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Buncombe County details 49-project Preparedness Action Plan after Tropical Storm Helene
Summary
Sam Kirk of Buncombe County's Communications and Public Engagement team summarized progress on the Preparedness Action Plan developed after Tropical Storm Helene: 49 high-level projects, 200+ action items, uneven progress across nine categories, and 61% completion reported for EOC staffing.
Sam Kirk, of Buncombe County's Communications and Public Engagement team, provided an update on the county's Preparedness Action Plan, a component of the broader Helene Recovery Plan developed after Tropical Storm Helene. He said the county created 49 high-level projects and more than 200 individual action items from an after-action review of the storm.
Kirk said projects were prioritized by urgency and likely impact: "High priority projects began last year, medium priority items started earlier this year, and lower priority items will begin soon." He described work organized into nine major categories and said progress varies by area.
On Emergency Operations Center work, Kirk said the county is strengthening emergency plans, job aids, communication tools and facility function. He reported EOC operations work is "nearly halfway complete" and that "EOC staffing is the most advanced category with 61% of its work finished, including updated staffing plans and expanded training."
Kirk said public safety communications, including 911, are developing redundancy and backup systems "to keep emergency communications functioning during a crisis." He also said community resource support efforts are focused on improving how the county manages donations, volunteers and warehouse operations.
Several medium-priority categories remain in earlier stages; Kirk listed shelter operations, family reunification, non-emergency call center improvements and damage assessment as examples. He noted that in some cases action items are at 0% while county partners finalize direction and roles.
Kirk framed the Preparedness Action Plan as a long-term effort: "The Preparedness Action Plan remains a long term effort designed to ensure Buncombe County is better equipped, better coordinated, and more resilient when the next major emergency occurs." He emphasized meaningful progress on high-priority items but said substantial work remains on the overall plan.
