(AGENPARL) – ven 11 ottobre 2024 Issued: Oct 11, 2024 (1:11pm EDT)
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EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Joins Bipartisan North Carolina Leaders to
Support Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Yesterday, October 10, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency 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 reinforced the Biden-Harris 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. “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 day’s 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. 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.
For more information on EPA’s ongoing Hurricane Helene response efforts
visit EPA’s Hurricane Helene Response landing page.
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