Hurricane Irma Preparedness
Editor's Note: This page has been updated as of Friday, September 8th at 11:30a.m.
Town staff continues to watch the forecast for Hurricane Irma and the resulting impact it may have here locally. The latest update from the National Hurricane Center (link below) shows Irma as a tropical depression just northwest of Atlanta at approximately 8am on Tuesday morning. These most recent modelings still have Biltmore Forest and Buncombe County in the cone of uncertainty where the storm may go, but certainly these forecasts are indicating that impacts may be lessened. Please continue to monitor local news agencies and the National Weather Service information systems to stay on top of the storm's movement and progression over the weekend.
An important note: if you have an emergency during this storm event or at any time, please dial 911! The Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center will be fully operational and they will have quicker access to sending out exactly what service may be necessary for your emergency. Calling the local police department number for Biltmore Forest may result in an unintended or unnecessary delay in assistance.
Preparedness Update
Public works crews remain prepared for the storm, and have cleared storm drains, fueled all vehicles and equipment (chainsaws, other small engine apparatuses), and generally are ready to move quickly if needed. Our crews will be available and on-call throughout the event. Similarly, the Police Department is preparing for the event by fueling all vehicles, preparing road blockades/barriers, and having standby reserve officers available during the heaviest portion of the storm.
Helpful Links
You may find the links below useful as you prepare for the storm as well. The biggest thing to remember is to be prepared. The ReadyNC website below has a guide for emergency kits and proper ways to prepare for the storm.
National Weather Service (GSP) Severe Weather Briefing Page
National Hurricance Center (Irma Specific Page)
Each of the above websites should update in real time as changes are made to the modeling and forecasts for the storm. It is recommended that you also download the ReadyNC app from the Apple Store or Google Play for your mobile devices. This application will provide updated storm reports as well as road conditions and other emergency information.