As western North Carolina continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Raleigh Water crews are on the ground, working tirelessly to restore essential services. Among these dedicated workers is Blake Foster, a member of Raleigh Water’s operations team.
A recent video captured a significant moment in the recovery process. A colleague filmed Foster taking a drink of water from a sink. That single cup of water symbolized hope for a region reeling from devastation.
Foster was the first to drink potable water from the Burnsville water treatment plant since it went offline during the storm. The achievement marks a major step forward in restoring essential water services to North Carolina’s affected communities.
“Asheville is a learning experience, lots of mixed emotions being here,” Foster said. “A lot of destruction, but a lot of hope and very intelligent people in water doing amazing things.”
As a water treatment specialist, Foster is currently working closely with Asheville Water to support their recovery efforts. His role involves answering questions from local emergency responders, such as the fire department, National Guard, and police department, and providing updates to the public. He also conducts daily briefings for Asheville and Buncombe County, relaying information from the water department and addressing questions from the public.
Raleigh Water, a member of NC WaterWARN, a statewide network of water and wastewater utilities, is committed to helping communities in need. By deploying crews to Western North Carolina, Raleigh Water is demonstrating its dedication to supporting those affected by Hurricane Helene. These dedicated crews are working tirelessly to restore essential water services and bring hope to the affected communities.
