Updates and Resources | Veterans Affairs (2024)

• Veterans Crisis Line: www.veteranscrisisline.net. Call 988 (Press 1). Text 838255
• National Suicide Prevention Line:www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat
• Women Veterans Call Center:www.womenshealth.va.gov. Call
• Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program: www.socialwork.va.gov/IPV. National Domestic Violence Hotline:
• VA Caregiver Support Line: www.caregiver.va.gov Call
• Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-
• Red Cross Asheville:

• UseHome | disasterassistance.gov to find immediate assistance in your city or county.
• Complete this questionnaireFind Assistance | disasterassistance.gov to get the most accurate list of types of assistance available to you.
• View these resourcesEmergency Shelter | disasterassistance.gov to find emergency shelter.
• Locate the nearest open Red Cross Shelter:Disaster Shelters | Find Shelters | American Red Cross
• For additional updates related Helene please visit: Hurricane Helene | FEMA.gov
• Use the Disaster Recovery Center Locator to learn about disaster assistance programs:DRC Locator (fema.gov)

• Call the Helene Hotline at
• Family Assistance Center: If you make contact with your loved one, you should notify the Family Assistance Center by email: buncombesearch@gmail.com The phone number for information is

• All appointments for Friday, Oct. 4, has been cancelled at the main facility and Forest City VA Clinic.
• The CBOCs in Franklin and Hickory will operate as scheduled.
• Patients have been notified via VetText and phone, with rescheduling efforts underway.
• Staff are prioritizing the needs of high-risk and vulnerable patients.

• Veterans can visit the Asheville VA Hospital Pharmacy or call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at 855-679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives.

• Veterans Crisis Line: www.veteranscrisisline.net. Call 988 (Press 1). Text 838255
• Staff are triaging the needs of patients, prioritizing those who are high-risk and vulnerable.

• Asheville employees and VISN 6 support have sent VetTexts to all critically vulnerable patients and are actively communicating and addressing their immediate needs.

• Staff care for patients in our Community Living Center, Hospice, and inpatient units. Despite operating on generator power, patients receive proper nutrition, hydration, and comfortable living conditions.

• They can seek services at any VA facility by contacting a local Traveling Veteran Coordinator at 1- (press 0) or calling the VISN 6 Clinical Contact Center at 1- for guidance.
• Veterans can use their Urgent Care Benefit; learn more at VA Urgent Care Resources.
• In an emergency, go to the nearest Emergency Room or call 911. Veterans can report emergency care by calling or the VISN 6 Clinical Contact Center at 1-.

• The main hospital power has been restored.
• The emergency room remains open.
• All appointments canceled through Friday October 4th.
• Our computer system is coming back online, and internet service is gradually returning to the medical center.
• Duke Power is actively working to restore power to the main facility.
• Currently, the Charles George VA Medical Center is operational for essential and emergency services.

• The infrastructure is operational, with power, internet, phone, and water available.
• Hickory VA Clinic is fully operational.

• The infrastructure is operational with power but no internet or phone capabilities.
• All appointments canceled through Friday October 4th.
• The site is assessing staff safety and the ability to return to normal appointment status.

• The infrastructure is operational, with power, internet, phone, and water available.
• Franklin VA Clinic is fully operational.

• Map of useful information
• Misc Resource Map
• Helicopter Relief Operations: Supplies and Flight Assistancesolutions@totalflight.com
• Carolina Emergency Response Team Operation Rotor Blade has 12 helicopters
• CAJUN NAVY 833.225.8616
• JAARS (Helicopters)
• Official resources and FAQ
• NC Relief GoFundMe
• BPR How To Help WNC Victims
• Buncombe Ready
• Horseshoe Farm in Hendersonvilleis helping with search and rescue operation

• Citizen Vinyl
• Moxy Hotel
• The Plug Shop
• Center for Craft
• Patton Ave Pet Co
• Mosaic Cafe in Biltmore Park
• Waynesville Lowe's
• North Asheville Library

Operating Pharmacies in Counties Affected by Hurricane Helene

NC Board of Pharmacy staff have received notice that the following pharmacies in Western North Carolina are operating and serving patients. We will continue posting updates as we receive them.

• EmergencyOperatingPharmaciesHelene (ncbop.org)

CVS locations that are open:

• Smokey Park HWY Asheville, NC 28806
• Asheville HWY Brevard, NC 28712
• Spartanburg HWY, Hendersonville, NC 28792
• Hendersonville Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732
• Russ Ave, Waynesville, NC 28786
• Long Shoals Rd Arden, NC 28704
• Free Emergency Prescription refills through Pardee, Fleming St, Hendersonville, They can refill nearly everything including insulin. There will also be providers there who can see patients!

• DriveNC - Road closures

• Duke Energy power outage map
• Water Boil Advisories

• WNC Agricultural Center (Davis Building, Gate 5)
• Hotels accepting locals
• Code Purple shelter for single men: Veteran’s Restoration Quarters, 1329 Tunnel Road, Asheville 28805 -
• Code Purple shelter for single women and women with children: Transformation Village, 30 Olin Haven Way, Asheville 28806 -

• October 1 Animal Hospital North Asheville is open starting at 9am (no end time posted) for “urgent med pickup, urgent Rx food pickup, animal first aid, and euthanasia services should they be needed” They say to stay in your car and a staff member will come to you. Urgent requests only
• Bright vet will also be open 10-2 through at least Friday, Airport Rd, Arden. All appointments will be walk-in only as we currently have no way to schedule. We are not providing preventive care services such as routine vaccines, boosters, etc at this time. We are prioritizing urgent care cases and can refill some prescriptions.

Grocery Stores

• Publix on Hendersonville Road is open and reportedly has water
• Black Mountain Ingles is open - cash only
• Sam's Club on Patton is open
• Whole Foods on Tunnel and Merrimon is open
• Ingles on Charlotte Highway is open
• WNC Farmers Market on Brevard Rd has tons of food, in particular produce. No lines and they have power. Most vendors are cash only. But this is a great alternative to grocery stores.

• Black Mountain Ingles distributing supplies, unclear if they’re free or not
• Carolina Day School, Hendersonville Rd, Asheville will be distributing water from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week.
• Manna Food Bank giving out food 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM in two locations:
  • 10AM-12PM - Southwestern Community College-Swain Campus Almond School Rd. Bryson City
  • 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Aston Park Towers, S French Broad Avenue, Asheville
• PVA, Deaverview, or Hillcrest apartments, water is being distributed at the community centers. They will have Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner will be handed out at these times:
  • Breakfast: 10:00 am
  • Lunch: 12:00 pm
  • Dinner: 6:00 pm
• Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC 28804, 9am
  • water, toilet paper, toothpaste, canned goods, non-perishable food, etc.
• Groce Methodist Church on Tunnel Road in East Asheville is handing out warm meals 2PM to whenever they run out each day
• Weaverville Community Center Supplies Distribution 10am - 2pm every day
• Supplies at Hominy Baptist on 10/3

Emergency foodassistancestationsare active in impacted counties— providing meals, nonperishable food, water, andbasic necessities to local residents.

• Ashe County– Westwood Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School
• Buncombe County– UNC-Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Tech Ferguson, WNC Ag. Center, Asheville-Buncombe Tech Conference Center, Biltmore Baptist Church, The Greens at Weaverville, Fletcher Nursing and Rehabilitation.
• Catawba County– Catawba Valley Community College Tarlton Complex
• Henderson County– First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Greens at Hendersonville
• Madison County– Madison County Cooperative Extension Service
• McDowell County– Nebo Crossing Church, Grace Community Church
• Mitchell County– First Baptist Spruce Pine
• Polk County– Polk County High School
• Rowan County– Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA
• Watauga County– Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Zionville VFD, Foscoe Christian Church, Watauga EOC, Holmes Convocation Center, Meat Camp Road, Town of Boone PD, First Baptist Boone.

• BeLoved Asheville - 32 Old Charlotte Highway. Providing water, food, diapers, and baby formula. Spanish-speaking volunteers are available.
• Carolina Day School - 1345 Hendersonville Road. Water distribution from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each person can receive six bottles or one gallon of water. Distribution will continue until supplies run out, said police.
• Manna Food Bank – distributing diapers, toddler and baby formula at the WNC Farmers Market. MANNA FoodBank's Headquarters at 627 Swannanoa River Rd is closed indefinitely due to flood damage.
• Woodland Baptist Church (545 Crabtree Rd, Waynesville) – Baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, hygiene products. Hours: 9am – 6 pm
• Bethel Elementary School (4700 Old River Rd, Canton) – Baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, hygiene products. Hours: 9am – 6 pm
• Jonathan Valley Elementary School (410 Hall Dr, Waynesville) – Baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, hygiene products. Hours: 9am – 6 pm
• The Diaper Bank of North Carolinais collecting diapers, period products, bottles and formula. VisitDistribution Network — Diaper Bank of North Carolina - Diapers and Period Supplies (ncdiaperbank.org)

• Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collectiveprovides funds and assistance to those seeking an abortion in Asheville and surrounding areas. Visit:MAADCo (mtnabortiondoula.co)

• Business and school closures
• For non-emergency situations such as downed trees, debris, powerline concerns, call City of Asheville at:
• DIY guides for post-flood cleanup
• Facebook group that is organizing help and requests
• Google Doc for missing people