I'm sure there are others that have it worse but I think a lot of those businesses up there make a fair amount of their money from folks cruising down the Blue ridge parkway to look at the leaves change.
I know you know this, but it's not a 1000 year event any more. In fact, I'd bet money that we see another 1000 year event within 30-40 years. Maybe not in the exact same place, but it's going to happen.
Yep. This is where the profit is made.
Umm... A literal 11 days elapsed between separate unrelated 1000 year flood events in North Carolina
National Guard was starting to roll into WNC on Saturday after lunch. Saw them with my own eyes when I was at the command center.
I was in a command center on Saturday morning. I can tell you without a doubt that FEMA was on the ground. Actually walked right by them on my way out.
You are right. It's been outstanding.
No, 40 is open on the mountain in both directions as of yesterday afternoon. There may be delays going west due to lane closures, but it's open. If you haven't seen the video that was posted earlier in this thread, the landslide in question was right at the top of the mountain where the truck pull off is for east bound trucks getting ready to go down the mountain.
Oh, I didn't even know about that.
There’s an absolute fuckton of misinformation out there right now about the (alleged lack of) government response to this disaster. It’s absurd and cynical political pandering, but I don’t have any doubt the vast majority of Pubs will accept the false narrative that the government is not doing a good job helping the people of WNC. It’s really shocking to see how far some sources will go to use a human catastrophe to score political points.
What type of command center and what were you doing there? I'm assuming either a) that's your job; or b) you were volunteering to help. Not asking for any nefarious purpose. Just curious.
Right. And maybe it helps Trump run up the score in Alabama. But he needs these votes right here, right now.
it was extremely localized and for the most part happened in a place where the rain had the ability to run off onto the ocean. As Helene pointed out, we're not always going to be that lucky, though. As it was, it devastated a huge number of homes and businesses on the Island. For Carolina and Kure Beaches, the flooding was worse than it was for Florence in 2018 (but over a much smaller area).
Here’s what I can tell you. Being a republican is a way of life for many folks. It’s an identity, often tied in with their faith. This situation is not going to change many votes to the Harris column.
I'm curious as well. We've had a fairly massive staging operation spring up in the last 72 hours 1.5 miles down the road from us. We don't know if it's FEMA or another agency. All the tents and containers and stuff are set too far back from the main road to see anything identifying.
Can you let us know what you find out? I’m curious who’s setting up where. Do you have power yet? You’ve been very much on my mind.
Nope, no power or water at home - still dark and dry - but we have had access to bathrooms and showers at friends' houses since Monday. So no major problems in comparison to many, many others. Thank you for the good mojo.
Hoping power and water comes asap.
