Helene Recovery & Info

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One was a retired deputy from Florida who worked as a courthouse security officer in Macon County.

He left for lunch and didn’t return. A vehicle matching his truck was seen in the floodwaters; his body was found a day later in the river.
 
Saw military transport plane fly over LkN area not long ago, hopefully heading for Asheville area.

Also, while in Lenoir to take my mom home earlier today, I saw a convoy of 4-5 utility repair trucks and supporting work trucks heading up 321 towards Boone area (I assume), yellow lights flashing.
 
Those of us from NC or who have visited the mountains know, there are thousands of little roads that go off the beaten trail. Those roads often have 1-20 homes on them, usually smaller homes, and those road often follow valleys with nice babbling creeks. Well those creeks just became roaring rivers and I have to imagine there are many, many deaths in those areas where people have no idea nor have reached them at this point.

I would be floored if the death total is not much higher
 
Zoo_View said:
This was just talked about on WUNC.

The flooding and devastation in Spruce Pine may have global economic impact. The mine(s) in Spruce Pine produces a lot of the world’s high-purity quartz, which is used to make integrated circuits, including microchips.
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I didn't even think of Spruce Pine until your post. Lives are definitely more important than HPQ, but this could have some real far reaching repercussions.
 
HeelingAg said:
As someone far far away, I hope those in need get need. I hope those fearing for loved ones learn their loved ones are safe and cared for.

Also, as someone who believes in democracy, I hope the federal personnel on the ground and in logistics execute their jobs with surgical precision, and I hope those with human/emotional investment in the outcomes forgive me for conflating the politics with the human.
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From what I’m seeing, the government response to this catastrophe, from local to federal, has been terrific. It’s a horribly complicated situation and will take months or years to complete, but this is a great example of community and government working about as well as the human capacity allows. Lots of suffering, but also a lot of people trying to alleviate it however they can.
 
05C40 said:
I didn't even think of Spruce Pine until your post. Lives are definitely more important than HPQ, but this could have some real far reaching repercussions.
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No doubt the lives are more important. I didn’t think about the implications on microchip production this storm could cause until WUNC covered it.
 
“National Guard troops airlifted families out of flooded communities in North Carolinaas federal authorities raced Monday to assist those hardest hit by Helene, surging thousands of aid workers to Southeastern states.

Personnel rescued 324 residents in air evacuations by Monday morning following the devasting floods in the western part of the state, according to North Carolina National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Ellis Parks.

… Meanwhile the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in “surge” mode, deploying 3,500 workers to work with local, state and federal officials. Another 1,200 were conducting search and rescue missions targeting the hardest-hit areas of North Carolina and Tennessee, a senior FEMA official told USA TODAY. …”

www.usatoday.com

Infant airlifted as Hurricane Helene aftermath devastates North Carolina

Some 324 people had been evacuated by air in flooded parts of western North Carolina, the National Guard said Monday.
www.usatoday.com www.usatoday.com
 
It’s triage folks… cities and communities are sending their trucks and workforces up the mountain to save lives, leaving behind their own cities which are without power and water. It’s a matter of trying to save lives first and then coming back home to restore power and water to those who aren’t threatened with their lives, but who are only inconvenienced for a few more days.
 
2ManyBlueCups said:
At least three Sheriff’s deputies have been killed in the line of duty by floodwaters in western NC, so the hatred towards them is beyond the pale right now.
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uh, no.

it is not remotely "beyond the pale" to call out awful behavior by some sherriff's deputies because some other sherriff's deputies tragically lost their lives.

these things are not mutually exclusive.
 
What makes this even more of a disaster is very few people in the mountains have flood insurance and it's not covered by regular homeowner's.

Hell I don't have it here in the Triangle but if this can happen 2000 feet above sea level I guess I should get some.
 
LosPollosHermanos said:
What makes this even more of a disaster is very few people in the mountains have flood insurance and it's not covered by regular homeowner's.

Hell I don't have it here in the Triangle but if this can happen 2000 feet above sea level I guess I should get some.
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Unless you live in a floodplain or a steep, narrow valley or on a barrier island, or next to a sound, you’re good.

This can easily happen at 2,000 feet. This will likely happen with greater frequency as the climate warms and there is more and more moisture in the atmosphere. Hurricanes and tropical storms and just normal storm fronts are bringing more-and-more rain.

Jeff Jackson, in his e-mail, referred to this as a 500-year flood. He’s likely wrong. It’s likely a 10-50 year flood.

Once recovery is successful, and rebuilding is starting, we have to ask, “Should we allow rebuilding in that spot?”

Biltmore Village? I’d argue it’s in a floodplain. No rebuilding there.

A house in a holler just above a creek? No rebuilding there.

Lake Lure Dam? Tear it down.
 
LosPollosHermanos said:
What makes this even more of a disaster is very few people in the mountains have flood insurance and it's not covered by regular homeowner's.

Hell I don't have it here in the Triangle but if this can happen 2000 feet above sea level I guess I should get some.
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If you are even in a flood possible location, it is smart. If my home floods, the world is over, so I should be safe. There are some benefits for living on the literal edge of a major watershed
 
Zoo_View said:
Unless you live in a floodplain or a steep, narrow valley or on a barrier island, or next to a sound, you’re good.

This can easily happen at 2,000 feet. This will likely happen with greater frequency as the climate warms and there is more and more moisture in the atmosphere. Hurricanes and tropical storms and just normal storm fronts are bringing more-and-more rain.

Jeff Jackson, in his e-mail, referred to this as a 500-year flood. He’s likely wrong. It’s likely a 10-50 year flood.

Once recovery is successful, and rebuilding is starting, we have to ask, “Should we allow rebuilding in that spot?”

Biltmore Village? I’d argue it’s in a floodplain. No rebuilding there.

A house in a holler just above a creek? No rebuilding there.

Lake Lure Dam? Tear it down.
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OK gotta clear up a major fallacy in your post (the rest, 100% agree!!!)

That was indeed a 500-year storm by definition. You are trying to say those will happen more frequently, but 500-year means 0.02% historically of occuring in any one year. That number will not move quickly. A 10 year and 50 year storm is much less water volume, and those are definitely happening more and more and we are seeing those numbers increase (the numbers which equate to a 10 year event)...and those are moving faster by statistical nature compared to a 500 year storm.

I actually think they will determine this was more of a 0.01% storm event in areas. It literally set the all time state record for event rainfall in any location. So we shouldn't exaggerate and say this was a 10-50 year storm. The Swannanoa floods easily, yes. But it hits like 12 feet, not 27! There is such a massive difference in 10" of rain in a storm (I would guess that's about a 25 year event there, without looking up anything) and 36"

So your point in that climate change is increasing the frequency which will change the numbers is fair. But it's not fair to say this was a 10-2% chance storm.

Absolutely agree that some places need to turn into parks after this. Biltmore Village, I am looking at you. Construction in 100-year floodplains (verifiable Zone AE) should be abandoned once a place is condemned. Compensate an owner for the value and ban building unless on stilts.
 
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