#avlsnomg Update

This email just hit my inbox -

All,
The following is an update of the winter storm situation as of 1600hrs, 20 December 2009.

APD [Asheville Police Department]
The calls for service (911) are coming in at a steady and normal rate. The exception is calls for welfare checks from citizens. This category is higher than usual because of concern by family members for loved ones. The calls for special service (251-1110) have been diminishing as power is being restored. All calls are being met with available on-duty assets.

AFD [Asheville Fire Department]
The calls for emergency services (911) are coming at at a steady and normal rate. AFD has two dedicated apparatus that are handling medication retrieval and service calls including the pick-up and transport of citizens both to and from the City’s designated shelter @ Trinity Baptist Church on Shelburne Rd. The call volume as of this writing has been approx. 15 people served. All emergency and non-emergency calls are being met with available on-duty assets.

DPW [Department of Public Works]
DPW reports that all priority 1 streets are in good shape. The current focus is on Priority 2 streets and that effort is going well, with significant progress being made. DPW currently has 19 plows and spreaders working the COA streets and have plans to continue throughout the day and evening. All trees without power lines entangled in them have been cleared by DPW crews. Progress Energy are handling the trees down with power lines calls and report significant progress in resolving same.

Buncombe County
Buncombe County EOC reports slightly higher than usual traffic in calls for service. The majority of these calls, approx. 70, are for welfare checks and transportation to and from the County Emergency shelter at Weaverville High school. County citizens are starting to leave the Weaverville shelter facility and that shelter will close @ 1700hrs today. All remaining shelter residents will be transferred to the Trinity Baptist church shelter on Shelburne Rd. at that time

Progress Energy
Progress Energy reports that approx. 36,700 customers remain without power at this time countywide. Approx. 11,100 of these customers are COA residents. Crews are out in the areas of need and addressing the outages as quickly as possible.

Michael. E. Knisely
Division Chief. Operations, Asheville Fire Department