In the area of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, things are really bad in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene winds and rain. The massive flooding in the entire SE region has created multiple crisis points in NC, TN, GA, SC, AL and Virginia.
In Western North Carolina, eastbound Interstate 40 is gone. I-40 washed away by massive amounts of water through Pigeon River, near the Tennessee state line. {STORY HERE} Initially, state officials denied the collapse because it was impossible for anyone from the state to get to the area to confirm it. They later said, “oh, shit- it’s real”… and now admit it will take a long time for repairs.
In northern East Tennessee the Interstate 26 bridge has collapsed near Erwin. I-26 is closed eastbound at mile marker 37 and closed westbound at mile marker 43. {STORY HERE} Again, this is another closure that is likely to take a long time for repairs.
The region where Tennesse and North Carolina come together at the base of the Appalachian Mountain range has been severely damaged. Transit into the area will be impeded for a substantial amount of time. Rivers and streams throughout the area are far beyond their capacity and only now starting to recede.
I know we have a lot of Treepers in this area. Check in if you are in any of the affected areas and let us know your condition. There is going to be a significant amount of time delay in getting resources moved into the area to assist, and the national MSM do not seem to be recognizing the issues.
UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Several state routes and an area of Interstate 26 in Northeast Tennessee are closed on Friday due to downed trees and flooding, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said I-26 is closed both ways around Exit 40. The interstate is closed eastbound at mile marker 37 and closed westbound at mile marker 43.
Approximately 12,000 vehicles per day use the I-26 bridges located at mile marker 39.6, according to Nagi. (read more)
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WSMV/WBIR) – Interstate 40 Eastbound is closed to all traffic at Mile Marker 432 in Cocke County due to catastrophic flooding in Tennessee and North Carolina, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Part of I-40 going into North Carolina has washed away.
“This is a serious and life threating situation. DO NOT TRAVEL TO NORTH CAROLINA,” NWS Morristown said in a tweet.
Spokesman Mark Nagi shared several videos of the Pigeon River flooding onto I-40 in Cocke County. (read more)
ATLANTA, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Authorities across a wide swath of the southeastern United States faced the daunting task on Saturday of cleaning up from Hurricane Helene, one of the most powerful to hit the country, as the death toll continued to rise.
At least 43 deaths were reported by late on Friday, and officials feared still more bodies would be discovered across several states.
Helene, downgraded late on Friday to a post-tropical cyclone, continued to produce heavy rains across several states, sparking life-threatening flooding that threatened to create dam failures that could inundate entire towns.
Police and firefighters carried out thousands of water rescues throughout the affected states on Friday.
More than 50 people were rescued from the roof of a hospital in Unicoi County, Tennessee, about 120 miles (200 km) northeast of Knoxville, state officials said, after floodwaters swamped the rural community.
Rising waters from the Nolichucky River prevented ambulances and emergency vehicles from evacuating patients and others there, the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency said on social media. Emergency crews in boats and helicopters were conducting rescues. (read more)
Everyone check in and let us know that all is ok, if not – whether you need help.
Thank goodness we have Pete Bootyjuice on the “job”. Let’s hope he catches his breath, and then can handle this crisis.
Don’t hold your breath. 🙂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
He is busy feeding the twins.
You misspelled grooming.
I think the pot holes are going to be outside the skill set of South Bend Pothole Pete’s capabilities…
What’s so racist about potholes? /s
And the people here keep posting jokes…the cat pics are next. Glad you don’t experience disasters. Lives were lost and lives in total ruin have a little respect.
Agree. Not the time for jokes. It’s heartbreaking to see and read about such devastation.
What Sundance posted above is catastrophic.
Oh dear God, Please bring physical and spiritual hope and comfort to all these people.
Amen
Just remember God helps his people through his people.
Good Lord, protect those in harms way.
I can’t even imagine 😢🙏
Don’t know how to do this but am willing to make the effort. Those affected are going to need a whole lot of cash to rebuild their lives, not just their dwellings. Just checked out how to create a Give.Send.Go account.
First problem encountered is — who is the recipient of the funds — the person who would disburse the funds to others? Would appear one must have that person’s permission before designating him or her. Contacting the Chief of Police for Black Mountain might be a good start?
Next potential problem: how might Give.Send.Go funds impact a person’s eligibility tor FEMA funds?
Just spitballin’ here. I hate just sitting here reading about this if something actionable might be done.
Suggestions welcomed. Lot of retired treepers have the time to make something happen. Thanks in advance.
P.S. Just made a bunch of phone calls. Even if there were not a devastating emergency, no one’s answering because it’s a weekend and I’m surely not going to tie up an emergency line (regardless of good intentions).
I responded to someone down-thread who’s currently incommunicado with their Mom and Stepdad in Toxaway Lake NC. They’d already tried local PD (comms down) and FD (nonresponsive cos’ presumably busy).
What I’m about to suggest, bear in mind I’m in the UK and really have *No Idea At All* about this thing – the scale, the scope… – I’m just completely awestruck and blown away… So anyhoo, I did some brief digging around online and responded to them with links for the local Toxaway Lake community website, a Facebook community group for the nearby town of Brevard NC, and a random article on local community support groups at the Transylvania Times website (I assume all of the above locations is in Transylvania county?). – I’ll bet even if internet’s down on their end you can scrape local community contacts (preferably landlines) from those sources I mentioned and at least on the Facebook group I’d assume you can post messages someone’ll catch at some point, assuming they’re the type to prep like Sundance.
Anyway, my point is you’re obviously correct about tying up emergency services (in fact 9’ll get you 10, you’ll prolly just get the ‘busy’ tone anyhow). But people running community websites/Facebook groups and running support groups in their community are presumably precisely the kind of ‘upstanding pillars of the community’ types who are out there and about right now pitching in and picking up the pieces, putting stuff back together and families/friends/the isolated back in touch, and are possibly a lot more easily contactable right now than the emergency services/local officialdom. – Dunno if I’m on the right track with my thinking here but like you said Fionnagh: ‘Spitballin’.
…- Such folks could also perhaps be (at least first) points of contact for any Gofundme campaign(s) (- Also on that score:- paging Ryan Hall (I know he’s got that Y’all Squad thing going but a Gofundme on top of that couldn’t hurt), and the like (- other stormchasers? – they mostly seem to be pretty well networked in the places they go to *and*, most importantly, *highly mobile*)). – Again, jus’ spitballin’
Samaritan’s Purse is usually right on top of disaster areas, and will send resources and provide a way to donate.
I hope so, but their base of operations is Asheville and the hometown of the Graham’s is Montreat and it has been reported that it is gone.
They have relief starting all over and they have their Intl. HQtrs. out of Boone. They are amazing and always show up to offer assistance from mental health to medical supplies to food.
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/
THANK YOU. Just checked their website – they’re all over this.
Samaritan’s Purse: High Country – Hurricane Helene Response (spvolunteer.org)
Really rue being old(er) and disabled because otherwise I’d be flying there to sling mud. No sarc. A cash donation will have to suffice.
If and when the storm victims can register for FEMA, they will get $700.00. Down the road they might get $5-10K. FEMA is going to be stretched thin on this storm.
The city of Waverly TN and its citizens were devastated with floods two yrs ago and only one school has been rebuilt, many of the homeowners have not received their FEMA $ (red tape/bureaucracy) and the city itself has not received FEMA funding ask promised.
Because they took money away from FEMA to take care of the illegals!! I knew this would be happening. I’m sure they are crying for money!!!
During many of the FL disasters FEMA helped those without insurance who actually own property. So they are a last resort kind of financial help. They will give shelter, food, medical to homeless or renters who have no where to go but that takes months. Owners are excluded from help if they have other financial means, and there is a long screening process to qualify.
Maybe some of this has changed recently.
Montreat has a Christian college, a big conference center may churches use, and I believe also where Billy Graham called home.
Looks like the battle of Good vs. Evil is occurring in WNC. This disaster will test everyone’s faith, bringing many back to God and introducing non-believers to Him.
I saw this earlier also. This is heartbreaking.
Sundance, having been through the horrors of a house full of surge water from Ian, please consider writing a follow up in 30 days. Displaced for almost 6 months, we felt forgotten. Many people said “let me know if there is anything I can do” but never bothered to show up.
I get it. I have always been interested in natural disasters, for about a week until it’s no longer in the news. But for those that are going through this, they will be struggling for months and even years.
It would be really cool to organize Treepers to go to a place like Perry, FL or any of these towns in November, after the news has died down and the people feel forgotten.
Even to just go by and offer to pull drywall down, plant some flowers, take a gift card for a steak dinner in a nearby city can really make a difference in people’s lives.
After Ian, my wife and I are committed to going to a disaster area four to six weeks after the fact to bring encouragement and to remind them they are NOT forgotten. We will ask people if we can pray for them while we’re there, but also after we leave.
It matters to be remembered and encouraged.
👊🙏✝️🙏👊
Oh my goodness, those poor people. Praying…
Way to close to where I grew up and have family. Memories of all night singing in Old Fort. Heart breaking.
I’m crying. And I try to never cry. You know, Big Girls Don’t Cry.
LOL
The states don’t rely on Washington other than for emergency funding. It’s the people of the state that are helping hteir neighbors out. Here in TN in spite of half our state flooded, we still sent both rescue and electrical crews south into Georgia and Florida.
Yes.
Power outage repairs in southern Ohio are slow because the lineman went to Florida. We only received several inches of rain and some straight line winds. We were in a drought so a lot of the rain soaked in and reduced flooding – at least where I am.
We sent them willingly because their need is greater than ours.
Comment not a complaint.
The states have reciprocal agreements and get paid for their emergency services. Florida was in need and TN and OH never realized they would be worse shape than FL. And any state in proximity can also jump in and offer help too.
Is this guy related to the Bootyjudge on the Biden Cabinet? 🙂
I would suggest he remove the “porker” from his mouth first before trying to do anything.
Hurricanes are raccisss and effect certain Democommunist
Party plantation dwellers disproportionately.
Isn’t he still on paternity leave, chest-feeding his kid ??
I think he’s vacationing again.
The creature Biden needs to order FEMA to release funds immediately to help with this awful devastation. No waiting.
Lord, be merciful 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻
It appears the hurricane may have bumped up against the mountain range and unloaded. The radar shows a rain shadow area west of Asheville.
I’ve seen videos, Intense, taken by residents from their homes, looking out on beautiful green countryside. And a split second later a huge wall of filthy water appears and rushed by, taking everything with it. I mean a split second.
No one can prepare for that.
He will sign whatever and say whatever they tell him to, per usual. You know they can’t wait to spend those emergency funds and contort voting into by mail-only because of “muh emergency!”.
Well, he just signed on to $8 more billion to Ukraine. Shove whatever needs to be signed in front of him. Our country starts with a “U” as well. He might not notice.
Desantis has proven it can be done quickly…
I have been away from it for so long…so I forget a lot…It takes FEMA about 72 hours to set up wherever they decide to set up shop …here are some FEMA links to get the process started…(?)…or thinking about it….
but I think they need their governors to declare disasters first…? State and local/county/city need to start moving, fast…
https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual
https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/after-applying
Desantis has proven it can be done quickly…
I’m sorry but the situations are not comparable.
What makes them incomparable from a governor’s perspective??
“Mine is bigger than yours” is an inappropriate topic.
That is the exact point I am making. It’s a question of competent recovery management, not size nor geography, even though those factors are important in how the resources are applied.
Hopefully the Appalachian states affected by Helene have competent governors and state house people who can activate & deploy the required resources in a timely manner, and get timely and appropriate federal emergency assistance as well.
Terrain for one. The magnitude of the challenge.
Going from point A to point B a mile apart as the crow flies might take and hour around the ridge.
I have wondered if desantis wasn’t fortified to make him look good. Past few years who knows what to believe.
See my reply below to Goldwater Girl.
Florida has more experience with big storms than anybody. They have pre set plans and can react quickly. Tn. not so much.
Especially if US40 is “racist”
Just read a tweet, Aggiegirl, that DeSantis is sending loads of help…planes, recovery equipment, etc.
Wonderful that Floridians are quickly returning the help given to them over the years. Many mountain residents are former Floridians, who know and appreciate those mountains. It is devastating to everyone to see such destruction.
That depends on what party the residents belong to.
Depends on whether there is any FEMA money left after spending it on illegals.
Exactly Right . i knew when I heard that report it would come to this.
And that’s the terrible truth.
The feds will be slow to answer. These are conservative MAGA areas and they hate us. I think and hope once communication is restored we can get in the car and bring help.
Lord have mercy! I prayed when the hurricane landed for the poor people in its path. But I never thought it’d bring so much devastation in TN, NC and GA.
These are salt of the earth people. I am so saddened as the rich and demonized seem to go unscathed by disasters.
I hope Joe Dan from Intellectual Frog legs is unaffected.
Lets continue to pray dear Betsy-i doubt the feds care.
I know they will, Quoheleth. I doubt they care either. But such is tyrannical, partisan, soulless, inept government so far removed from those whom they rule over. There is a phrase from Britain which applies here…used by those you mention who never seem to face what affects the rest of us. “I’m all right, Jack.”
In other words, it doesn’t affect them, so “meh” ( delivered with an inhuman shoulder shrug).
And like you, I was shocked at the devastation so far inland. So fast, too. The best of America will step up to assist their brothers and sisters in so much trouble. Much needed lifelines.
How quickly any life can be lost or completely destroyed…
His mercy is what is needed, dear friend. We trust that He will provide in ways which at the moment seem unknowable. Lord, hear the cries of your people 🙏🏻
“I’m all right, Jack.”
Brit here, Betsy… – Was also the title of a 1959 Peter Sellers comedy. The *full* version of that expression, as spoken by Sellers in the film, is *far* more caustic even: “Bugger you Jack, I’m all right.”
Yes, Americans will step up and it’s about time we start serving and helping ourselves first. Be proud of our achievements, take what is rightfully ours and stop falling for the political rhetoric of low expectations. We need to quit looking to the Fed Govt. for issues that must be solved at the local level. The media props them up like they are powerful gods, which they are not. They are lowly bureaucrats with big fancy titles, but they do not have unlimited power. The governors are just as complicit in states like OH, IL, NY, NJ, CA etc. for allowing illegals into their states and declaring cities sanctuaries. That is a states rights issue and many governors are giving way to federal tyranny in exchange for the almighty dollar. So we can only blame the Feds, so much and put blame where it belongs. Time to wrestle power back into our own hands and strengthen states rights.
The regime and the MSM will mostly ignore this because of the voting base in that area that isn’t favorable to keeping them in power.
Mother Nature disaffecting Trump voters is a plus for them.
Very true. NE TN and W NC are very red. The university areas are somewhat blue, but red rules around here.
Asheville? But all the rest, yeah.
Understand Ashville is getting walloped too.
Yeah. My favorite aunt (RIP) lived there most of her life and I loved our family visits there. I was just referring to some of the idiot politics that have come out of there in recent years, responding to the red/blue comments of Ish and mostly.
Nearly half our state here in TN is blue. Consider population distributions – Knoxville, Nashville an Memphis are our only major population centers. They are solidly Communist including their surrounding towns. The rural areas of our state are solid red. So I don’t know where you live but this is how it is in TN. And even in our communities on the Plateau that skirt the eastern side f TN is not solid red. Anywhere in TN that is scenic is generally where the relocating retirees from CA, NY, IL, etc land. In fact the place next to mine was just bought by a couple from MA – rabid Democrats. In fact in recent years 7Million people relocated here and they weren’t all Conservative/Republican. In fact our senior population has exploded – most who relocate are retirees and most from blue states.
I can relate, as it’s very much the same here in NC.
Well, except for an increasing number of rural idiots brainwashed by covid. E.g., close family members who I’m no longer speaking to.
And when I visit the Gatlinburg area these days, I notice more and more and more blue-state license plates.
That is exactly why NC is now #9 in population; way too many $!#&!!!* mongrel invaders.
We welcome people to our state but we don’t want their ideologies. We can see in city/town councils how they take over. Here in TN our govt structure is county based and the county seats (towns with largest populations) are able to set the regulations for the entire county. So when the ideologues relocate, get active on city/town councils of these county seats, the rural people are left in the dust. Even here in my area – I live 15mi out of the county seat yet pay that sales tax in addition to state sales tax. It’s now 10%. By voting in ordinances to for example beautify the County seat, sales tax revenues are diverted from rural initiatives. It’s like the creeping crud. Little by little the Democrat/Marxist folks who relocate here eventually begin to turn things into the waste and ruin of their former home states.
2 friend who are MAGA are moving from NY to TN. Our loss is your gain.
Same way in Texas.. large population centers are easier to gain a criminal or malicious political foothold and maintain that hold due to so many places to hide.. ballot fraud is very real in large population areas
Tenn is tax friendly especially for retirement income, zero. The NE Tenn corridor boom is full of retirees who can get a decent home with a very low cost of living. There were many developments and businesses that attracted these empty nesters. Not so much anymore as property values will plummet, along with other negative consequences from the floods.
The drive by media will focus on the college football games and who are playing the following favorable regional teams :
.
I love and competitively played all the great American sports but for a few decades now they are politicized and used as a distraction for evil aims.
.
All eyes will be on the AL Crimson Tide as our fearless leader President Trump will be there tonight. After a rally in Wisconsin!
PDJT’s pre-game speech (if you’ll forgive my fancy):
“Little ducks, there’s trouble in ‘merica. So they called us. And we’re going over there and bringing the most lethal voting machine ever devised. We’re capable of launching more MAGApower than has ever been released in the history of war. For one purpose alone: Make our country great.
We constitute the front line and the last line of defense. I expect and demand your very best. Anything less — you should’ve joined the Air Force. I might be the Commander-in-Chief of our Navy, but this is *Your* boat. And all I ask is that you keep up with me. And if you can’t, that strange sensation you’ll be feeling in the seat of your pants will be my boot in your ass.”
I think he inspired the Tide to new heights. After 12 minutes of game time they were up 28-zip. On #2 Georgia.
At Bob, yes I watch some sports, because I also played various sports most of my life and even coached a couple. I will not give up everything I love just because the leftists have tainted something one way or another. As it stands, they have tainted just about EVERYTHING.
The left will use the displacement of thousands of people, as reason for mail in ballots for everyone. Can you say, the cheat is in? This is the only way that they can win Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Just watch.
Hurricanes that park themselves above the Appalachians always destroy these valleys and most everything in them. There is no way around it as man follows the waterways for easier movement through the mountains. My prayers this morning are for the safety of everyone and every living thing in this region.
Amen
Amen
You got it, g. As a proud ridge-runner born and raised in those hills, I know what these folks are going through. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Get Ron DeSantis up there stat. He’ll have those roads fixed in a week.
That terrain is more challenging than the flat land in FL.
The terrain is not the primary issue. The primary issue is competence in the statehouse to call up the resources and get them focused on the correct priorities in order to expedite recovery of all areas. While the geography and infrastructures are different, I don’t think the situations in Florida after Hurricane Ian (2022) and in eastern TN-western NC after Hurricane Helene (2024) are much different from a macro perspective.
Both areas need damaged roads made passable in order to get relief personnel, equipment and supplies in quickly. Both areas need power restored quickly. Both areas present challenges due to topography of the affected regions. Whatever shortcomings DeSantis has politically, he did appear to manage the recovery effort of the Florida Gulf coast fairly well and expeditiously, as reported by Sundance at the time.
GB, terrain is the issue. It may be weeks before it is even firm enough to hold equipment to start repairs, if the failure is washout from below.
Re-read my reply to Goldwater Girl. If the states don’t have competent management in their executive, then any terrain will be a problem. But if they have governors as competent as was DeSantis with his state’s recovery from Ian, then the recovery will go as best as possible. River valley flooding has been a reoccurring problem in the Appalachian region for a few centuries. While i am not downplaying the tragedy here, I am saying that speed and effectiveness of recovery depends in a large part on competent management.
A portion of my former home area in western Baltimore county / eastern Howard County MD was devastated by Hurricane-then-Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972. I am no stranger to catastrophic river valley flooding.
I read it well before my comment. Is the Key bridge open yet? This takes time. Look at the lead photo. I 40 fell of a rock face cliff.
Your one of the people I agree with most here. The politicians can only hand out money and red tape. The construction here is what it is, many months. That can’t be changed.
No disagreement here. My point is that all your points are moot if the states’ governors are incompetent and don’t manage the recovery efforts correctly, which DeSantis apparently did in FL, despite his politics being questionable.
My initial response was reacting to Goldwater Girl’s implying DeSantis couldn’t handle the recovery because of terrain differences.
Sure, Rebecca Larson’s assertion that DeS would have roads “fixed up in a week” was surely an exaggeration, because he didn’t get FL roads back up in a week either. I inferred her post as some admiration for the speed and efficiency DeSantis attacked the problem in 2022. No one questions the major difference in topography here but it still comes down to competent management of the resources for recovery, wherever it is.
One example IMHO is the recovery after Katrina in New Orleans. The management then was incompetent, IMHO. That incompetence was shared both at the local, state and federal levels.
Hopefully TN and NC have better management in place, and the feds will be better than current DC leadership might suggest.
No need to defend what you think about the issue. It made perfect sense to me and if others choose to see it a different way then c’est la vie.
Yes Katrina management was incompetent, even criminal. It was bordering on criminal (IMHO) to build an entire city below sea level in the first place, especially in prime hurricane country, but that’s beside the point.
Mountains are an entirely different issue. Western NC has the highest elevation east of the Mississippi River, and eastern Tennessee is very near that on average. And it is almost all up and down, up and down, up and down. Drive I-40 across the NC/TN border, or better yet, Highway 441 from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. Or any part of the Blue Ridge Parkway between SW Virginia and northern Georgia. All of those are fully “civilized” roadways, built mostly for tourists, but there is still a challenge here and there. (Been there done that.) It’s a far bigger set of challenges for hundreds of less-developed areas hiding behind one mountain (or “foothill”) after another after another.
Been there ProperWolf, several times. I have driven I-40 through that area (last time in 2017) and spent a week in the Cherokee/ Gatlinburg area as well. Bryson City, Johnson City, I’m probably forgetting a bunch of other places we drove through or visited.
Agree that the damage is scattered throughout the area in the hollows and river valley areas..wherever runoff streams became raging rapids for hours on end.
I hope that the US Army Corps of Engineers is either activated or getting ready to deploy resources to start in the worst areas where civilian contractors would be overwhelmed.
Oh, I forgot to respond to your question about the Key Bridge.
IMHO, the management at all levels in that event is poor or worse. Baltimore City management has not had any competent leadership since Mayor William Donald Schaefer in the 1970s-1980s. Maryland has not had a competent governor since that same Schaefer ended his second term in the Annapolis State House in 1995.
And of course the federal involvement in the Key Bridge disaster has been typical of the current DemoCrap-dominated Administrative State – incompetent and full of excuses, while the sycophant media covers for them.
The entire event has been one CYA excuse after another, while progress crawls…
Conversely no matter how efficient bureaucrats are it takes time to mobilize and if there are no roads you aren’t moving.
When you have to build the road as you go it takes time.
We see this from different ends of the pipe.
I’ll be delivering generators to family so likely won’t be here much today.
Be well 🙂
Well there *are* roads up to the point where they are damaged, so repairs start there by default in most every case.
Parallel to that effort, helicopters can haul people, supplies, and equipment into areas isolated by road destruction. Military has competent pilots who can maneuver their egg beaters in tight areas surrounded by trees and mountainous terrain. “Skyhooks” can airlift trucks and earth moving eqpt. to where its’ most badly needed.
But all that must be coordinated by competent emergency recovery managers who have the correct contacts for the various modes required in each area.
And hopefully they are currently engaged in locating and recovering stranded or injured people before anything else.
Anyways, travel safely, Mycroft! Praying your family makes it through!
See
CET
September 28, 2024 10:57 am
Sorry GB but the terrain is the issue when you have to move mountains.
Florida has geographical differences, but its a matter of prioritizing problems. Many lessons were learned after suffering tremendous losses from years of devastating storms. Other FL governors responded quickly to disasters, so DeSantis had a system in place and was not the only gov to show leadership. However, after Hurricane Ian, he ordered temp bridges to access the outer islands presumably built by the Army Corps of Engineers and contractors within days. He also got Starlink, heavy equip, linesman, police patrols, Nat Guard to curtail looting, air dropped supplies, etc….They can do something similar, so trucks and supplies can get through. Florida has a good template for disaster recovery protocols, which can be customized by other states.
The gov. needs to tell people they are doing everything possible and reach out to states, Feds, Army, tech, and private groups. The information will encourage people to hold on, help each other and mitigate further risk.
Wondering where is the Nat Guard in the mountain states? They could have been pre-staged with equip and supplies, since the flooding in Appalachia was announced days before the storm hit. Everyone knew it was going to be cataclysmic flooding. Maybe gov. procrastinated and didn’t think it could get that bad, and left people vulnerable to what was coming? It’s a hard lesson to learn that Mother Nature can be so cruel.
Prayers for all those affected, especially the elderly, children, animals and the sick. May God give strength to the healthy and first responders, so they can bring aid and comfort to others.
So you’ve never tried to pull tons of heavy equipment and materials up more than a 2% grade? That’s just for starters.
Yes. Up (and down) steeper grades than 2%, like up to 35%. But not for storm recovery. It was military with 6×6 tractors hauling flatbed stake & rail trailers loaded down and operating on rough dirt / rocky paths through a forest. Sometimes dry and other times very wet. just trying to keep trailers from catching on sharp changes in incline was difficult. Caused route changes that slowed us down.
Not fun and some equipment broke down requiring spot repairs, at night.
But that was 50 years ago. There exists today some very unique equipment to deal with this situation. Logistics is the challenge.
He had the Sanibel Causeway fixed in no time.
NOT comparable.
“NOT comparable.”
We can compare Leadership and MSM coverage.
A good job nevertheless.
It may not be comparable but he did a great job. He would also do as well or better than anyone else in that newly devastated area.
That causeway was simple compared to roadwork in mountain terrains. Try rebuilding a road that follows a river which is next to a 200 foot cliff or through a wall of 100,000 lb boulders that have fallen on the only pathway. Just the necessary blasting can take a long time. Alternate routes will have to be set up and built everywhere and that can take months to do. These people will need a lot of help and normal Americans who get stuff done will have to do all of the work. The good news is that there are already lots of normal Americans there.
Goobermint never gets involved beyond supplying money and making prohibitive rules to prevent the completion of any actual work being done. They will be more concerned about their wildlife sanctuaries and government buildings than they are about people whose transportation routes, water supply, electricity, and heating fuels are cut off.
Best comment here.
Thank you!
I’m getting frustrated with people touting desantis and who don’t seem to understand the mountains vs flat Florida.
Yes the proverbial red tape where everyone is either incompetent, or afraid to make a decision. Politicians are especially prone to passing the buck so as not to ruffle any politically incorrect feathers. That’s exactly why they can only throw money at problems, but the problem is, it is our money they are throwing.
That behavior is deadly in a disaster and we have seen that hesitancy from all govt., even in law enforcement. No one wants to make a critical decision and take on the legal liability.
Install temp structures first, then permanent infrastructure much later. Maybe that floating pier used in Gaza could be redeployed. The point being, there are military and civilian structural engineers who know exactly what to do as a quick fix to aid in rescue and recovery. Alternate routes will have to be blazed and a lot more airlifting will need to occur. Also, do not forget about the Cajun Navy and other water rescue vessels that can get supplies in and out quickly. This is way beyond the scope of county road maintenance workers, public works personnel and even the sheriff’s office. God help them.
Hurricane Ian severed Sanibel’s only causeway in three spots.
days later,
trucks rolled over the restored bridge to repair the Island.
“Love this kind of GET IT DONE smarts!”
“amazing sight- just two weeks after the Sanibel Causeway was destroyed in Hurricane Ian, “
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but if I remember correctly, some companies jumped in and started to work fixing the causeway without dealing with all of the government crap.
DeSantis did not have anything to do with it but took credit for it.
Desantis took credit and had little to do with any recovery efforts.
He waived govt reed tape, gave full approvals and let them do their thing. Basically got out of the way and let them work. The main takeaway is that it doesn’t matter the “terrain”. Repair the bad part with a band aid but get the trucks rolling asap.
The earth moving will take months here.
Wyoming Highway 22/Teton Pass was reopened in 3 weeks with a bypass after it collapsed in June. Granted, that wasn’t due to a flood; and travel on the bypass was restricted to 20 mph but some sort or bypass or repair ought to be possible
The points of bypass are Lexington and Chattanooga. Much of this road is hanging on cliffs. There is no place for a bypass at that location.
Hwy 25 between Newport and Asheville, through Hot Springs and Marshall, is your bypass. 40 fails regularly, that is the bypass. Given that it tracks the river in question, same elevation at many points, you can be sure it is impassable. It should be the first repaired. A much easier job .
Even with 25 open, it is a massive delay.
People need to understand that these are big mountains.
I must correct an error. The I40 damage is adjacent to the little Pigeon River. Hwy 25 is adjacent to the larger French Broad River. Unfortunately, the French Broad is likely to be worse.
Does anybody know if I-95 is closed in NC? I have to travel to Florida from NJ Sunday
Eastern NC seems to not have more than average rain. You can also go the coastal route – prettier and not much slower – if you’re concerned and also want to avoid DC. The Chesapeake Bay bridge always scares me but it’s usually a smooth calm drive.
The Bay Bridge Tunnel can be frightening, but it beats the hell out of the insane traffic of I95, where cars are going 75-80 miles an hour (when they can) with only a car length or two between them. I travel to the Outer Banks of NC very often, and for me, the Bridge Tunnel is the only way I can keep my sanity.
“There is no current information suggesting that I-95 in North Carolina is closed” [AI Brave browser search]
Try MapQuest. They are pretty good at identifying traffic problems.
I think it’s OK..we have houses in Ocala fl and Amelia Island..not sure about the I77/26 routes near WV/VA and NC..
Praying for all involved
I have family in the Tri Cities and travel there weekly. The heavy downpour started on Wednesday and it was not a normal return trip home. Yes, the closures into NC are impacting people we know personally. I saw an interview of a mom with 7 children at a shelter last evening whose trailer washed away but thank God, no loss of life. They are starting over as have many in this area for as long as I can remember from various floods. It is heartbreaking.
I am in Northeast Georgia and the rain started on Wednesday without stopping until yesterday afternoon. The rivers and falls are at capacity.
Oh my word….
This is horrible. I’m in centralish/western Virginia if anyone needs anything. Prayers to all whom have been affected. 🙏🏼
Bristol, Johnson City area here. LOTS of rain that stopped early afternoon Friday. Power has been out since about Noon Friday. Lots of trees down. Traffic is lighter than normal, people are just staying home. We are north and west of the areas Sundance detailed. Praying for all!
A lot of devastation just below this area in the upstate of South Carolina. Looks like we live on the coast and took a direct hit from the hurricane. I have large trees down including one partially in my den.
Lived on I-40 in Amarillo in another life. The old historic Route 66. Ran from Chicago to LA. It’s a big deal closing that stretch down. Prayers for those as they deal with the crises. Prayers for our beautiful Republic. We Treepers know America is at a crossroads. The next days before the election are critical. Be prepared folks. Even when Trump is re-elected, there will be a battle against the blob. My plan is to lean into the Lord for guidance as much as humanly possible.
Side note…we still “get our kicks on 66” in Chicagoland and ‘burbs…
And bring your worries, fears, pains….to the Foot of the Cross….prayers will be answered.
From a friend in Elizabethon, TN: People are trapped with no road access. A dam burst and wiped out a ton of bridges. all sorts of roads are gone.
The road closure screen shot he sent me has many dozens out out of use roads.
Elizabethon is also close to Bristol Freeway and also the home of the best bbq imho-Ridgewood. Probably also lots of water runoff from the mountains too.
See you there soon, I hope.
Hopefully. We had planned to go this past Wednesday but because of weather changed our minds.
When travel gets possible, we should have a meetup there.
Yes!
Don’t get me started on BBQ. My favorite was/is in Waynesville, NC. Was heading to that area in about three weeks, but now that trip has been scrapped.
Good to see a Cajun Navy of sorts…/Speaking of Swifties, will Taylor Swift puts her money where her Tenn. mouth is and helps out her fellow Tennesseans? Or is that not allowed now that she is a Harris supporter.
My daughter and her family live in northeast TN. People may not realize that area had 2 days of soaking rain unrelated to Helene immediately before Helene even got there. Other than some minor basement flooding and no internet for a day, they are fine, but that is not true for many.
Both safest routes from NE Tennessee to Asheville NC (I-26 and I-40) have been affected. SIL’s best friend broke his collarbone when a tree fell on him. Granddaughter’s friend’s car was in the parking lot of the hospital in Sundance’s picture. In the scheme of things, these are minor. So many have lost so much more and we are praying for them. The lack of national coverage is appalling!
Anyone know conditions in Madison County North Carolina? and if they are letting people come in or if they have the roads cut off? I’m hearing some parts got 20-30 inches of rain, and all the customers in one electric company (French Broad Electric Serves Mars Hill, Mashall, Hot Springs and others) are without power with no eta on fixing it due to all incoming power to their grid not working.
We have been trying to get in contact with family but can’t and the local fire department and emergency shelter numbers aren’t working either.
Prayers for your family.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, but I’m looking for the Madison County in North Carolina
Oh gosh!!! I am so sorry…
In which case, there is nothing being reported that I could find. That was the only link.
I am just West of the affected areas in TN. The farm is drenched but is intact.
Devastating. Lord hear our prayers.
Family hs a farm near Jonesborough…no news from them…
Jonesborough is in good shape. They are north of the devastation.
I like to listen to WHLC, which broadcasts out of that area. The mayor of the affected city has been providing hourly updates. God bless all.
https://radiostationusa.fm/online/whlc
More information in this post than on the national news.
Our wonderful weather channels still have only one person in Asheville. The lack of coverage is pathetic.
Twitter is useful and I see at least one person requesting starlink coverage from Musk.
Lake lure dam failure rescinded but the evacuation was called for initially and seemed to be a shrug by reporters.
Thank you for your information. I was especially worried about the damage that was in danger of breaking. Good to know that it is holding up.
Sorry- I was worried about the DAM that was in danger of breaking.
That’s Trump Country, so just like in East Palestine, Ohio– they will be ignored by the current administration.
That’s just plain criminal.
What makes it even worse is there is no way to hold these a-holes responsible.
Sad…but they cannot ignore it so close to an election (but intelligence is not what they are known for)…
…especially with Trump emphasizing our degrading cities and infrastructure….
That will be a huge campaign issue that he can pound them with…Mercilessly! They ignore it at their own peril…
If the Biden Administration does that, what the hell are we the people paying taxes for?
Ukraine…the U.N. and other foreign aid (aka money laundering)
Buc-ee’s open.
Prayers up! May Our Lord hold all those, in the palm of His had.
Looking a bit ‘west and a tad north’…. hoping the New Madras fault line behaves….
SD: may want to update.
Reports are out also about a potential dam failure at Lake Lure in that region. Structural damage to dam.
Reports are that authorities are advising everyone downstream in 1-2 counties to evacuate asap.
Nolichucky Dam
TVA twitter: https://x.com/TVAnews
Incredible pictures…
The Nolichucky Dam near Greeneville, TN is nearing critical failure. Meaning a the dam‘s failure could occur at any moment. The heavy rain from #Helene caused widespread flash flood EMERGENCIES, some of which, are still active this morning.
Yes,Rutherford County put that warning out last night
Another false alarm fully hyped.
Dams have held so far.
Dam Safety Engineer here.
The dam owners correctly initiated their Emergency Action Plan (EAP), in an abundance of caution.
During the event, it is not possible to see the extent of undermining and scouring around structural elements of the dam. Also, it is impossible to estimate scour and erosion damage to the abutments in which the dams are founded.
SE Ohio heavy rain and 30+winds, trees down everywhere, power out noon yesterday, telling us days before electric back.
SW Ohio not as bad as you got many power outages, trees down.
I’m about 45 minutes NW of Charlotte, NC. We had lots of rain, trees down in the area, power outage most of Friday, and our internet will be out for a while. Other than internet, life is normal and we’re out for breakfast.
Huntersville?
My in-laws lived there until two years ago. Moved to Senior Living in Matthews.
Has President Biden visited yet?
The Garden Tool is going to do a flyover.
Wonder if he’ll bother to look out the window.
He’s at the beach. Afterwards, nap time. Jill is presiding over a cabinet meeting though overseeing a check for UKR.
All in a days work for them.
I havent see any Govt Offical comment or start any Actions? I havent even heard DJT say anything i guess i missed it all. Im 75 and i dont remember such long lasting damage from any Hurricane i meant to the effect of a Dam breaking to cause this damage. Prayers for all and Condolences for those who didnt make it
I trust in local news media less and less and less any more. Way too much tendency to hype “climate change”… “20 million”/”60 million” people threatened by this “enormous” “weather disaster”.
NOT trying to make light of Helene, not at all, because I remember quite a few eastern NC disasters all too well. Florence, Hugo, Isabel… and my dad told me all about Hazel in 1954, IIRC. It just that yesterday I saw some things on TV that raised my eyebrows and then made my eyes squinty.
Just sayin’. 100% vigilant 100% of the time.
My post above (to clarify) relates to some weird stuff yesterday about east-central NC, much closer to beaches than mountains, while the Capital area (central) pretty much just received more rain on top of rain. My back yard was already a soggy mess before Helene. Weather “reporters” gone wild.
If you know of anyone needing help let me know. I don’t own machinery, but I’m an operator and Truck driving Teamster for heavy hwy and pipelining. Just happen to be out of work as of yesterday.
This is what mtn living looks like. Here on the plateau this pic could have been anywhere along a 10+ stretch driving down into the valley.
“Volunteering to clear the road in some of the toughest and most remote terrain …”
Isn’t that what Sundance pretty much described what he does after ‘canes? Think he might have written an article on it years ago. Is that SD in the pix?
Good thoughts for all that live in the area.
Funny, near the middle of that red circle is where Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph hid out back in the 90s.
Otherwise some of my most-favorite country. I’ve been way up in those mountains, the Nantahala River area, Lake Hiwassee. Rough country, not a lot of infrastructure to support possible rescues/cleanup/repairs.
Yep, will be THOROUGhLY ignored by the media.
My ex sister in law in Hendersonville lost her house, my niece in Greenville lost all of her trees,they are all ok,though
I have relatives living in that area, right up next to Pisgah. We used to have to jeep to their home in our Christmas visits. Lost touch 2-3 decades ago. I do hope all is well with them.
Posted by North Carolina Weather Authority (10 hours ago):
“I received this report from a follower working with recovery efforts in Asheville. Joe Fountain says:”
“I’m here in the Canton/Asheville, NC area. All cell service is down, home phones, etc. Almost nowhere has power. We have been working our tails off trying to get mobile generators up to cell towers in hopes of restoring as much cell coverage as we can. After several were connected to the towers we found out the entire data system for this area has been knocked out and we’re landlocked on all sides due to landslides, interstates and all roads in and out of the area are blocked or washed away. I’m sitting at a fire department in their parking lot to get service from their cell tower that has a satellite data backup system. We’re doing our absolute best but everything we’re doing is failing right now.”
(EDIT my comments from various other reports, below:)
Several dams in E TN & W NC topped, in threat of collapse, but holding so far. Significant flooding in Newport TN, others. Erwin/Unicoi county TN lost all ambulances, many police & fire vehicles, and the hospital.
Here on the Cumberland Plateau, little damage, just heavy rainfall. Prayers for E TN & W NC cities and towns, especially Asheville NC. At last report, ALL roads are closed by mudslides, washout, or destroyed bridges. Prayers.
This can happen in a lot of areas: for example CA earthquakes, landslides, wild fires here in AL a tornado can come through and wipe out transmission lines.
Everyone has the ability to secure themselves, just takes money:
Best set-up
Starlink as back-up internet
EG-4 or Sol-ark hybrid inverter
Solar panels
Battery back-up (eg-4 has rack mount 30kW for ~10k)
Gas, propane or natural gas generator
The hybrid inverters take in grid power (200amp pass though), solar, battery and generator. The generator, grid and solar can charge the batteries. With the correct amount of battery back-up for your needs (do you want just essentials or everything) combined with solar and some kind of generator you could go forever. Starlink will allow you to use phone on WiFi.
Great and impressive list of survival equip, however most people (myself included), would have zero clue how to find, install or use any of it properly. Would need a 3 week course to figure it all out 🙂
The Knoxville area is fine. The steeper the hills, the worse it gets. And quickly. A small point is that serious amounts of rain moved in ahead of the hurricane remnants and provided a good soaking. Knoxville was predicted for up to 3.5 inches midweek, sum of high range forecast for each day, but fortunately, far less occured. Can’t speak for the mountains, I wasn’t out and about much then.
The storms coming through with the tropical storm appeared to me to track east of forecast. I haven’t researched what actual track was. It was close enough for the mountains to be inundated. The outer bands ran up the east side of the NC mountains into air precooled by prior rains. Since cooler air holds less moisture, the rain fall released was off gauge for several media weather outlets.
Speaking of media, the TN Emergency Management people, and a certain nit wit mayor, released false claims, without evidence, of a dam failure near the washed out photo of Interstate 40 above. The dam is visible from the interstate , if you know where to look.They have no concept of a spillway, it seems. Anyone in East Tennessee who doesn’t understand a spillway is an idiot. Duke Energy verified the dam as sound quickly, and had announced spillway activation on Thursday. Yet, throughout the afternoon, the hype continued.
I40 is a continual problem through the gorge between Newport and Canton. The back up is I26, now also closed. A two lane road between Newport and Asheville serves as a backup to I40 through Hot Springs. This is one of the more gorgeous drives in the US. , especially as the leaves turn . I can’t imagine that road as passable either.
Finally, the grim reality is that someone was likely on that road section that washed away. I pray not, but it may be a while before we know.
I’m sure this is by far the biggest problem. Hillsides getting soggier and soggier, and much stronger runoff hitting downhill areas. We were also significantly soggy here (central NC) days before Helene, a remote band of which brought us more drenching/soaking rain. I can only imagine how bad it is 4-6 hours west of here.
Why I made my first post in this article, relating to certain “news” east of central NC. We MUST be diligent and discerning in all things, always.
Newport to Del Rio to Marshall was best detour. Sadly, Del Rio is under several feet of water.
Grieved to hear that. But expected.
I posted earlier but it is locked up somewhere, so I’ll try one more…most of what I addressed has been covered by others’ comments, but I would like to just add that the information relayed by TEMA and the “nit wit mayor” came DIRECTLY from a NWS advisory, the source being a dam operator. I have screenshots but no clue how to share them. It was terrifying. I know, I’m at ground zero so to speak. Our State Representative has been all over it…state of emergency by the Gov declared within hours. Bridges and roads are still closed, thankfully the bridges seem to have held, but that is pending inspections.
Sorry you got held up again….hopefully since this is the first comment you made in a while, you were just viewed an a newbie and got held up with initial moderation. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for you….
Thank you for posting and I’m thankful your alright.
The dam operator did not announce failure of the dam. About an hour after the TEMA and mayor announced the failure, Duke informed them the dam was nominal. Yet, this information was not passed on in a timely manner. As bad as the situation was, adding panic to trapped or stressed people is pathetic. On Thursday Duke announced spillway activation was necessary due to rainfall before Helene arrived. Leaders have to know these things.
I’m quite familiar with your beautiful downtown and love the area. We probably have mutual friends.
I’ll take the unnecessary panic over what would happen if there was no notice for an hour waiting on Duke.
Everyone here knows what that dam truly breaking would bring (see Lake Lure)…what we are experiencing right now, as bad as it is, would be 1000x worse, so I’ll give them a pass on getting ahead of themselves.
It’s been known for years that there are “cracks” that require periodic inspection, so a warning like what NWS put out should be taken very seriously…better to walk it back than get hit with a 20ft wall of water.
It’s devastating, but these folks are good, strong people and they will survive. I’ve heard of 0 fatalities which is such a blessing!!
And I bet we might possibly have some mutual friends…small towns and all …😉
Have to agree that I40 west from Waynesville to Knoxville or (vice versa)is probably the most scenic road in any of the southern states. The way it rolls and curves nestled in between dense forest on both sides is magical. In fact, I had a trip scheduled for mid to late October to do NC and TN, just so I could drive that road again while the leaves were in full, vibrant Fall colors. Lucky are the drivers who experienced that road, hard to describe how nice it was. I will hopefully get to TN and AL but western NC is completely out of the question for the foreseeable future.
Can you provide a list of agencies we might donate to to help those suffering?
Right now, I think only Samaritans Purse would be in the right position. However, things will improve if communication into the area can be restored. There is no internet in/out of the region right now.
Is your location ok?
Also, God’s Pit Crew out of Danville VA they move heaven and earth to help
Ryan Hall is a YouTuber with his channel devoted to weather in the U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/c/RyanHallYall
He livestreams during severe weather outbreaks and has a crew of storm chasers that also provide help to those affected by the natural disasters. Donations he received were sometimes $30K or more, so he has set up a non-profit organization to handle donations.
https://www.theyallsquad.org/
His crew was on-site in FL along with other storm chasers prior to Helene making landfall. His operation is small scale but they are rapid responders as they are in the area before the damage happens.
Ryan Hall is wonderful. The donations go to purchasing /food/water/supplies.
https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/en/?aoi=default
This is a link to the general area and has the info on individual rivers,, creeks, stream and the water flows at the monitoring locations.
The Broad River and the Pigeon River appear to be in Major Flood stage.
What a mess! The collapse of Wyoming Highway 22/Teton Pass in June took only 3 weeks to bypass and get the road reopened. Granted, there was no flood; but US40 is a major US highway and ought to get priority repairs. Just ask Ron De Santis how to do it.
Oh wait, is that a racist road? Never mind . . .
This is among the most rugged terrain in the eastern US. Hundreds of feet drop offs on each side of the road. Generally no place for more than one or two pieces of equipment at a time. Your detour options are Lexington and Chattanooga.
Yes. It is rugged. Many families from that area have a history of their men dying from building the roads.
Hate to be crass, but Teton Pass is a main route in and out of Jackson Hole. People with money can get things done.
If you’re fortunate enough to live near monied communities, you get some of the bennies by default.
The NC/TN area just hit is full of rugged people, but sometime being tough isn’t enough.
Bless Sundance for helping to keep these people in focus.
There is plenty of money up there. Many have relocated and developers made a killing in the last 10 years. NC is a wealthy state although there are many rural households where the focus has been lately. The state will be the best resource to help their fellow residents recover over time.
Why hasn’t the Governor of North Carolina declared a state of emergency? Half his state is in crisis.
Oh wait…. it is because it’s the RED half?
His Lt. Gov was hospitalized at the Mayberry Days festival with burns, and not a word said. Governor probably busy printing extra ballots.
Not sure about this being in the “red half”. The western third of NC includes Charlotte and Asheville, both being very blue and fairly populated (Charlotte for sure).
The NC governor is just a nose-picking hayseed, just like that KY governor.
How can Asheville NC have no food? It is a good-sized city. Some of these reports seem overblown.
“Why hasn’t the Governor of North Carolina declared a state of emergency? Half of his state is in crisis.”
He did declare a state of emergency.
And , North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) has declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY to fight against school choice.
The kicker? This hypocrite sent his own child to a private school.
Cooper declared a state of emergency prior to Helene.
Today he has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government.
Yep.
We live on the leeward of the Appalachians on the Plateau and my rain gauges show 5.22in with rain forecast yet again today and showers tomorrow. We’ll likely end up with 7in. There’s a creek that crosses our road 1/4mi down in a hollow that was flooded making the road impassible. We’re at 2000ft. The people in Georgia, Eastern TN and the Carolinas took a terrible hit.
Sundance, We are doing fine in Senior Residence in Lebanon, Tn but it’s Rained for 3 days and hope to get out Sunday to Costco to replenish All the Aniejo we had. God Bless and Stay Safe
Madison County NC Residents Facebook group has a post that the college kids are okay and being fed.
I can’t find information on areas near Mars Hill for regular residents.
My guess: feds won’t lift a finger but will talk the talk. French Broad & Swannanoa breached, impacting west to Newport TN. As devastating to AVL as Cumberland breach in Nashville several years ago. We have to save ourselves. The good folks in FL & NC will do what true Americans do in time of crisis: help each other. Key phrase is true Americans. Top of the list for extermination by the 4th Reich are True Americans.
Yes save yourself, with true individualism, and the pioneer spirit. These are the American traits our country was founded on and it is time we reclaim those necessary skills. After all, nobody in govt. will be coming to the rescue.
Some of those NC good Americans happen to be former Floridians…flatlanders love those mountains:)
Sundance, I knew I could count on you for information. I live in central NC and a good source of information and updates is the North Carolina Weather Authority Facebook page. I know Treepers don’t like social media, but sometimes it is reliable since the MSM is only covering Iranians and man pads. Our mountains are forever altered. The last reporting I heard is that Montreat, the home of Billy Graham and his family, is gone. Pray and send donations. Love to all.
I’m on the plateau in TN, but am from the NE area. The Unicoi county hospital had to evacuate, as did the hospital in Elizabethton, TN. The former was flooding (up to the roof). Not sure about the latter, just saw an employee on FB say they had to get patients out. The real problem is that with the area around Cocke County (once the marijuana capitol of TN), that leaves little options to get from TN to the rest of the country east and south without tremendous extra travel. Does anyone remember Biden saying something about being able to control the weather? He as talking off prompter and said that the US couldn’t control the weather yet, but there was a facility being built… This kind of stuff is why we need to seriously consider voting early. I hate giving them the upper hand, but if this happened right before the election on Nov. 5…
The scale of federal and state government mobilization immediately required to remedy this situation is going to stress out the capabilities of both, including the U.S. military and the Army Corps of Engineers. This disaster is MAGNITUDES greater than the East Palestine scandal.
Should the Biden Administration drop the ball on purpose for partisan reasons (because Red territory), it could delegitimize the Fed Gov if public outrage proves insufficient to compel a massive government response if the Administration dawdles.
Public trust in Fed Gov is already dangerously low. And public outrage over any tardy, insufficient response is likely to reach Category 5.
If the Biden Administration were smart it would move heaven and earth to help those people and win votes it otherwise would not get. But Team Biden is not smart. Only clever.
They are vicious and malicious.
the only real thing you see on all the weather channels is a repeated narrative about the costs of all these storms, tied to climate change of course.
Clearly the word is out to carry that water pail, including Fox channels. Even some GOP people are barfing about the economic impacts of climate change.
Every time I hear this disaster is due to “climate change”, the angry hissing cat comes out in me. How about weather modification – brought to us by .gov?
Climate change barf makes spotting the D’s in R clothing easier.
Friends in the Knoxville area & Seymour as well as in Loudon Tennessee report that black bears have come down out of the mountains and are being sighted in back yards which is unusual, as a result of the storm they think.
Must be massive destruction in the park.
We are being sprayed and the impact on the weather (wind, water vapor, etc) by whatever they are spraying us is truly unknown. They’ve perfected the spray to look like clouds, and those fake clouds even show up in movies. Most recently watched Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry. Fake clouds. Enhancing naturally occurring storms might sound far fetched but maybe not when you consider where technology is and you visualize Satan at the control panel.
GeoEngineeringWatch.org
More shocking footage.
The Nolichucky Dam near Greeneville, TN is nearing critical failure. Meaning a the dam’s failure could occur at any moment. The heavy rain from #Helene caused widespread flash flood EMERGENCIES, some of which, are still active this morning. #TNwx
UPDATE Saturday 12:30CST
The Nolichucky Dam in eastern Tennessee remained intact late Saturday morning after extreme rainfall from Helene caused waters in the area to rise to record levels.
The authorities said that water levels in the Nolichucky River were receding by about one foot per hour, after reaching levels of an estimated eight feet over record elevation, but areas downstream were under a flash flood emergency until 4 p.m. Eastern, the National Weather Service of Morristown, Tenn., said on social media.
Thanks for posting updates on this, both of you. I live in Ervin, and I got family near Greeneville.