State Auditor releases report detailing high cost to operate Swannanoa Shower and Laundry Station After Helene

A new report from State Auditor Dave Boliek highlights the high cost of operating the Community Care Station in Swannanoa that assisted residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Here are the key findings from the report:

• The facility costs $27.5 million to operate over six months, which is about $145,217 a day.

• In the immediate aftermath of the storm, approximately 100 people used the facility daily; by April 2025, the number had decreased to 40-60 people.

• The facility provided approximately 14,000 showers and 18,000 loads of laundry.

  • Analysis shows each load of laundry costs $220.

•  Station staff — titled General Workers and POD Managers — were paid an hourly rate of $87.30 and $145.50, respectively, and received a $215 per diem. This expense was not included in the Average Daily Cost chart.

Auditor’s Recommendations

• The auditor recommended that tracking of usage and expenses should begin when the project is first used, not a month after the facility is constructed.

• Also, detailed records should be kept to better inform leaders as they work to efficiently deploy resources.

• Finally, the auditor recommends contingency planning for long-term disaster recovery to avoid these types of costly facilities.