Broad River Residents Trapped by Ice on Private Roads, Fear More Storms

Thick ice coating private roads in the Broad River area left residents effectively trapped for days, creating acute worries about food, medicine and emergency access as forecasters warned of additional winter weather. The situation highlights a tension between private road ownership and public emergency response in a rapidly growing county.

Laura and Michael Walls said they were stuck at home for nearly a week. Michael Walls said, "We never expected it to be this bad," and added, "You lose your freedom and it's crazy when you’re used to being able to go anytime you want." Laura Walls described walking conditions plainly: "This is ice, nothing goes on ice, so that’s been hard." Friday marked the first day the Walls were able to leave; they relied on ice tracks for their shoes and ski poles to make the trip, saying it would have been impossible without them.

Local volunteer responders have filled much of the gap where county or state crews cannot or will not operate on private roads. The Broad River Volunteer Fire Department has conducted welfare checks, responded to motor vehicle accidents and delivered groceries to residents unable to get out. Joe Yurachak, a volunteer firefighter and neighborhood resident, said, "The volunteered fire department has been rolling since the storm has been going. They’ve been doing a lot of welfare checks, motor vehicle accidents, checking on folks, I'll be running some groceries later on this afternoon for the folks in the community that can’t get out."

Residents stressed that many of the affected roads are private, and therefore they believe they cannot rely on state or county assistance. That gap in responsibility creates risks for older residents, people with medical needs and households that run low on heating fuel or power during prolonged outages. The Walls cited concern about losing power for multiple days, referencing a recent storm they called Helene and the strain of extended cold without reliable help.

The challenges in Broad River come as Buncombe County prepares for long-term growth. The county counted 269,452 residents in the 2020 Census and faces projections ranging from about 342,431 under one forecast to 352,887 under another by 2045. Those projections are relevant for emergency planning because more residents and more private roads can increase demands on volunteer departments and complicate access for county crews.

A separate emergency on the French Broad River underscored the county's broader rescue load: crews responded to an overturned kayak near Ledges River Park on Old Marshall Highway after a 911 call at 10:13 a.m., and rescuers were challenged by strong current while attempting to reach a pinned kayaker. Multiple fire and rescue agencies were involved, illustrating how unpredictable incidents across the county can strain volunteer and professional responders alike.

For Broad River residents, the immediate need is clearer lines of responsibility and pre-storm planning for private roads. Local volunteer departments are providing lifesaving assistance now, but sustained exposure to winter storms raises policy questions for Buncombe County leaders about support for private-road communities, mutual aid agreements and investment in winter-response capacity as the population grows.