https://www.tiktok.com/@heyhannahgoetz/video/7420105446352112938?_r=1&_t=8q8dCU5Ke0E
People have no idea just how bad the devastation is here in NC from tropical storm Helene. Towns like Ashville are destroyed. Our old Shelby friend 'Pookie' in burnsville can't be doing too well either.
Unimaginable! Have been trying to text and e-mail friends that I know in the mountains and haven't gotten a single reply. No power, no cell service. Last night, we made a donation to Samaritan's Purse (they're in Boone) but, whatever charity you chose, please do likewise.
Simply unbelievable what nature can do in minutes
Prayers for a full recovery to all affected
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on September 30, 2024, 08:25:11 AMUnimaginable! Have been trying to text and e-mail friends that I know in the mountains and haven't gotten a single reply. No power, no cell service. Last night, we made a donation to Samaritan's Purse (they're in Boone) but, whatever charity you chose, please do likewise.
Stan, that's a great suggestion. I've heard elsewhere that Samaritan's Purse is a great organization to choose.
Brian
You can make a donation to red cross here:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/text.html/?donprodid=100171&med=sms%3Fmed%3Dsms&source=adobefr&did=SMPP1727381138758&campdesc=09262024&cid=fy25hurhelene&scode=RSG24091ESMS&subcode=nhqfy25hurhelene
We made a $150 and have a $10 a month automatic donation set up.
Roy
I've heard that Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Maggie Valley are heavily damaged as is Biltmore Village. Over 400 roads in NC are impassible.
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on September 30, 2024, 07:58:07 PMI've heard that Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Maggie Valley are heavily damaged as is Biltmore Village. Over 400 roads in NC are impassible.
1/2 of Chimmney Rock (restaurant row) is gone, wiped off the map, most of the debris now sitting towards the boat landing at Lake Lure. Biltmore village was under 6 feet of water, 14-16 feet in Ashville itself. We were lucky, very little physical damage to our home, only 3 days without power, some of our neighbors not as lucky. Over 200,000 locally still without power, Duke stating some might not have power for another 7-10 days, some major roads still impassable, even this now. The words biblical and historic are being bounced around by folks who have lived here for 80+ years. Just home from our evening run getting home bound folks whatever they need that we can find.
Bill
I don't know where Drew P. of Air Fuel Spark lives, but he was hit by Helene. Here is his Facebook post.
https://www.facebook.com/AirFuelSParkTech
Edit: change FBlink
Quote from: 67_1183 on September 30, 2024, 10:13:07 PMI don't know where Drew P. of Air Fuel Spark lives, but he was hit by Helene. Here is his Facebook post.
Douglas, GA
We also made donations to Samaritan's Purse. Ironically, we are headed to a wedding near Atlanta this weekend, and had reservations to stay at a small hotel in Burnsville, NC for a couple of days next week on the way back for our 25th wedding anniversary. Plans were to go to the Biltmore, but we are really concerned about everyone in that entire area. Prayers for them.
Quote from: richflorence on October 01, 2024, 06:26:15 AMWe also made donations to Samaritan's Purse. Ironically, we are headed to a wedding near Atlanta this weekend, and had reservations to stay at a small hotel in Burnsville, NC for a couple of days next week on the way back for our 25th wedding anniversary. Plans were to go to the Biltmore, but we are really concerned about everyone in that entire area. Prayers for them.
You'll have to change plans, both areas are currently unreachable to anyone but emergency response teams and search and rescue.
Atlanta and the general area made out far better than NC/SC, all major roads back open, highways back open, just check later this week to make certain your hotel has power.
Bill
Just heard from Jim Woods (rockhouse66) who has restored many of our distributors, he's in Clyde, NC. Says "No power or internet and phone is sketchy" but hoping for improvements by next week.
Quote from: Bill on October 01, 2024, 08:09:11 AMQuote from: richflorence on October 01, 2024, 06:26:15 AMWe also made donations to Samaritan's Purse. Ironically, we are headed to a wedding near Atlanta this weekend, and had reservations to stay at a small hotel in Burnsville, NC for a couple of days next week on the way back for our 25th wedding anniversary. Plans were to go to the Biltmore, but we are really concerned about everyone in that entire area. Prayers for them.
Thanks Bill for that information. Very helpful as we are getting ready to roll out now from Virginia.
You'll have to change plans, both areas are currently unreachable to anyone but emergency response teams and search and rescue.
Atlanta and the general area made out far better than NC/SC, all major roads back open, highways back open, just check later this week to make certain your hotel has power.
Bill
we just attended a little fund raiser, every little bit helps
Extending prayers
News continues to come in with stories of neighbors helping neighbors, volunteer groups, businesses like Lowes, Home Depot and mega-donors like Elon Musk and Dolly Parton, not to mention churches, Samaritan's Purse and private pilots with fixed wing and helicopters donating their time, talents and fuel to rescue and bring aid to survivors. Can't say as much for FEMA and the government bureaucracy...slow and inefficient. This is a disaster of epic proportions that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. Sadly, some will never recover.
Just a small update for those following, or who have plans to visit the area:
Blue Ridge Parkway is closed indefinitely with multiple sections washed away.
Sections of RT26 and RT40 are also closed through mid to late 2025
Bill
Yes, south Georgia (where I live) was rocked pretty hard.
We are mostly fine now, the focus on NC/TN flood stuff is way more critical at this time.
Glad to hear you're doing okay.
Roy
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on September 30, 2024, 08:25:11 AMUnimaginable! ... we made a donation to Samaritan's Purse (they're in Boone) but, whatever charity you chose, please do likewise.
That looked like a good suggestion. Done.
The death, devastation and destruction is far worse than shown on national news. Thousands of people have lost their loved ones, pets, farm animals, their homes, businesses and inventory, jobs, their cars, trucks, farm machinery, clothes...Everything. It will take years, perhaps decades to recover...if ever. This will give you a small sense of the situation and what they face:
https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/news-from-the-frontline-of-helene?r=4n72x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on October 07, 2024, 08:52:21 AMThe death, devastation and destruction is far worse than shown on national news. Thousands of people have lost their loved ones, pets, farm animals, their homes, businesses and inventory, jobs, their cars, trucks, farm machinery, clothes...Everything. It will take years, perhaps decades to recover...if ever. This will give you a small sense of the situation and what they face:
https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/news-from-the-frontline-of-helene?r=4n72x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Agreed, we participated in the aftermath of hurricane Andrew. Believe the reported death toll was under 100. Unfortunately that certainly was not an accurate number. Numerous refrigerated tractor trailers had unaccounted, unidentifiable, undocumented casualties stored. These unfortunates dis not make the official death count.
So I read the link. Seemed a little "off"
Being here in the middle of it, I do kinda understand asking outsiders to hold back or coordinate with others.
My wife runs a church, she fed 200+ people yesterday.
Great stuff, but at the same time she is wasting a lot of energy and local resources managing folks who are well intentioned.
Examples:
-Dumptruck load of diapers and assorted supplies show up, delivered and everyone left. The local volunteers are on bikes because their cars are totaled. No way to distribute. Will likely end up in a dumpster after the first rain.
-someone towed a portable shower unit that needs management, electricity and water. None is available, probably best thing is to park it somewhere and forget about it... Meanwhile my wife is out at 7:30 coordinating that mess.
Appreciated, but honestly please remember the folks volunteering to deal with this often don't have water or power at home, they have their own drama they are trying to manage.
In one case a work crew showed up, but they all need to be housed and fed by people who have no housing or food...
So guess I'm saying it's complicated.
For folks out in the country, it's gonna be awhile, maybe a month before they get power and water, and now the prospect of Milton and the already overworked lineman and other folks. Daunting situation for sure.
The most useful folks show up with a tent and a chain saw. Just bodies available to do whatever, we will be hosting 3 dudes tomorrow for that. But still logistics, getting it set up for them to do the best work takes time and energy.
Quote from: Drew Pojedinec on October 07, 2024, 07:32:14 PMThe most useful folks show up with a tent and a chain saw. Just bodies available to do whatever, we will be hosting 3 dudes tomorrow for that. But still logistics, getting it set up for them to do the best work takes time and energy.
Drew,
Exactly, while I'm lucky, and have power back at the house, I've spent the last week out assisting where I can. Most of the last few days was with my chainsaw, my tools, my gas, and of course my time. Yes, NC is still the hardest hit, but even in my large town, there are still folks without a way off their property other than to hoof it. For the young, it's easy (walking to school, up hill, both ways, you know from where you and I both grew up), for the 70-90 year olds, not so much. A couple more days, and the few that are left cut off from the outside world, will have that access restored. My small group of friends will make sure of that. Will we head off to NC next, from what I understand, they are having issues keeping track of, and organizing such small volunteer groups, so while I've signed up, I'm doubting I get that call. If so, I'm there, no questions asked.
As for those that play armchair quarterback, from areas far away, living vicariously through whatever they see on TV, I can tell them the TV does not tell the tale, nor show the sheer devastation, nor show what Drew mentioned above in a way to really get what is occurring on the ground. In closing, and especially today 10/7, I ask that you say a prayer for all those effected by the chaos that has ravaged the world we live in, pray for those taking time out of their lives to lend a hand, pray.
Bill
Thanks Bill and Drew for sharing your first-hand perspective. I'm not able to help directly, but did the only thing I knew to do, which was to donate $$. My in-laws live south of Asheville, but their house is on top of a mountain and luckily no damage.