Last Updated on October 13, 2024 2:55 pm
We are 2 weeks out from what I now know to be DR-4827-NC, which is the official disaster designation number for the damage left behind by Helene. As quick as the storm moved out, our community entered full recovery mode. Contractors, business owners and private individuals have all rushed to the opportunity to help our area. (Pic above: Washed out road to the Wastewater Treatment Plant)
With the enormous help of volunteers, The Historic Banner Elk School has become a resource center for the distribution of not only food and water but most any other need our community could ask for including heat sources. Daily hot meals are also available. Information on this and other updates can be found at www.bannerelk.com/help. This is the Banner Elk Tourism Development Authority website. I am sure many people are also using the Visit Banner Elk Facebook page for additional timely updates.
Over the last week we have made progress on our first phase of infrastructure repairs. Eggers Construction has rebuilt the road below the dam from the Mill Pond to the sewer plant. This will allow for the repair of the washed-out sewer main to begin this week. Other damaged sewer system collection lines have been identified and repair work on those will also begin. A contractor has been doing extensive cleaning to remove debris from other main sewer lines all week and a second crew will join in that work Monday.
We have run several of our wells to begin flushing lines and identifying areas in need of repair. We will be pumping water at times, but this is not for the purpose of providing water to residents. If at any time you find that you have water, it should not be considered safe to drink and at a minimum would require it to be boiled. We will give notice to users at the point we are ready to provide drinking water. As the main sewer trunklines are ready, we will be able to begin restoring water pressure. The water will be restored in phases as it comes back on. We will provide more information on this as we approach that point.
Our timeline remains to be known but we make progress each day. We have engaged a firm from Wilmington, NC to assist us with the work we are doing. They specifically bring to us a background in Public Assistance and Disaster Recovery. They will give us access to professionals in the world of FEMA from funding reimbursement to engineering services and utility work experience. Various members of their staff have been in Town over the last week. They have offered invaluable help already, and some of the insight they have given is reassurance that our planning, direction and reaction to our damage has been appropriate, and we have made huge strides in our recovery from where we were 2 weeks ago.
As we concentrate on sewer and water, we continue our assessment of all Town infrastructure and facilities. This includes roads, bridges, culverts, the park, buildings, etc. Inspections of all these things are being done and repairs planned. Many of these will be temporary and everyone needs to continue to use caution.
I no longer see this as a storm, but as an event. An event that has forever changed our lives, our landscape, our tree lines and our creeks and rivers. However, as we rebuild, I believe DR-4827-NC will someday only symbolize how strong a community we are.
Thank you to all the businesses and individuals that are helping to hold our community tight.
Rick Owen
Manager, Town of Banner Elk
