The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 27, 2025, that the agency has completed its work supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local health departments with hurricane response efforts in western North Carolina.
“EPA is proud to have been part of western North Carolina’s recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Kevin McOmber in a press release. “In collaboration with federal, state and local partners, we were able to prevent discharges of hazardous pollutants into the environment and help get drinking water restored.”
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited western North Carolina in February 2025 to assess damage caused by Helene.
According to the EPA, response included:
- Removing and processing more than 1,700 orphan containers of oil, propane and other hazardous materials from land and waterways at the request of FEMA and NC DEQ. EPA worked with the Asheville Fire Department swift water rescue team and hired local rafting guides to help retrieve containers from the French Broad River.
- Testing over 1,500 samples from private wells at EPA mobile water testing labs in Buncombe and Watauga counties.
- Working with the NC DEQ and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess the storm’s damage to more than 250 drinking water and wastewater systems.
- Providing technical guidance to local water operators, supporting efforts to restore and maintain drinking water systems and other essential services, and assisting the City of Asheville Water Resources Department in restoring drinking water service to 150,000 people in the Asheville area.
- Advising residents on the importance of following local boil water advisories to prevent waterborne illnesses, in accordance with CDC guidelines and in partnership with local health departments.
