On Friday, October 25, Governor Cooper issued an Executive Order 324 that extends the transportation waiver for agriculture in Executive Order 315 only for crops ready to be harvested in the designated counties in the Federal Major Disaster Areas for Helene, FEMA-4827-NC for 30 days. The order also extends the statewide price gouging provisions in Executive Order 315 for the duration of the state of emergency in which the North Carolina General Assembly extended in HB 149: Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 to March 1, 2025.

The full order can be found here: Executive Order 324.

Top Line Info: North Carolina will offer Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) in 25 western NC counties. This allows people who do not normally receive SNAP benefits to apply for one-time benefits. The state estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for a combined $120 million in benefits. Retailers do not need to do anything with their POS systems.

Additional Info: The window to apply is short, and NC DHHS needs help making sure people who may be eligible know about D-SNAP and apply.

Phase 1 of D-SNAP begins on Friday, October 18 and the application period closes on Thursday, October 24.

Eligible households will receive a one-time benefit on a debit-like card (called an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income and estimated losses. The benefits are good for up to nine months.

To be eligible for D-SNAP, a person must:

• Live in one of 25 counties in western NC (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties) or Eastern Band of Cherokee households living in zip code 28719.
• Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income.
• Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available).
• Have income and resources below certain levels.
• Not currently receive benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program. People receiving FNS can also get extra help buying food, but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. They can get more information about how to get the extra help on the FNS webpage.

People are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone at the D-SNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117 or complete a pre-registration online using the ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Oct. 15 for pre-registration and close on Oct. 24. Once applicants complete the pre-registration, applicants will be issued a confirmation number and will need to call 1-844-453-1117 between Oct. 18 through Oct. 24 to complete the interview part of the application. People can also apply at a D-SNAP location in their county. For a full list of places to apply and for more details, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/dsnap. Please note if you live on the Qualla Boundary in the 28719 zip code and you wish to apply in person, DSNAP applications are being taken on the Qualla Boundary at 1526 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.

Residents will be notified if they have been approved within three days of their application and will be able to pick up their EBT card in person at any of the D-SNAP locations or have their card mailed to them overnight at the address they list in the application.

Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone by calling on their assigned day by last name.

• 10/18 – A-G
• 10/19 – H-M
• 10/20 – N-S
• 10/21 – T-Z
• 10/22 – Open to all
• 10/23 – Open to all
• 10/24 – Open to all

NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once we get that approval, we will share additional information.

Thank you for your support and continued partnership as we work to help our friends, neighbors and communities in every corner of Western North Carolina as they recover from Hurricane Helene.

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments are working with restaurants and food establishments impacted by Hurricane Helene to help them reopen and feed their communities. Local and state public health staff are working to help them reopen safely while infrastructure continues to be repaired or rebuilt in western North Carolina counties. “Restaurants are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, and we are working closely with businesses and local health departments to get them back open safely as soon as possible,” said NCDHHS State Environmental Health Director Larry Michael. Restaurants who lack their usual sources of power, drinking water and wastewater treatment can reopen through an Emergency Operations Plan developed with their local health department. More than 70 restaurants’ Emergency Operations Plans have been approved as of October 9, 2024, in addition to those approved at the local level. Restaurants may need to limit or simplify their menu based on the amount of water available; they may need to switch to take-out service only; or they may need to obtain a porta-potty. Other important elements include: Water is coming from an approved source, such as the municipal water system, an approved and tested community well or water supply company or bottled water. If a water storage truck, tank or other container is used, it should be designed for potable water. Water for employee handwashing is provided. A toilet or porta-potty for employees and customers is available if the restaurant is open for seated customers. If using flushing toilets, either gray water or other non-potable water must be available to flush them. A flyer with elements of an approved Emergency Operations Plan for Restaurants is available online. Many counties in the impacted area are reporting that a majority of food establishments are open, including Ashe, Catawba, Jackson, Lincoln, Watauga and Wilkes counties. For more information about Hurricane Helene and resources available for people who are impacted, please go to ncdhhs.gov/helene and ncdps.gov/helene.

Power: Restoration remains a priority with 86,371 outages remaining (0 substations and 3 transmission lines down).

Roads: There are at least 612 roads that remain closed due to flooding, trees and downed power lines. This number is increasing as connectively is restored and reporting improves. (3 Interstate, 43 US, 50 NC and 516 secondary roads). Visit www.drivenc.gov for road conditions. There are some FEMA checkpoints along I-40, I-77 and I-26 in the Western part of the state to verify access due to recovery efforts.

Water: Currently, 76 systems on boil water advisories and of these, 38 systems need bacteria results to clear the advisory. Additionally, 9 systems have no power, 47 are operating on backup power and 25 systems are out water. Visit: Public Water Supply Situation Report Tracking for more detailed information.

Solid Waste / Debris Management: There are currently 41 Active Debris Sites and 17 Pending Review and Approval. The WTS (waste transfer station) is in operation in Asheville. Link: Active Solid Waste Sites

From Buncombe County:

Non-potable water (grey water) for flushing toilets is now available at all County and City distribution sites:

• William W. Estes Elementary – 275 Overlook Rd, Asheville
• Sand Hill Elementary – 154 Sand Hill School Rd, Asheville (Enter via Acton Circle)
• North Windy Ridge Intermediate – 20 Doan Rd, Weaverville
• Fairview Elementary – 1355 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview
• Black Mountain Ingles – 550 NC-9, Black Mountain
• Cane Creek Middle – 570 Lower Brush Creek Rd, Fletcher
• Leicester Elementary – 31 Gilbert Rd, Leicester
• Pack Square Park – 70 Court Plaza, Asheville
• Asheville Middle – 211 S. French Broad Ave, Asheville
• Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center – 121 Shiloh Rd, Asheville
• Lucy Herring Elementary – 98 Sulphur Springs Rd, Asheville

Oakley Elementary – 753 Fairview Rd, Asheville

USDA’s hot foods waiver WILL BE ISSUED STATEWIDE in order to accommodate SNAP customers that have been displaced. The hot foods waiver will run from Friday, October 4 until November 3. Please make sure your POS systems are programmed. The hot foods waiver allows for SNAP benefits to be used for HOT foods and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises in every county. To reiterate: All SNAP authorized retailers will need to update their systems. These purchases are not subject to sales tax when purchased with SNAP EBT benefits. Resources: Store Signage Eligible Foods Under Hot Foods Waiver Customer questions should be directed to the EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141.

NCRMA has reviewed the local emergency declarations below and made note of any requirements that affect your store operations relative to curfews or sales restrictions. Remember to provide associates access to your re-entry certification PDF to show to local officials during curfew hours.

To view the list, click here.

Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency effective September 25, 2024, and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated earlier.

The Order activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and allows for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to take the appropriate action to ensure the expeditious movement of utility vehicles to eliminate power outages, vehicles carrying essential supplies such as food, medicine and fuel or transporting livestock, poultry and crops. This order also triggers the NC Price Gouging Law.

The full declaration under Executive Order No. 315 can be found here.