In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread damage in western North Carolina, several Union County departments have mobilized to provide disaster relief assistance and stand ready to assist when called upon by North Carolina Emergency Management. Union County Emergency Management is coordinating county resources to support the recovery efforts, deploying personnel, equipment, and other vital aid as needed to help affected communities. Assistance includes:

• Union County Sheriff's Office has deployed eight deputies, a mobile command bus, several specialty vehicles and a drone operator to Buncombe County to assist with search and rescue missions and patrol duties.
• Emergency Communications telecommunicators assisting with answering 911 calls from some impacted areas and helping coordinate emergency response efforts.
• A crew of 10 Union County Water technicians are assisting with repairs to water and wastewater infrastructure in the Asheville area. 
• Union County Water staff delivered a generator to the Town of Clyde in Haywood County to borrow indefinitely.
• Approximately 25 Social Services team members are deploying to assist with emergency evacuee shelter operations. Other Social Services staff members will be assisting virtually with Disaster SNAP and Medicaid applications.
• Five Environmental Health specialists are pending deployment to assist with food, lodging and institutional facility inspections, as well as inspections of private drinking wells and septic systems. 
• One Public Health nurse is pending deployment to assist in response efforts.
• A Public Communications team member is awaiting deployment information to assist with sharing critical information with the public in affected areas.
• Several Union County Water employees will work in the State's Emergency Operations Center, fielding requests from local governments & water utilities in western NC, documenting their needs, issuing requests for assistance across the state, and following up to make connections; 
• Several departments are coordinating donation efforts including Human Services, Cooperative Extension, Emergency Management, Union County Library, and the Sheriff's Office.

Additionally, some county employees have requested and been approved to use paid time off to volunteer with community organizations providing much needed relief. 

Multiple fire departments in Union County have deployed firefighters to fill critical roles in search and rescue operations. 

"Our Emergency Management team has worked extensively the last several days to identify resources that can assist western North Carolina," said County Manager Brian Matthews. "We are fortunate to have employees who have readily volunteered to help our neighbors in need."

In addition to personnel and equipment, the county is prepared to offer additional support as the situation evolves. The coordinated response effort will continue as the full impact of Tropical Storm Helene becomes clearer, with our departments ready to step in wherever assistance is required.

For those looking to contribute to disaster relief efforts, visit our UC Cares webpage. We strongly encourage residents to coordinate with official organizations to ensure donations align with the needs of the affected areas.

Union County Water has loaned a generator to the Town of Clyde to assist in their ongoing recovery efforts.

Yancey County's 911 calls are being temporarily routed to Union County's 911 Emergency Communications Center.