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 the local health department.
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:
Additional staff and inspectors have been assigned to Buncombe County to expedite the application and inspection process for EOPs.
Resources:
If your facility did not experience flooding, extended interruption of power or water supplies, or sewage backup, please contact the office by emailing ehrequest@buncombecounty.org. In the subject line of your email, type “Restaurant Open” and include the name of your facility and contact information in the body of the email. Alternatively, you can call or text 828-772-2820 with this information.