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Avery County review finds critical emergency-management gaps after Tropical Storm Helene
Summary
A county after-action review found widespread damage during Tropical Storm Helene and identified critical gaps in emergency staffing, communications and pre-positioning of resources; the Board directed follow-up planning steps. The presentation cited 22.85 inches of rain recorded locally and listed six confirmed fatalities and one missing person in Avery County.
Avery County's emergency management After Action Review for Tropical Storm Helene, presented Oct. 6, concluded that while community resilience and interagency partnerships aided response, significant gaps limited effectiveness and must be addressed before the next major event.
Presenter Tommy Batson summarized the storm and its local impacts: Helene (Sept. 26'29, 2024) struck the state as a Category 4 storm and produced record flooding, landslides and wind damage. Batson said the county recorded 22.85 inches of rain, had six confirmed fatalities and one person missing; at the storm's peak state-maintained roads were closed, county facilities flooded, power and cellular service were out, and critical communications infrastructure (VHF and VIPER towers) lost functionality.
The review credited strong local response and interagency cooperation but listed several operational shortfalls: inadequate emergency-management staffing to sustain 24-hour Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operations; inconsistent communications with fire departments, 911 and the public; failure to pre-position outside resources such as Swiftwater Rescue Teams, incident management teams, additional EMS crews, heavy equipment and fuel; and insufficient training for county personnel to fill EOC roles. Batson recommended creating a storm preparedness checklist for county departments and partners, identifying resource needs and contracts in advance, restructuring the emergency management office separate from the County Fire Marshal's office, and conducting regular mock events and standard operating guidelines for major incidents.
Commissioners responded that some recommended investments would require budgeting for resources that may be used infrequently but are necessary for catastrophic events. The board did not take immediate budget action at the meeting; the presentation framed next steps around planning, training, and potential future appropriation requests.
