More on the hurricane disaster

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by masraum

bigger version for better computer viewing

Cletus is alright w/ me.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by masraum

Back in the '90s, I was going to college in the Tampa, FL area. One year, a couple of us drove to the Keys for Spring Break. A hurricane had hit the Southern tip of FL and obliterated it many/several years prior. When we got there, we never went near Miami, but the roads that skirted it for miles and miles had huge piles of debris stacked on the shoulder. The piles were 15-20' tall and nearly as big around. Most of what you saw in them were building supplies, wood, siding, shingles, but you'd also occasionally see washers, dryers, refrigerators, sinks, etc.... And that was years after the hurricane had hit. Then when we drove through homestead, there were still lots of buildings that were still gone.

Hurricane Andrew 1992. We moved to South FL 6 months after. The stories people were telling me unbelievable.

[KFC911]

The volunteer pilots and everyone pitching in to help strangers in any way they can is certainly making the local news here.

No big surprise imo.... I still have faith in humanity and have seen in my whole life....

Neighbors helping neighbors... strangers helping strangers.... all in it together.

[tdw28210]

Been dealing with this for almost a week now. Family in Tampa and Tallahassee -all good. Family in upstate South Carolina - getting better. 82 year old mother just got power back yesterday afternoon. In every case, MUCH better than Western North Carolina. There are at least 4 volunteer airlifts for WNC going on in and the area; Hickory, Statesville, Concord and Indian Trail. We've been collecting supplies to keep the airlifts stocked since Monday. Been hearing stories and reading texts from people on the ground. It's NOT good. I don't want to repeat some of things I've been told. It's honestly horrible and I am hoping they are exaggerations or just people in shock reacting to the devastation. I am not sure though.

[stevej37]

My younger sister, living in Franklin, NC just today had cell service restored.
First we have heard from her since last Thursday.

She said the grocery store shelves are nearly empty. Only a few trucks getting in.

And everything in her small town is cash. Credit card readers are not working.

[pmax]

[pmax]

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by KC911

The volunteer pilots and everyone pitching in to help strangers in any way they can is certainly making the local news here.

No big surprise imo.... I still have faith in humanity and have seen in my whole life....

Neighbors helping neighbors... strangers helping strangers.... all in it together.

FEMA/National Guard seem to be nowhere in sight.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by fintstone

FEMA/National Guard seem to be nowhere in sight.

They are there. Per the usual, slow to arrive and undermanned. Will probably depart too soon. Many of the remote spots are too tight for Chinook and Blackhawks to land. They need airports, purpose-built pads or parking lots, not hilly half acres. The smaller civilian aircraft is/was more effective in getting supplies in and people and pets out. Major roads are opening up now so several caravans headed up today and several planned for tomorrow and the weekend. It's still a tough slog from the big collection points to the smaller towns and neighborhoods that remain cutoff. Lack of clean water and gas is going to be a big problem for a long while. I am not sure this region is coming back any time this decade.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by fintstone

FEMA/National Guard seem to be nowhere in sight.

My FEMA USAR team is there along with a few other teams. But from but I'm hearing from them, other fed assets are pretty slim.

.

[rfuerst911sc]

When egos and stupidity team up you get poor results .

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pilot-flying-helene-rescue-missions-154942261.html

[tdw28210]

Small towns need the help....

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

When egos and stupidity team up you get poor results .

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pilot-flying-helene-rescue-missions-154942261.html

There is that guy that had good intentions and went out on his own to help. He found himself in a situation where he is now at home and not really helping. It does seem the fire chief handled the situation poorly. Allowing a couple more trips to finish the job sounds reasonable. Advising the pilot of who to get in touch with to get future flights should have also happened.

With that out of the way the situation is clear. There are limited resources at this time. Food, water, housing, and fuel need to basically be rationed. They don't need individuals coming in at this time and using those resources for their own use, even with good intentions. If you have skill, equipment, or supplies that can be used then go though channels and be part of the planned effort like the following copter pilots. Why are these guy flying while the one guy is at home making videos?

They have made it clear that volunteers need to get in touch with rescue and support organizations. If you do not do so you should expect to be turned away.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/volunteers-hickory-use-their-helicopters-fly-supplies-helene-victims/4LN4KYT2FBF6REEEGVNPCH5RXM/

Volunteers in Hickory use their helicopters to fly supplies to Helene victims

On Monday morning, Faherty saw more than a dozen helicopters lift off from the Hickory Regional Airport. They were civilian aircraft taking supplies to the mountains and helping people who were trapped or in need of medical help.

“I heard about it through my wife and kids. They heard about it on Instagram,” said pilot Steve Houghton. “It’s great to play some small role. Happy to be a part of it.”

The Carolina Emergency Response Team is overseeing the efforts.

“Think Hurricane Katrina, except in the mountains and with helicopters, not boats,” said Chad Walton. “That’s pretty much where we’re at right now.”

A total of 20 choppers are being used to reach people from Banner Elk to Asheville.

Faherty also saw search and rescue dogs arrive on a private plane from Oklahoma. Those dogs will also be flown to some of the hardest-hit areas west of Hickory.

Faherty could see some of the choppers being loaded Monday morning with all kinds of supplies, from diapers to insulin. He was told that some of the people will be evacuated back to the Hickory Regional Airport, but the majority will be flown to shelters in those counties.

The airport director told Faherty the U.S. National Guard has also been running missions out of Hickory. The Carolina Emergency Response Team said they are taking requests for help on their Facebook page.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tdw28210

Small towns need the help....

....

In addition to the small cities... villages, etc.

The locals know every valley ... or holler as the volunteer FD chief called them. People are slowly digging, walking, etc. and making first contact. I wish I could go help with saws, a loaded F150.... We are fine here .... the big, world class disaster recovery/aid are right here.... Samaritans Purse, US Army specialized in that stuff, etc.

500 FEMA in the state, Military bases down east sending help, Some Fire Depts here are deserted... all their equipment disappeared days ago ...

All hands on deck .... at all levels ... and folks are doing what they can...

But in those remote hollers ... a chainsaw, a truck, a 4 wheeler, etc. can make a difference too.

I don't worry about my relatives in Asheville and can't really help them.

I wish I could go help strangers first hand .... I just can't right now.

edited: I'm in the Greensboro area... the local TV stations food/supplies/$$$ efforts were unprecedented in the response just yesterday. Several hundred K in $$$.... Several hundred K lbs of supplies... heading west...

All airports an hour west are being used as distribution points... private choppers & small planes.

NC will take all the help we can get ... as we help each other

Thank you!

[Racerbvd]

[KFC911]

As the roads, etc. begin to open ... our Gov. just said that the Nat.Guard/Military boots are already integrating with local teams... to get aid to those "last milers" ... whatever it takes.

[Sooner or later]

Thanks for taking the high road, KC.

[fintstone]

My family, friends and multiple properties are there. There is no help from the state or FEMA. Just a trickle of private folks. There may be a bit in the big city. If you were not prepared, you are screwed (maybe even if you were) ...just as it always has been in that area.

The governor has not done squat. Neither has the Fed/FEMA. They say they have no money for natural disasters.

[greglepore]

Absent helicopters help is going to be slow in the countryside. Many places have one road in and out, and its impassible. Volunteers are using mule trains to pack in bottled water and food. No idea why its been a private airforce of helicopter owners providing the main support.

[tdw28210]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAnqtpLxhrM/?igsh=c3VnNTFhMmFoeXdi