U.S. EPA administrator joins North Carolina leaders to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan joined North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Senator Thom Tillis, Congressman Chuck Edwards, Asheville Mayor Esther E. Manheimer and local officials in Asheville, North Carolina, to assess federal and state recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Helene.

The Administrator’s visit on October 10, 2024, reinforced the current administration’s ongoing support for communities affected by Hurricane Helene, with a focus on the work to restore access to safe, clean drinking water in impacted communities.

“Together with our federal and state partners here in North Carolina, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to restoring essential services for the communities affected by Hurricane Helene as soon as possible,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a press release. “EPA is on the ground in full force to ensure that everyone has access to safe, reliable drinking water, while supporting other state-led efforts to pick up the pieces and rebuild. As President Biden has made clear, we will continue to be here for as long as it takes.”

The tour included key operational sites, beginning at the EPA Mobile Command Center in Lake Junaluska. The command center serves as a hub for directing on-the-ground response activities and coordinating field data to assist local decision-makers.

Administrator Regan also visited the EPA Mobile Drinking Water Lab in Asheville, an ISO-accredited lab essential for providing rapid drinking water analyses. Capable of testing 100 samples per day, the lab supports swift recovery by confirming water safety for communities impacted by the storm.

The EPA is encouraging residents with private wells to reach out to local and state health officials for testing kits, with EPA standing by to run tests and provide confidence in these drinking water sources.

The visit concluded at the North Fork Water Treatment Plant, where Administrator Regan joined Governor Cooper, Senator Tillis, Congressman Edwards and other officials to tour the facility’s progress in getting back online and answer questions from reporters. The plant, critical to Asheville’s water infrastructure, is receiving expert EPA technical assistance to expedite restoration efforts.

EPA encourages residents to prioritize safety, adhere to local advisories, and stay updated on recovery information through official channels.

EPA’s ongoing efforts to support recovery from Hurricane Helene include:

• Monitoring Water Quality: EPA teams are actively working with local agencies to monitor water quality in affected areas. Mobile water labs are deployed to test for contaminants, enabling rapid analysis and guiding advisories for the public. Since the beginning of October, EPA, its state partners and local utilities have made significant progress bringing drinking water and wastewater systems back online, including restoring service to more than 75 drinking water systems that serve approximately 260,000 people in the Asheville area.

• Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Support: EPA is coordinating with state environmental protection authorities to ensure the same disposal of storm debris and the identification of hazardous substances to prevent contamination. Since clean-up efforts began, EPA has collected more than 500 containers with oil, hazardous materials or propane. 

• Technical Assistance for Infrastructure Recovery: EPA personnel are offering technical guidance to local water operators, supporting efforts to restore and maintain drinking water systems and other essential services safely.

• Public Health Protection Measures: In collaboration with CDC guidance and local health authorities, EPA is helping to advise residents on precautions to prevent waterborne illnesses, emphasizing the importance of following local boil water advisories and staying informed through local health updates.