As we enter Day #10, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham appeared on Fox News this morning to discuss the scope of the crisis in Western North Carolina.
According to Graham, the two most pressing needs are (1) volunteers and (2) hope. Volunteers are needed to just grunt out the work of trying to clear homes, clear trees, get access to some of the most rural and isolated areas; and then provide HOPE to the people who have been devastated and lost everything.
As outlined, the Starlink communication system is being deployed to the churches as a rally point for the communities in the rural areas. If they can get communication lines opened up at the same place fellowship can provide support, then two major issues can be tackled long-term for the residents in the most impacted areas. WATCH:
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Both Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina are suffering from the flood damage. In places of highest elevation, the Blue Ridge Parkway is reported to look desolate, every leaf removed from the entire tree line by hurricane force gales. The valley areas are in various states of destruction caused by flooding; however, communication is starting to increase. There are still a large number of missing people, and many estimate the death toll will climb.
Then there are those…
Language warning. Hotel manager price gauging AND very anti-customer.
If you are unaware, there was a plastics plant in Tennessee that wouldn’t let employees leave until the last minute. It ended up costing multiple employees their lives. This is one of those killed by someone who feels no value for human beings – much like most of DC now that I think about it.
Positive – the giving heart of Americans exemplified.
Saw this on fb from the travel bucket list. After hurricane helene.
So this guy, his name is Heyward. If I could make one dude famous it’s this guy.
He works at Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack in Arden in Greenville, South Carolina— but Rocky’s is closed.
So instead of going to work and getting paid somewhere else or fleeing town— this dude Heyward, he comes and works in the Crisis Response International mobile kitchen every day to work for free.
It’s over 100 degrees in that kitchen above those grills, and he works in their hours and hours serving the community day after day!
Nobody even asked him to! He just showed up and went to work helping everyone!
The thing is, sometimes I see him 10 hours a day there just serving. He wants nothing but to serve. He doesn’t ask for supplies or food. He just helps non-stop!
He was crucial to serving almost 600 people on Tuesday and nearly 1,000 more on Wednesday, and I’m 100% sure he’s gonna be doing it again tomorrow.
How can you bless Heyward?
Ok folks. I’ll send one last update tomorrow, but for the time being we are going to call a lid on #AppalachianAirlift
Your generosity has raised approximately $28k worth of supplies that went straight to people in need.
Someone has to keep things organized…
Powdered milk for ones a bit older too.
Reminds me – water filtering can often be done with materials on hand – just remember they need to be materials that were NOT part of the flood!!!
Couldn’t read the fine print which was partially effaced. So I just called Buechel Stone and left a voicemail. Asked if they still need Similac and powdered milk, or anything else, and whether they can receive deliveries from Walmart and/or Amazon. Left a return cell number. Will repost when/if I hear back from them.
Sorry about that – this should be readable 🙂
A history reminder…
CajunNavy – they’ll be needing all the prayers that can be mustered over the coming 2 weeks…search and recovery work.
Those going to Candler NC to volunteer, FYI…
Carter County Tennessee (trout fishing heaven) – Elizabethton.
Liberals attacking people – one lady gives them their just due. Ignore the critics and alinskyites from the left – focus on the task at hand and never back down. Language warning.
Brilliant and informed lady, but she talks too fast. You’ll have to listen twice.
Free meals in NC at multiple Ingles location parking lots.
Shower and laundry on wheels – Arden, NC.
Free water sources across the Helene damage areas:
An example of the help pouring in from all points of the compass.
The perspective of a NC volunteer on the ground…
Still 130K without power in NC, but that is a far cry from the starting point.
Customers still without power in Western North Carolina-
Total without power:
129, 066
Counties with Power outages above 15%
of the population:
Mitchell County:
Customers Tracked
12,071
Customers Out
7,447
Outage %
61.69%
Buncombe County
Customers Tracked
158,444
Customers Out
67,787
Outage %
42.78%
Yancey County
Customers Tracked
14,608
Customers Out
6,604
Outage %
45.21%
Avery County
Customers Tracked
1,796
Customers Out
718
Outage %
39.98%
When this storm first began, there were over 759,000 people without power in the WNC.
https://x.com/MargoinWNC/status/1843417624790872175
This is fantastic news for many in the mountains.
A pity some of the chain saw mill companies haven’t pitched in yet, especially with this distribution of saws to those who have lost all.
https://www.woodsmith.com/review/best-chainsaw-mill/
The push to help long term is on.
Resilience and community cohesion – American grit.
Men who know how to get things done, doing the deed.
Lessons learned – ingenuity used to solve the issue.
Retired firefighter that the RV was given to.
Another success story of little guys getting it done.
Video and images that help paint the picture of the massive water and mud flows through WNC and NET.
Hodges on the ground helping in the mountains now.
Another little guy making a difference. The support provided by some of the ladies is also invaluable, doing coordination and making contacts for those in the field.
Workers and materials needed for Spruce Pine, NC.
ps. Gretchen’s parents are good for now.
Hendersonville, NC in need of workers/volunteers.
Lady shares her thoughts on the Cackler.
Kamala Harris gets absolutely destroyed for prioritizing Lebanon’s over Americans.
“You would have to be HeIen KeIIer to not see nor understand what our country is going through right now.”