Hurricane Helene Update: A Community Taps into Safe, Drinkable Water

On a cloudless day in late October, clear water flowed from a tap outside the Smith Mill Works in Asheville, N.C. A steady stream of people filled containers of all sizes – from jars to a 5-gallon jugs – with water to take home for drinking and bathing – and peace of mind.

Only weeks earlier, most people in and around Asheville, N.C., had no safe water: Hurricane Helene dumped as much as 30 inches of rain, rivers overflowed their banks and rushing brown torrents washed away cars, homes and even roads. Key parts of Asheville’s municipal water systems were ruined, and countless wells were fouled by the flood waters.

Within days of the storm, Americares delivered two truckloads of bottled water donated by BlueTriton Brands and partnered with Planet Water Foundation and local organizations to identify locations for and install four AquaBlock water filtration systems. Together, the AquaBlocks that, together, can provide up to 17,000 gallons of safe drinking water a day for thousands of hurricane survivors in Buncombe County.

The AquaBlocks filled an urgent need. “It was a big relief,” says Jerome, a hurricane survivor with two children, ages 6 and 3, “especially for it to be within a mile and a half from our home.”

Having clean water at hand makes the basics of life easier, especially for families who were cut off from critical resources. “Not having power and water was a big adjustment at first,” says Jerome. “It was a lot just to try to figure things out – the hand washing, food prep, bathing, cleaning and hygiene. So, it’s been a challenge to try to navigate through that.” Now, instead of driving around to find quantities of clean water at relief centers, Jerome and other survivors can access the four AquaBlocks installed by Americares and Planet Water.

After the storm, local building company JAG & Associates Construction began hauling water from sources to communities and secured a location for one of the AquaBlocks installed by Americares and Planet Water.

“When the opportunity arose to connect with Americares, it seemed like a no-brainer to set up something that’s localized, like the the AquaBlock from Planet Water,” says Rob Johnson, co-owner, JAG & Associates Construction, based in Asheville, N.C. “I have so much gratitude for Americares and Planet Water for connecting with us locally, for searching out people that can be the boots on the ground to make this happen. So, I just want to say thank you.”