Anyone who has ever worked in long-term disaster recovery and response well knows what Day #6 and Day #7 bring to the psyche.  As the crisis in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina is now understood, the rescue and recovery work continue.

.

While rescue workers still attempt to find access points into some of the most devastated towns and communities of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, Joe Biden was in Greenville, South Carolina today for a briefing [SEE HERE].  There remains a worrisome absence of overall federal action when overlaid to the scale of the problem.

Day #6 and 7 are generally fraught with anxiety and the sense of being overwhelmed when contrast against the tasks at hand. It is understandable that PTSD would begin to settle in the psyche of those in the hardest hit areas.  We have many friends in the region and send our deepest prayers of support and assistance to those in need.  You are not alone.

(more…)

Everything about the state of failed non-response in WNC makes sense when you honestly “look” at this video.  Folks, I’m not kidding.

Maybe it’s just me, but it just seems odd to see people in leadership reading from a teleprompter during an extreme crisis.  Both North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and DEI hire Health and Human Services Secretary, Cody Kinsley, literally read prepared remarks from a teleprompter while holding a press conference. Together with other officials they outline the latest updates in WNC Hurricane Helene rescue and recovery operations.

North Carolina DOT is reporting at lease 425 roads remain fully closed and likely many more are compromised.  Communication into and out of the region is not nearly good enough to make any quantification of problem areas possible.  Several communities are still unreachable unless by air.  WATCH:

.

Seriously.  If you want to see DEI in action, watch the guy at 23:20.  This is like something out of a cheap Hollywood version.  Unreal.  I had NO IDEA North Carolina was this far gone.

(more…)

In the past 36 hours information to understand the context of devastation in Western North Carolina/East Tennessee has started to slowly come out. Today, we hope more families are able to contact their loved ones, as the number of missing persons continues to rise.

As communication lines start to open up, consider this thread an open discussion link for any information about the isolated impact zone. If you are in the region, let us know how you are doing. Tens-of-thousands remain trapped and isolated.

Thousands of rescue and recovery workers are now arriving just outside the area as officials attempt to patch together a way for relief efforts to reach impacted communities. Most mountain roads and bridges have failed or become severely compromised. Stay safe. Our entire CTH community is united in prayer and support.

Below is a solid representation of status for multiple families.

One Story: “My parents are ok but completely trapped. Yesterday, I hiked up to check on them. Brain spew coming; I’m still processing it all and was just locked in on go-mode yesterday.

Still not having heard from my parents in 48 hours, I was drowning in worry. My parents live in an absolute gem of the NC mountains — the Little Switzerland, Spruce Pine, Burnsville area — halfway between Asheville and Boone. Under normal circumstances, it’s pleasantly very isolated.

(more…)

Perhaps anticipating that a political administration will drag heels and deflect funds, according to press secretary Karolin Leavitt, President Trump has authorized a GoFundMe campaign to assist victims of Hurricane Helene.

[Tweet Link]

GoFundMe – “President Donald J. Trump has launched this GoFundMe campaign as an official response for MAGA supporters to offer their financial assistance to their fellow Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene. With so many across the Southeastern U.S. facing challenges after the storm, President Trump is on the ground in communities to see the aftermath firsthand. All donations will be directed to help those most affected by Hurricane Helene. Any level of generosity will go a long way for your fellow Americans who are suffering.”

~ Go Fund Me HERE ~

(more…)

Maybe, just maybe, there is a mustard seed of hope….

We are suspending our fundraising and urging everyone to send any available funds to flood relief for these folks hit by this horrible devastation. pic.twitter.com/ckIZVOxrdi

— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) September 30, 2024

.

(more…)

Today at 2:00pm ET, President Donald J. Trump, will visit Valdosta, Georgia to receive a briefing on the devastation of Hurricane Helene, facilitate the distribution of relief supplies, and deliver remarks to the press.

VIDEO ADDED:  Franklin Graham Prayer at 13:30 of video.

.

(more…)

Likely unknown to most readers, tens-of-thousands of Florida residents have homes and cabins in Western North Carolina (WNC).  It is an inside joke in the region about the number of Florida tags on cars there. This is a smart move in principle and in politics by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Giving an update from Steinhatchee, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about communication from Joe Biden.  Governor DeSantis pointed out that he has not spoken with Biden; however, he would recommend that all available FEMA and Federal recovery efforts be directed immediately to the Western North Carolina region.

DeSantis accurately describes and contrasts the unique challenges faced by people living in the WNC area.  WATCH:

.

This is one of those situations where good policy is good politics.

(more…)

It is day #4 in the generally unexpected worst effect impact zone from Hurricane Helene.  The area west of Black Mountain, North Carolina, through the eastern portion of Tennessee is facing a major crisis that continues to unfold.

After three days of almost no communication from the region outside what the private sector and social media could put together, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper finally said, “the catastrophic devastation to western North Carolina is like nothing we have ever seen.”   Damage to roads, bridges, highways and all infrastructure in the impact zone is extreme.  Many areas remain cut-off as the roads and bridges have been destroyed.

Helene’s impacts are severe in parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.  However, the Eastern TN/Western Carolina region took the hardest hit as the massive flooding has destroyed towns and literally cut-off the primary access roads and interstates needed to get into the region.

Boone, North Carolina is near many of the worst hit communities and also the headquarters of Franklin Graham’s group Samaritan’s Purse.  The orange shirts that show up in almost all areas of severe national disasters.  Samaritan’s Purse does a phenomenal job of assistance and staged recovery, and this disaster unfolded right in their back yard.

Multiple private sector groups and individuals have rushed to assist as the state and federal government seem incapable of responding due to the region facing a communication blackout.  In addition to the loss of power, cell towers, phone lines, fiber optic cable lines, and satellite receivers in the area have been destroyed.  As a result, it took a long time for groups to realize the significance of the problem.

While aide is needed throughout many areas in the southeast U.S, the red circled impact zone is in the worst shape because access to get vitally needed resources, supplies and aid to them is very limited.  Several communities remain completely cut-off and are accessible only by helicopter.

(more…)

I am certainly no expert on North Carolina politics, but what I can tell you after watching this interview is that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is completely incapable of dealing with the catastrophic crisis unfolding right now in WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

Far-east Tennessee and Western North Carolina are cut-off from the rest of the world.  Not only have the main artery roads, interstates and bridges been wiped out, but also communication lines, fiber optic cables, transmission towers, cell towers, the works have been destroyed.

If you remember the communication blackout, and subsequent slow rolling information stream that took four days to surface in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005), you will have reference for why it is taking the nation so long to realize what is happening in Western NC.

The video below is exactly what you do not want to see in this situation.

Last night Governor Roy Cooper delivered a shocking “exclusive interview” with WLOS News 13.  What makes the interview “shocking” is not just what Cooper says, but the manner in which he says it.  This guy is in a bubble without any concept of what is happening on the ground.  This interview represents everything you NEVER WANT TO SEE, in a state of emergency. WATCH:

First, Governor Roy Cooper is isolated and alone.  There are no state emergency officials next to him.  He is not in an emergency response posture; nor is he in a coordination center with the officials that matter.  15 minutes of time during a period of extreme crisis is a lot of time to waste.  This should be a press conference with every state emergency official, from every responding agency, surrounding him to offer specifics on what they are doing.

(more…)

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.

(more…)