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Black Mountain sets up daily briefings and a distribution center; power, water and sewage repairs may take weeks
Summary
Town officials said power and water restoration timelines are uncertain, the French Broad sewage plant is non-operable, and a distribution center at Eng Les will provide drinking water and supplies daily; officials urged patience and volunteer support.
Black Mountain — Town officials said on a community call that restoring utilities will take weeks and that residents should use central distribution points for water and supplies while repairs proceed.
Town Manager Josh Harold said the town is working with utility partners and that power was returning gradually "down the mountain" and in nearby Fletcher but that the town did not have a precise timetable. "We are hopeful within the coming weeks," Harold said, adding that the town depends in part on a North Fork Reservoir system that currently has major breaks.
Public Works Director Jamie Matthews said water is the most critical issue and that the department—15 staff across sanitation, parks, streets and water—is prioritizing potable water delivery. Matthews said teams have identified several water breaks and that out‑of‑state crews and equipment are arriving; officials announced a portable water distribution plan and said they expect 100 people with equipment to arrive the following day. Matthews said the town will provide one gallon per person where portable water is distributed.
Officials reported the French Broad sewage plant is "totally destroyed" and non‑operable; they cautioned residents about potential backups but said city sewer users are unlikely to see widespread backing up unless there is a local break. Garbage pickup is being suspended in some areas until roads are safe; the town plans to place dumpsters for residents rather than run collection trucks on unstable roads.
A distribution center will operate at Eng Les daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to hand out drinking water, food and supplies as they arrive. A volunteer who spoke at the briefing said a partner group will bring 30,000 gallons of water and provide up to 5,000 meals a day at an assembly site the next day. Officials asked residents to consult the town Facebook page and the Visitors Center information point for updates and volunteer coordination.
