Puller
Member
Reports are that Ashville is completely cut off. I-40 is washed out in a couple of places. East Tennessee is taking a beating with flood waters.
Looks like Helene may be a name to remember
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We got a notice that our power may be back on by midnight Sunday. The 2 restaurants we like in another area that have power are closed on Sunday so may have to break out the propane burners. Larry
We, and some of my extended family, dropped some plastic on Matthew 25: Ministries.
Lots of folks hurting down south.
Lots of folks hurting down south.
OP
LVSteve
Member
Latest on APnews is 52 dead, but it is expected to rise. Apparently, the breakdown of comms in the Asheville area means that LE cannot contact next of kin, so they are staying silent on casualties. Weirdly, nobody has been reported killed where Helene came ashore. Thin population, I guess.
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I-40 and I-26 are washed out near Asheville. Sounds the only way to get there is by air as heard all the roads around Asheville have no entry signs. Asheville will be months recovering from this.
We got super blessed yesterday. A few hours after I posted yesterday our power came on but there is a large area a couple of miles from us is still out. Larry
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Death toll at 64 with many more expected as the flood waters recede. Ron DeSantis is sending National Guard assets to North Carolina to assist with their devastation.
Prayers for those affected as well as for all those who will be heading in to help them out. Groups like Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, Team Rubicon, and others, will be mobilizing lots of resources. Each of these groups could also use your financial assistance.
Prayers for those affected as well as for all those who will be heading in to help them out. Groups like Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, Team Rubicon, and others, will be mobilizing lots of resources. Each of these groups could also use your financial assistance.
We go to the area often and almost bought a home in Biltmore Village about a dozen years ago. The NC mountains have numerous floods and landslides during heavy rains, Helene was a catastrophy.
Helene kills 64, submerges historic village; hundreds of roads closed in North Carolina
Helene kills 64, submerges historic village; hundreds of roads closed in North Carolina
The death toll.....
.. is very disheartening. Up to 69 and they seem to still be finding victims.
.. is very disheartening. Up to 69 and they seem to still be finding victims.
Toll for the storm is over 100, near 50 in North Carolina.
Article attached has pics of main street Chimney Rock on Lake Lure in NC.
Devastating.
'Damage is unimaginable' in Chimney Rock after images show half of village wiped out
Article attached has pics of main street Chimney Rock on Lake Lure in NC.
Devastating.
'Damage is unimaginable' in Chimney Rock after images show half of village wiped out
Sometimes people complain about response time. Well, if it isn't safe for first responders, it is not safe for anyone else.
As I was told years ago, you're no good to anyone if you get injured trying to help.
These guys gave their lives.
Two western NC deputies killed by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene
As I was told years ago, you're no good to anyone if you get injured trying to help.
These guys gave their lives.
Two western NC deputies killed by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene
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Have cousins in Madison County N. of Asheville. Rt. 19 was the main road from Asheville to Burnsville( nice place) and N to Spruce Pine. 19 is completely gone as most of the road was washed away. Up there many roads were built next to a creek. Heard there is no way in to any of the small towns except by air. Bad thing and winter is just around the corner.
I read in the Winston-Salem paper that Spruce Pine had over 2 ft. of rain from Tuesday through Saturday. It's heart breaking. That much water would even devastate flat land. Larry
Going through the mountains on a good day is hard. One time we were leaving Boone or Blowing Rock headed to Banner Elk. Forgot which.
According to Waze it was about 10 miles, but took us 45 minutes to navigate the up and down switchbacks and narrow unpaved roads that were unforgiving with steep drops within a yard or two away.
According to Waze it was about 10 miles, but took us 45 minutes to navigate the up and down switchbacks and narrow unpaved roads that were unforgiving with steep drops within a yard or two away.
Man hikes 11 miles, 2200 feet high to reach his parents in North Carolina
It had been 48 hours since the winds and rains from Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina and Sam Perkins still had not heard from his parents.
So, on Saturday morning, he got in his vehicle and started driving toward their home, nestled on a mountain between Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland, to find them.
"My parents live in an absolute gem of the North Carolina mountains," Perkins said in a post about his experience. The area is about an hour's drive from Asheville. "Under normal circumstances, it's pleasantly very isolated..."
When he realized how many roads were cut off, Perkins said he left his vehicle near a closed highway at the bottom of the mountain and started hiking to his parents' home.
"I tried every road route I could, but the roads, no matter where you go, are blocked by landslides or failures," Perkins explained to CNN. "I can't tell you how many failing roads and deep mudslides I had to cross, how many fallen trees I had to take off my backpack for and navigate through."
While hiking, Perkins said he ran into multiple people trapped due to the devastated highway. For more than three-and-half hours, Perkins said he hiked 11 miles and 2,200 feet high to finally reach his parents' home.
"I have never been so relieved to see anyone OK," Perkins told CNN, adding his parents are in their 70s, but pretty resourceful people...
Perkins found his parents in decent health and their home was mostly fine, but they were effectively trapped, unable to hike down the mountain on foot, he said.
"They have food. They are pretty much out of water, but they have enough propane to boil once they start needing to," Perkins told CNN on Sunday, noting power restoration may take weeks for their area.
After he found his parents on Saturday, fog and rain settled in and Perkins decided to head back down. "I didn't want to use their supplies, so I went ahead and decided to trek back..."
He was even able to hitch a ride on an undamaged portion of a road with someone in the community.
And that community is strong, he said: "Everything you would expect with Southern Hospitality."
His mother was able to a send him a message earlier Sunday, and it mostly focused on trying to get supplies for her neighbors.
"I'm still processing it all. I've never seen anything like it," Perkins said. "Power is a couple weeks out. I cannot fathom how long it will take (the Department of Transportation) to repair the curvy roads that hug the steep mountainsides..."
Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, in Asheville, North Carolina. ( Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
I remember reading a glowing travel article a year or two ago about Asheville
It had been 48 hours since the winds and rains from Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina and Sam Perkins still had not heard from his parents.
So, on Saturday morning, he got in his vehicle and started driving toward their home, nestled on a mountain between Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland, to find them.
"My parents live in an absolute gem of the North Carolina mountains," Perkins said in a post about his experience. The area is about an hour's drive from Asheville. "Under normal circumstances, it's pleasantly very isolated..."
When he realized how many roads were cut off, Perkins said he left his vehicle near a closed highway at the bottom of the mountain and started hiking to his parents' home.
"I tried every road route I could, but the roads, no matter where you go, are blocked by landslides or failures," Perkins explained to CNN. "I can't tell you how many failing roads and deep mudslides I had to cross, how many fallen trees I had to take off my backpack for and navigate through."
While hiking, Perkins said he ran into multiple people trapped due to the devastated highway. For more than three-and-half hours, Perkins said he hiked 11 miles and 2,200 feet high to finally reach his parents' home.
"I have never been so relieved to see anyone OK," Perkins told CNN, adding his parents are in their 70s, but pretty resourceful people...
Perkins found his parents in decent health and their home was mostly fine, but they were effectively trapped, unable to hike down the mountain on foot, he said.
"They have food. They are pretty much out of water, but they have enough propane to boil once they start needing to," Perkins told CNN on Sunday, noting power restoration may take weeks for their area.
After he found his parents on Saturday, fog and rain settled in and Perkins decided to head back down. "I didn't want to use their supplies, so I went ahead and decided to trek back..."
He was even able to hitch a ride on an undamaged portion of a road with someone in the community.
And that community is strong, he said: "Everything you would expect with Southern Hospitality."
His mother was able to a send him a message earlier Sunday, and it mostly focused on trying to get supplies for her neighbors.
"I'm still processing it all. I've never seen anything like it," Perkins said. "Power is a couple weeks out. I cannot fathom how long it will take (the Department of Transportation) to repair the curvy roads that hug the steep mountainsides..."
Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage on September 28, in Asheville, North Carolina. ( Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
I remember reading a glowing travel article a year or two ago about Asheville
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Western North Carolina will be YEARS in recovering. We used to spend lots of time in Burnsville, Spruce Pine, Boone and Blowing Rock since the 70's. Guess it will be year or more before I will get back that way. Late wife loved Boone as took her there on our honeymoon in 71. New Wray Inn used to be the place to eat in Boone.
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One of many feel good stories amongst the horror.
Guided by the light: Former NASCAR driver finds man in need of help while piloting helicopter over western NC
Guided by the light: Former NASCAR driver finds man in need of help while piloting helicopter over western NC
My son and his family live in Asheville. I was only without power for 5 days, and I could carry water from the pond to flush the toilets. He finally threw in the towel yesterday and rented an Air Bnb in Winston Salem. At least he had no home damage. One of his wife's co-workers was trapped in their home by a mudslide. The only way they could get out was crawling through a hole that developed between a wall and the ceiling. Of course I-40 is closed, so he had to drive to South Carolina first and then meander back. He and his neighbors have started calling ti Ashlantis.
Finding humor in grim situations is a human trait I really admire.
Finding humor in grim situations is a human trait I really admire.
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