In response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, representatives from the Fayetteville Public Works Commission’s Water Resources Division are responding to a Mutual Aid request from NCWaterWARN.
WARN stands for Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network. These representatives will be joining other water and wastewater utility workers to help restore drinking water and sanitary sewer services in one of the hardest-hit areas of Western North Carolina.
Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, particularly affecting drinking water systems and wastewater management facilities in multiple counties. Many residents are experiencing disruptions in essential services, such as drinking water and wastewater management, which poses serious health and safety concerns.
To address these urgent needs, NCWaterWARN has mobilized resources, expertise, and volunteers from across the region. Teams are working to assist communities with materials and supplies, repairing damaged pipelines, clearing debris, and ensuring safe drinking water access. They are also helping restore water reclamation facilities to prevent further sanitary sewer overflows and mitigate environmental hazards.
PWC sent multiple Water Construction Crews and other subject matter experts to the Town of Black Mountain, North Carolina, which was significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene, Wednesday, Oct. 9, for at least 2 to 4 weeks.
“This Mutual Aid effort is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and community amongst the North Carolina Public Utilities,” said Timothy L. Bryant, PWC CEO/General Manager. “As one of the largest public utilities in North Carolina, we understand the need to provide critical services to our community and how important it is to work together during emergencies. We are proud of our team members who volunteer to leave their families to help our neighbors in Western North Carolina regain access to clean drinking water and proper sewage services, especially during this challenging time.”
What is NCWaterWARN?
NC WaterWARN is a Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network, (WARN) of utilities committed to helping each other conduct response and recovery operations. WARN provides a system of mutual aid that may be utilized by public water/wastewater utilities requiring emergency assistance from other member utilities. NC WaterWARN provides:
• A voluntary mutual aid and assistance network to combat water-related incidents throughout the State of North Carolina
• An organized system for requesting assistance in the form of personnel, emergency equipment, materials and other required resources
What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual Aid is a collaborative effort where individuals or groups come together to support one another, particularly during times of crisis or need. Utility Mutual Aid includes sharing resources, skills, and knowledge to repair and/or rebuild critical infrastructure in response to emergencies like natural disasters.

(PWC has sent Water Construction Crews to Black Mountain, North Carolina in response to a mutual aid request from NCWaterWARN. Photo courtesy of PWC)