Helene Recovery & Info

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Buncombe County Schools will start back next week, with Wednesday and Thursday being staff/teacher work days and Friday being the first day back for kids. Many of the teachers and staff are still trying to put their lives back together and are not happy about it.
 
Buncombe County Schools will start back next week, with Wednesday and Thursday being staff/teacher work days and Friday being the first day back for kids. Many of the teachers and staff are still trying to put their lives back together and are not happy about it.
They must have gotten enough water tankers lined up to service their schools because they still have several schools with no water. And, I'll be interested to see what they're gonna do at the schools in the Owen district because that area got obliterated.
 
From a musician friend of mine from Asheville:

"I wept today. The simple and understated segment on CBS 60 Minutes tonight featuring WNC and the storm really moved me. Seeing our story, even as watered down and short as it was, seemed very affirming. "Look, this is what we've been through!" Most people have no idea of the devastation suffered in the WNC area.
I spent the day today serving food as a volunteer for World Central Kitchen. Up until now, I have been the recipient of the goodwill of others. Taking showers and dropping my laundry at the FEMA disaster relief station. Having a free meal from the Red Cross mobile lunch and dinner truck now and then. There were conversations too. I met a wonderful woman named Rosita, from Alaska. Here without pay, just to help. She is a spiritual counselor who attends to tragedies all over the US. As a volunteer.
In a way, I will admit I've felt a little guilty getting a free lunch or dinner from the Red Cross food truck.. "It should go to someone who needs it more than I do." After all, I have electricity now, finally. Right?
What I saw today though, serving food to everyone, whether they "needed" it or not really opened my eyes. We listened to people's stories. We talked to them, we listened to them. EVERYONE has been traumatized. We, have been through trauma together. Everyone was extremely grateful. Everyone had a story. We saw tears from some. Gratitude from everyone.
There's healing magic in a free hot meal whether you "need it" or not, and someone that is just there to support you through all of this is wonderful beyond words. That realization is what hit me today. To give and to receive the gift and magic of food, support and love...just because, and whether you "need it" or not. The fullness of that realization is what moved me today. I am changed.
Thank you to everyone who fed me and talked to me and did my laundry and set up showers and drinking water during this tragedy and thank you to those of you we fed today. We heal each other."
 

I know it's been this way for most everyone in NC, but I can't even begin to say how absolutely perfect the weather has been since Helene. Every day since has been one of those picture perfect, post card type of weather days. 1 day of full clouds that I can remember and not one drop of rain. It's been 23 straight days of this type of weather, at least where I live, and I totally understand the impending wildfire danger referenced in my quote above because it is try as a bone here. Which has been good for progress, but it's creating another danger....
 
Have a friend who went back to her hometown of Old Fort this past weekend. Sent me photos of the damage there and it is awful. Luckily her mom's house didn't get damaged. She took this photo of where they found someone who had died. Very sad situation.

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"...Buncombe County officials, who previously reported 72 deaths, are now deferring to a state tally of 42 deaths for the county.

The county’s number dates back to an Oct. 3 news release in which county officials reported that “72 lives have been lost due to Hurricane Helene,” repeating a number cited by Sheriff Quentin Miller at an earlier media briefing. But state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a number lower than that for the county. The number for Buncombe County included in the state’s tally has stood at 42 since at least Oct. 10.

On Tuesday, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office acknowledged in a statement that the number of deaths in the county was lower than the number it provided. The statement attributed to Public Information Officer Christina Esmay cited factors ranging from updated causes of death to communication challenges after the storm knocked out cell service and electricity in multiple mountain counties."
 


"...Buncombe County officials, who previously reported 72 deaths, are now deferring to a state tally of 42 deaths for the county.

The county’s number dates back to an Oct. 3 news release in which county officials reported that “72 lives have been lost due to Hurricane Helene,” repeating a number cited by Sheriff Quentin Miller at an earlier media briefing. But state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a number lower than that for the county. The number for Buncombe County included in the state’s tally has stood at 42 since at least Oct. 10.

On Tuesday, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office acknowledged in a statement that the number of deaths in the county was lower than the number it provided. The statement attributed to Public Information Officer Christina Esmay cited factors ranging from updated causes of death to communication challenges after the storm knocked out cell service and electricity in multiple mountain counties."

Oh no. Not an overcount of deaths by . . . 30 people! Burn the sheriff!
 
Have a friend who went back to her hometown of Old Fort this past weekend. Sent me photos of the damage there and it is awful. Luckily her mom's house didn't get damaged. She took this photo of where they found someone who had died. Very sad situation.

1000030629.jpg
I can attest that it's awful in Old Fort. The worst I've seen in the county, and it's pretty bad in other places....
 
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