Hurricane Helene

Bostondevil said:
Somehow I've missed that you live in the Triangle. I was just down there earlier this month. Duke's Centennial weekend was supposed to be this weekend, so far I know the Math Department picnic has been cancelled. Way down on the list of concerns, but I can spare some empathy for Duke's event planners if everything gets cancelled. All that work for nothing.
Click to expand...
The least important thing with the wreckage from the storm but most of the big activities went on although some were relocated. The campus was spared.
 
Yeah, it's not looking good. Here are just two samples from I-40 in Western NC:

I-40_NC-Mile_Marker_3-2024-09-27.jpegI-40-NC-LookingTowardUS74-2024-09-27.jpg

The NC DOT issued a pretty extraordinary statement, as well:

All roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed. Motorists should not travel in this area, should not attempt to drive through standing water and must respect barricades and road closure signs. Those in western North Carolina should seek higher ground and shelter in place.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever seen a complete blanket statement like that, but with those pictures, I can see why. It's going to take some time to fix I-40, and I can't imagine the smaller roads are much better.
 
sagegrouse said:
One breakdown I saw in the death toll had the majority of the reported deaths being from SC. There is no reason why SC should have more harmed by this storm than Georgia or NC. Maybe just faster reporting -- which is a double ugh!!. That may mean there is much more bad news coming from elsewhere.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing.maybe they just weren't prepared. Living on the coastal areas you have to be.if I was in the Spartanburg area upstate I may have been less worried/prepared aswell .
I fear they just haven't tallied florida yet.
 
sagegrouse said:
One breakdown I saw in the death toll had the most reported deaths in SC. There is no reason why SC should have more harmed by this storm than Georgia or NC. Maybe just faster reporting -- which is a double ugh!!. That may mean there is much more bad news coming from elsewhere.

One report --
SC 19
GA 15
FL 8
NC 6
Click to expand...
Yeah, if western NC is flooded and without electricity and cell service, there is certainly more bad news to come.
 
sagegrouse said:
One breakdown I saw in the death toll had the most reported deaths in SC. There is no reason why SC should have more harmed by this storm than Georgia or NC. Maybe just faster reporting -- which is a double ugh!!. That may mean there is much more bad news coming from elsewhere.

One report --
SC 19
GA 15
FL 8
NC 6
Click to expand...
Greenville-Spartanburg area got hit hard - lots of people there. I wonder how many people stuck around in Fla and got trapped by the surge.

-jk
 
-jk said:
Greenville-Spartanburg area got hit hard - lots of people there. I wonder how many people stuck around in Fla and got trapped by the surge.

-jk
Click to expand...
A whole lot. Reporting here concerning that issue is astounding. Folk that have lived in their location for many decades without flooding were completely caught off guard this time around.
 
sagegrouse said:
One breakdown I saw in the death toll had the most reported deaths in SC. There is no reason why SC should have more harmed by this storm than Georgia or NC. Maybe just faster reporting -- which is a double ugh!!. That may mean there is much more bad news coming from elsewhere.

One report --
SC 19
GA 15
FL 8
NC 6
Click to expand...

That North Carolina total is going to skyrocket. It's low because communications are out in most of the mountains. The Xitter and Facebook reports that are trickling out involve mudslides in places like Montreat and Swannanoa.
 
The Washington Post Capital Weather Gang posted this on FB, from a WCNC meteorologist:

Brad Panovich Meteorologist​

Here's what I know and don't know, this morning about Western NC.
Still little communication and almost zero cell service. If you read this from those areas or know someone there stick with text messaging, These messages only needs to ping a cell tower to go through. So don't send pics or videos, just text! This can work with almost no signal or service. Some landlines are actually working, but only a few.
Lake Lure Dam made it, engineers checked it out, and it survived. Chimney Rock Village north of the lake did not do so well; it was mostly destroyed, and debris washed into Lake Lure.
Asheville is a mess, almost completely cut off by road. Many washed-out roads and bridges and many firehouses have been destroyed, so first responders need help as much as the residents. They have better ways to get stuff in and out than surrounding mountain communities.
In other counties, I'm hearing lots of information that sounds like many landslides and washed-away homes and buildings. So, I don't want to speculate, but honestly, it doesn't sound good. Some rescue crews are trapped as well; the ones that went out first thing yesterday also became trapped. So, in some cases, the rescuers need to be rescued.
Communication: I have been in contact with 2 people with Starlink and generators, but they are also cut off from moving around. If you know someone with Starlink and power, please pass along any info you can.
What can we do? I talked with some EM people, and many resources are now pouring into the western Carolinas. Stuff deployed by Helene's heads was spread out over the Southeast. Now, it's all heading into the mountains. WCNC and I are going to try to work with Samaritan's PursePurse next week to get relief. They're heading there already and have logistics to get supplies to the people. Also, the American Red Cross is doing great stuff.
Also, if you know shelters or churches accepting people, let me know. I have had a few people make it out but don't know where to go for a shower or hot meal. Here is the current list of shelters:
https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/open-shelters
I will post anything I can find out, but I still can't reach most places in the mountains yet. Here is an excellent resource for more information and help. https://www.readync.gov/
 
MChambers said:
The Washington Post Capital Weather Gang posted this on FB, from a WCNC meteorologist:

Brad Panovich Meteorologist​

Here's what I know and don't know, this morning about Western NC.
Still little communication and almost zero cell service. If you read this from those areas or know someone there stick with text messaging, These messages only needs to ping a cell tower to go through. So don't send pics or videos, just text! This can work with almost no signal or service. Some landlines are actually working, but only a few.
Lake Lure Dam made it, engineers checked it out, and it survived. Chimney Rock Village north of the lake did not do so well; it was mostly destroyed, and debris washed into Lake Lure.
Asheville is a mess, almost completely cut off by road. Many washed-out roads and bridges and many firehouses have been destroyed, so first responders need help as much as the residents. They have better ways to get stuff in and out than surrounding mountain communities.
In other counties, I'm hearing lots of information that sounds like many landslides and washed-away homes and buildings. So, I don't want to speculate, but honestly, it doesn't sound good. Some rescue crews are trapped as well; the ones that went out first thing yesterday also became trapped. So, in some cases, the rescuers need to be rescued.
Communication: I have been in contact with 2 people with Starlink and generators, but they are also cut off from moving around. If you know someone with Starlink and power, please pass along any info you can.
What can we do? I talked with some EM people, and many resources are now pouring into the western Carolinas. Stuff deployed by Helene's heads was spread out over the Southeast. Now, it's all heading into the mountains. WCNC and I are going to try to work with Samaritan's PursePurse next week to get relief. They're heading there already and have logistics to get supplies to the people. Also, the American Red Cross is doing great stuff.
Also, if you know shelters or churches accepting people, let me know. I have had a few people make it out but don't know where to go for a shower or hot meal. Here is the current list of shelters:
https://www.readync.gov/stay-informed/open-shelters
I will post anything I can find out, but I still can't reach most places in the mountains yet. Here is an excellent resource for more information and help. https://www.readync.gov/
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting these updates. I never know which response option to choose when I like that it was posted but do not like what the information means.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top