select "Upload Center." In-Person: Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Be sure to bring your documents. Mail: Send your documents to: FEMA - Individuals & Households Program National Processing Service Center P.O. Box 10055 Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055 Fax: Send your appeal documents to: (800) 827-8112 Attention: FEMA - Individuals & Households Program Need help? Stay in touch with FEMA Visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you. To locate a recovery center, go to fema.gov/drc. You may also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Support for Local Farms Continues
The Cooperative Extension remains committed to supporting our local farms, providing essential resources like animal feed, hay, and fencing assistance while supplies last. Starting November 1, these supplies will be available by appointment only. To schedule a pickup, please call 828-652-8104 and connect with a staff member. A heartfelt thanks to the Cooperative Extension, NC Department of Agriculture, and the US National Guard for their dedication and hard work in assisting our farming community during this challenging time.

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