The Helene Resource Center in Buncombe County will move to a by-appointment format starting March 30, as the need for in-person support following Tropical Storm Helene has decreased, according to a March 9 announcement. The Coxe Avenue location will close at the end of the day on March 27, and appointments can be scheduled through the One Buncombe Call Center.
This change comes as recovery efforts continue and fewer individuals require walk-in assistance. The Helene Recovery Office at 200 College St., Asheville, will coordinate these appointments. Since April 8, 2025, more than 1,400 survivors have received in-person help at the Coxe Avenue site, which brought together federal, state, and local partners for disaster response.
“This transition is another step in our community’s recovery,” said Helene Recovery Officer Kevin Madsen. “With this new format, we’re able to ensure a close alignment with our recently formed Helene Recovery Office and our partners serving Buncombe County survivors with disaster case management. While it will look slightly different, we are continuing the efforts to support our community.”
The One Buncombe Call Center remains available from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 828-250-6100 for those seeking information or scheduling appointments. Additional details about recovery resources and plans can be found at www.buncombenc.gov/helene.
In related education data for Buncombe County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, of the senior students taking the science portion of the ACT exam, about 28.5% were considered ready for college according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. For juniors taking the same test, approximately 30.1% met college readiness standards according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In reading, around 41.1% of seniors and 43.2% of juniors were deemed college-ready according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Math results showed that about 25.6% of seniors and roughly 32.7% of juniors reached college readiness benchmarks according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
As operations consolidate and recovery continues in Buncombe County, officials encourage residents needing further assistance or information on disaster recovery services to use available phone lines or visit official online resources.
