We're getting our first look at the devastation in Western NC, what officials are now calling "Buncombe County's own Hurricane Katrina."
County Emergency Management held a press conference this afternoon, calling the damage "biblical." Here's what we learned:
Eric Miller
1,012 posts
Anchor and Reporter for WRAL based in Raleigh, NC. Hiking nut, coffee fiend and political junkie. Former reporter @WDBJ7, @eNCA, @MedillontheHill, @NNN_News
Raleigh, NC
Joined October 2014
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- No official death toll yet, and no names are being released. Recovery of bodies is still ongoing. Asheville PD is going door to door in some areas, doing welfare checks - Cell providers say it will be "several days" before service is restored, no solid timeline yet
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- Looting is now an ongoing issue. Some arrests have been made. A curfew goes into effect at 7:30pm - Landslides and water rescues are still happening today. There have been 150 rescues and counting in Buncombe alone
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- There's currently only one major way in and out of Asheville. That's via I-26 to the South - Water infrastructure has been severely damaged. Crews are now trying to reconstruct portions of the system. Those that do have water are under a boil water advisory
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- Emergency food and water supplies haven't arrived yet. Once they do, the county will establish distribution locations - Shelters: WNC Ag center is at capacity (400 individuals). Asheville Tech just opened as a shelter and is taking people now
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- Shelters (cont'd): If you have pets you want sheltered with you you can still go to the WNC Ag center and they will make arrangements for you
- Replying to @EricMillerNews- Another presser will be held 10am tomorrow (Sunday) via FB Live
- Itโs sticking to the road outside PNC Arena in Raleigh. I wonder if the concession stand has bread and milk? ๐คโ๏ธ
- Ashevilleโs river arts district - one of the cultural hearts of the NC mountains, and a major tourist draw - is gone
- Howโs this for a change of scenery! Raleigh Convention Centerโs shimmer wall is showing off after a major upgrade tonight @WRAL
00:00 - Latest from Buncombe County, NC : - The death toll now stands at at least 35 - More than 1,000 reports of missing people - Distribution of food and water will finally begin, four days after thousands lost power and water
- When you've got a day off, might as well wait for cheap gas? Here's the line outside one Sheetz in Durham - people are waiting 40+ minutes to fill up at $1.776 a gallon
00:00 - BREAKING: Rutherford Co Sheriffโs office makes an arrest in threats to FEMA workers, but says there were no โtruck loads of militiaโ









