Information For Residents

^{(Updated 7:40AM 03/21) Additional information can be found on the Madison County website}.

Latest News

Burn Ban Issued for NC

Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, until further notice. The ban prohibits all open burning in all 100 counties in this instance.

Town Hall

Town Hall offices are now located at the Hot Springs Community Center (43 N. Andrews Ave). Town Hall Meetings are now held the SECOND MONDAY of each month at 6:00PM.

Updated hours at the Donation Center

Donations pickups are located at the Hot Springs First Baptist Church (35 Meadow Ln).

Hours for pickup at the First Baptist Church will be:
Tuesday: 2:00PM-5:00PM
Thursday: 2:00PM-5:00PM
Saturday: 2:00PM-5:00PM

Assistance

Request Volunteers

Please fill out the Google Form linked here. It will ask for your information, where you are located, and a brief summary of your needs. As volunteers come in from outside areas, we may use this information to have them help you if and when possible.

Grant Opportunities

Grant resources shared by SBA’s Public Information Officer:
US Grants – https://www.usgrants.org/sign-up
Mountain Bizworks – https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene/
SBTDC – https://sbtdc.org/hurricane-helene
NC.GOV – https://www.nc.gov/your-government/all-nc-state-services/grant-opportunities
NC Dept of Agriculture – https://www.ncagr.gov/emergency-programs/disaster-information
Global Empowerment Mission – https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/

FEMA Disaster Assistance

FEMA’s Individual Assistance Deadline Extended: The deadline in NC (4827-DR-NC) is now April 07, 2025. Governor Josh Stein announced that FEMA has granted a 30-day extension for NC Helene victims to apply for individual assistance. Find out more information at https://www.disasterassistance.gov.

Weaverville Town Hall Disaster Resource Center

Address

30 South Main Street
Weaverville, NC 28787

Click here to find a resource center near you.

Monday	8:00 AM – 6:00PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM – 6:00PM
Wednesday	10:00AM – 6:00PM
Thursday	8:00 AM – 6:00PM
Friday	8:00 AM – 6:00PM
Saturday	9:00AM – 2:00PM
Sunday	Closed

FEMA Resources:

How to appeal a FEMA decisions

Food/Supplies

New hours starting Saturday, March 08!

Donations pickups are located at the Hot Springs First Baptist Church (35 Meadow Ln).

Hours for pickup at the First Baptist Church will be:
Tuesday: 2:00PM-5:00PM
Thursday: 2:00PM-5:00PM
Saturday: 2:00PM-5:00PM

Legal Aid

Legal Aid of North Carolina is able to help residents with starting the process with FEMA benefits, applying for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and requesting Crisis Cleanup Assistance. For more information, visit https://legalaidnc.org/tropical-storm-helene-disaster-assistance.

Financial Tips

Consider turning OFF auto-pay for your bills
Consider canceling unneeded subscription services

Utilities

Water Bills

Water bills can be paid at the Town Hall offices at the Hot Springs Community Center (43 N. Andrews Ave).

Toileting

Our sewer system has taken significant damage from the flood and will be a long-term project in order to repair/rebuild. Please do not flush unless you need to flush. Do not flush wipes, diapers, or anything that doesn’t belong down the drain.

Porta-potties are available throughout town at these locations:

4 at Sara Jo’s Gas Station
1 at Hillbilly Market
1 at Welcome Center

Trash

Trash truck pickup is operating normally on Mondays.

Hot Springs collection center is operating at normal hours for household trash only.

Monday 7:30AM-6:00PM
Wednesday 7:30AM-5:30PM
Friday 7:30AM-6:00PM
Saturday 8:00AM-5:00PM

Electricity

PLEASE CONSERVE! Intermittent power ie energy until the main substation can be replaced.

Phone/Internet

Cell service has returned to the area. Frontier internet seems to be working fairly well, but home phone service has not returned.

Essential Services

School

Madison County Public Schools have resumed a normal schedule.

Mail Service

The post office is now open! Mail can be picked up in post office boxes. Packages can be picked up during operating hours.

Outgoing envelopes can be sent via the mailbox box out front. There is no package shipping service at this time.

Health

Emergencies

If you are having a medical emergency, dial 911.

Medical

Hot Springs Health Clinic is open normal business hours. Monday-Friday 9:00AM-3:00PM. Walk-ins accepted, appointments preferred. (828) 622-3245

The Hot Springs Health Program can help to fill existing prescriptions. You do not need to be a patient to be seen by them.

Mashburn and Mars Hill medical locations are open standard business hours. Walk-ins accepted, appointments preferred.

WEEKEND hours are available at MARS HILL only. Call (828) 689-3507

Saturday 9:00AM-5:00PM
Sunday 1:00PM-5:00PM

Prescriptions

Sona Pharmacy has advised that Madison County employees may call them directly regarding prescriptions and medications at 844-550-1984 or email them directly at [email protected].
Madison Pharmacy & Gifts can help with over the counter and prescription medicines. They can help with emergency and non-emergency prescriptions no matter where they were originally filled.
Prescription Pad in Weaverville is available to support through their drive-through.

The Health Department is open, including WIC services, during regular hours. Tetanus shots are available at the Health Department. Insulin is available for anyone who need it. The Dental Center is open. Phones are currently down. Please call 828-319-5222.

Mental Health

We know this has been a lot. You cannot take care of otheres if you do not take care of yourself first.

The Madison County Mental Health Support Line is at (828) 206-3290. 10:00AM-7:00PM, 7 days per week. You will be connected with a trained professional. This is not a crisis line.

If you are having a mental health emergency, call Mobile Crisis at 1-888-573-1006.

Medicaid

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working with state, federal and local partners to help North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene access needed health care. NC Medicaid has been granted additional temporary changes to help with continued care during recovery efforts.

Federal flexibilities are active statewide from Sept. 25, 2024, through the end of the Hurricane Helene Public Health Emergency declaration for North Carolina and are intended to support Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, including Cancer Centers and Long-Term Care Hospitals so that they can ensu

People can receive emergency medical treatment.
There are places to provide hospital care to people.
There are people to provide health care.
Telemedicine is available.
Hospitalized patients have continuity of care.
People can get the care they need in a long-term care or skilled nursing facility.
Acute care patients can stay longer.
Patients get the care they need in the best environment.
People with intellectual disabilities being cared for in facilities continue to receive services.
People have the medical equipment and medicine they need.

Detailed information on the flexibilities can be found in the Oct. 4, 2024, press release, Additional Temporary Flexibilities in Place for Medicaid Beneficiaries Due to Hurricane Helene Devastation.

Additional detail, including the list of waivers approved by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for North Carolina can be found in the Provider Bulletin Reminder to Providers on Hurricane Helene Approved Waivers for North Carolina issued Oct. 4, 2024.

Agriculture

Farmers/Foresters

USDA Aid

You can visit the USDA website at farmers.gov to find information about federal assistance. Programs address crop/livestock loss, non-insured crops, and small family private forest owners with debris removal and fencing help.

NC Department of Agriculture

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has activated its hotline to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline between 8:00AM-5:00PM.

For losses – Charles Zink of FSA will be in his office (296 Old Marshall Hwy, Marshall), open 8:00AM-10:00AM, for farmers who have sustained loss of crop or livestock or who have had damage to their land. Phones are not working yet. You can email Charles at [email protected]. He will have a box at his office to drop off information if you miss him. FSA applications will open 10/15/24.

Farmers Financial Assistance (Grants and Loans)

Source: ASAP Connections