Classichammer

Someone asked about me and wished that I was safe in another post. I am safe and sound, but there is a lot going on around where I live. The eye hit about two hours west of me and it is now a complete shit show up in the mountains. Whatever you hear on the news is much much worse. I would not be surprised if we end up with Katrina level casualties or worse, given how many are already dead and thousands still missing. Add on the the amount of senior citizens living in retirement homes(both SLC's and private homes) up in the mountains, and how hard it is to get up there and help or resupply. We have more than a few towns that don't have a building standing anymore as they have all been washed away. There are about half of a dozen colleges up there, and I could not tell you what is happening up there as far as classes goes, but I suspect that they will cancel the semester for them at least. How those kids will get home is going to be interesting. The only way to get up to many communities right now is either helicopter, horse,(if you can believe it) or hike as the one road that they had going to them is either still flooded or washed out. They have mule trains going up to the mountains now carrying supplies and trying to evacuate people. I-40 will not be open through to Tennessee until this time next year and I-26 to Tennessee won't be open for six months and that is assuming that everything goes right. I don't know about other roads like the Blueridge Parkway, etc. but it is bad.

Ironically Samaritan's Purse is a large Christian relief group that is headquartered of all places in Boone, right in the middle of this, and their massive warehouse where they keep the relief trucks and surplus supplies and equipment, are housed right in the middle of Charlotte. We seem to be better off than most as far as private rescue, evac and resupply goes, and more is coming from other sources. All that I will say is that the Fed and State response has been very lackluster so far. Some DOT convoys to clear the road have been dispatched, but no statewide call up of National Guard, nor US Military deployed. I would think that I would notice a military convoy or the airports closed and continual grey tails or helicopter flights, but we have a quiet sky and road all weekend long. No real good answer as to why right now, if we will ever get one. One last thing, at least one Sheriff up there have now highly recommend that everyone up there open carry firearms, with safety's off so all weapons are to be hot at all times. While they are usually pretty low key when it comes to firearms up in the mountains, especially now with hunting season approaching, that is a first time that I have ever heard that. Bottom line I will reiterate what I said, it is bad and likely will get worse up there.

Christ alive. Glad you made it through the storm itself, at least. Stay safe up there.

Thank Dorn you're safe. I still have tons of contacts in the National Guard, so I'll keep my ears peeled for any info. I know I got pegged to go to Mississippi and Louisiana during Katrina and Rita, so I imagine that call will hit some of the units in my area. Especially the chopper units, from the sounds of it.

Jonathon E: Anyone along the river west of Charlotte are still having issues, but nothing like what we are seeing up in the mountains. Honestly, you would not know that we had a Hurricane a week ago here. We will see what happens in the next few weeks if some of our city parks end up being disaster camps.

Just Tony: You are probably right that chopper units would be in high demand right now. They have now 6.5K of NG on the ground, but just to show you what is what, only 700 of that is NCNG.(We have had a lot more called up for less serious storms) Help from Ft. Bragg is finally being dispatched to the tune of 1k personnel. They are getting PRIVATE fixed winged prop planes to fly in supplies to Asheville however. That is on a 24 hour flight schedule apparently.

I-40 still has a 7(?) mile stretch that is now 2 lanes one way I think getting out of Asheville. Why they are not making that just a 2 lane for now to get supplies in and people out is beyond me. They are not specifying a whole lot other than stay away from anywhere west of a certain point right now as 300 roads have some kind of roadblock. However, people can evacuate out of Asheville now but they need to go basically to SC and some of that is "Mountain" 2 lane back roads. Big reasons why Asheville is so important is that it is the largest city in the mountains, and the best staging point for people to head to in order to get aid. Just about everyone can hike to Asheville in a few days if they have to. Of course making that a secure place and fully supplied is the problem now.

Very glad to hear you made it safely. I hope relief keeps coming and things get better soon.