Henderson County E-newsletter March 2024

Henderson County Employee Newsletter

March 2024

Your county, your news! Enjoy getting to know Henderson County!

Do you need information on voting in Henderson County? Visit the Henderson County Board of Elections webpage for all of the current information on voter registrations, identification, staff contact information, and much, MUCH more!

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/elections

Cat Rabies Vaccination Clinic

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Cat Rabies Vaccination Clinic in Henderson County! From March 4th to 9th, participating local veterinarians will offer discounted rabies vaccinations for cats, priced at $10 per cat by appointment.

Why is this important? North Carolina law requires cats and dogs aged four months and older to have a current rabies vaccine. Rabies is a deadly disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, posing a risk to both pets and humans.

By vaccinating your cat, you not only protect them but also your family and community. Remember, prevention is key. Don't miss this opportunity to keep your feline friend safe and healthy. Schedule your appointment today.

This event continues until all the plants have been sold!!

Buy Your Plants Here

Now is the best time to prepare your garden while you await the arrival of your plants.

Site Selection:

Choose a sunny, weed-free location. Plants should have a minimum of 6 - 8 hours of sunlight exposure. Early morning sun is preferred. Thoroughly weed before planting and use appropriate weeding techniques to keep the planting area weed-free.

Soil Testing:

Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening! Collecting soil samples only takes a few minutes and has many benefits for your garden. Testing allows you to determine the pH levels of your soil and which nutrients you need to apply for the type of plants you are growing.

Stop by the Henderson County Cooperative Extension office to pick up your soil test kit today!

Check out our Website for more Info: Annual Spring Plant Sale

Purchasing plants through 4-H does more than provide you with a quality fruit-producing plant to grow. It is providing more opportunities for youth in Henderson County to grow something of their own, life skills in leadership, responsibility, discipline, public speaking, citizenship, and community service.

Nutrition and Wellness with Henderson County Cooperative Extension and Henderson County Public Library

FLETCHER LIBRARY

EDNEYVILLE LIBRARY

Be sure to visit Henderson County Public Library Calendar & Registration link to sign up! There are FOUR locations for the Eating the Mediterranean Way class and TWO for the exercise class, so no matter where you live there is something close to you.

For more information you can also visit: Henderson County Cooperative Extension - Mediterranean Eating

Floods

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.

Floods may:

Result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges, and overflows of dams and other water systems.
Develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.
Cause outages disrupt transportation, damage buildings and create landslides.

If you are under a flood warning:

Find safe shelter right away.
Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
Depending on the type of flooding:
Evacuate if told to do so.
Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
Stay where you are

Preparing for a Flood

Know Your Risk for Floods

Visit FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to know the types of flood risk in your area. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.

Purchase Flood Insurance

Purchase or renew a flood insurance policy. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect so the time to buy is well before a disaster. Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Preparing for a Flood

Make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding. Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response. Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.

In Case of Emergency

Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies. Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.

Staying Safe During a Flood

Evacuate immediately, if told to evacuate. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
Contact your healthcare provider If you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.
Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.
Get to the highest level if trapped in a building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater.

Staying Safe After a Flood

Pay attention to authorities for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
Avoid driving except in emergencies.
Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing, and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
Be aware that snakes and other animals may be in your house.
Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.

Henderson County Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection Spring Events begin March 12

Henderson County Solid Waste will offer its annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint collections this Spring. The events are scheduled for Tuesday, March 12^th, Tuesday, April 9^th, and Tuesday, May 14^th all from 8:00 am until noon. Chemicals, cleaners, fertilizers, and pesticides will be collected at the Henderson County Convenience Center, located at 265 Convenience Center Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28791. Paint and other paint-related materials will be collected at a special entrance for the Transfer Station, located at 800 Stoney Mountain Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28791.

The Solid Waste Department hosts the HHW and Paint events in the Spring and Fall for the citizens of Henderson County to provide safe recycling and disposal of household chemicals, cleaners, pesticides, and fertilizers. Mercury-containing bulbs and related items are not accepted during this event but can be recycled at the Convenience Center for free from residences. For a detailed list of acceptable HHW items, please visit hcrecycles.org.

There is no charge for household chemicals, cleaners, pesticides, and fertilizers. All paint and paint-related materials (except spray paints) incur a $5 per gallon container and a $25 per 5-gallon bucket fee, regardless of the amount within. No dried or solid paints will be accepted. Please note there is a 30-gallon per individual, per event limit on paint recycling during this program. Details on the paint recycling program are available online at hcrecycles.org.

To reduce disposal costs, consider only buying paint that you need, using up all the remaining paint, or donating unused paint. Donations of paint may be accepted at Habitat for Humanity, always call to confirm that they can accept your items before dropping them off. Contact Habitat for Humanity at 828-696-9524 ext. 250. General guidelines for paint donations: paint must be new or ½ full, no rust on the cans, and lids must be intact. Spray paint must be new or ½ full with the lid intact. No old, gummy, or rotten paint will be accepted. To divert waste, Henderson County Solid Waste is partnering with Habitat for Humanity for the Paint collection events. Habitat for Humanity will be onsite at the Paint collection event to assess dropped-off paint and can accept usable paint as donations (only paint will be accepted as donation by Habitat for Humanity at this event. For any other donations, contact Habitat for Humanity directly).

Items brought to the HHW events should be kept in their original packaging and should be handled with utmost care. Unlabeled items must be accompanied by a material ID form, either at the event or before the event through hcrecycles.org. Business and commercial waste will not be accepted. Please contact Environmental Programs for proper disposal options by calling (828) 694-6524.

To provide quality service and safety during these events, residents are asked to please stay in their vehicles until they reach the collection tent. Residents should unload their materials and leave pets at home. Additional questions can be directed to (828) 697-4505 or (828) 694-6524.