NC mountains
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Trailing Twelve Month FEMA COVID19 actual estimated expenditures are still $23.3B. Let that sink in when the pandemic is long over!
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ofo-may2024disasterrelieffundreport.pdfGeorge / NJ
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Tragic. That is the only way to describe any of this. Its going to be years of recovery and some of these communities may never rebuild.
Tom, I think there is press coverage on this. People are talking about it. News is covering this as much as possible, but it takes time to get a comprehensive view, especially with the massive swath of damage from Tampa all the way to southern Virginia. Even with that, from what I'm seeing, the NC mountains are getting the most coverage, probably because the images are jaw dropping and heartbreaking. Most of us cannot fathom how the infrastructure in these areas was just completely obliterated in a mater of hours or minutes in some cases.
For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/weather/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-before-after-images-climate/index.html
Even if you prefer a more right leaning news source, this has a series of bone chilling before/after comparisons. In many of these cases, the rivers have significantly shifted their course after the storm. How are you going to rebuild if there is a river where your buildings and roads used to be?
For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
I've been in contact with Matt @HzTweaker. He's good but without power and other comforts. No damage to the home or property but had to use the quad to get off the bluff and head to the Litte Switzerland village to check in. A generator and Starlink set up. It's a bleak outlook up there.
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A video taken from the ground by a local who walked into Chimney Rock on Tuesday. There is no quick fix for any of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYdC-6nShdc For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
That's crazyPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
It all takes time...
After Ike in Galveston, the homes that still stood looked like boulders ran through them. 80% of the homes and business flooded anywhere from 2'-15'. The debris left on the island was moved off to a very large parcel of land by the dumpster loads, then later put on railcars and hauled off the island.
The water and sewage infrastructure was decimated, meaning even if your house made it, you were not allowed to use the bathroom. The communication networks fiber and copper, all gone. The Red Cross had brought in portable mini towers/boosters and placed them all over the island for cell comm.
I came back on the island 2 days after the storm as I had and Essential Personnel Tag, without it, you were not let on the island for over another week, and even that was limited. Getting to the island was a chore as the the Gulf Fwy was littered with debris, boats, vehicles, and yachts. Once on the island it was spooky with all the military, 1st responders, even military aircraft swarming the island.
The island lost 40% of there residents. Many homes were never returned too, were even a year later, never entered....people just left during the evacuation and never came back.
I camped out in my home for 3 weeks, before I got power. I took my baths with bottled water, I hauled my personal waste off in a bucket when I went to work.
My wife and dogs were in Dallas with my daughter in Dallas. I was without power for the first week, till my buddy on the west side of Houston was done with his generator. The first couple of days weren't so bad. I had started freezing jugs and bottles of water 3 days before the storm and stuffing them in my fridge and freezer. So I was of the very few that didn't lose mine. Had wood for the pit, and propane for the grill and cooked for myself and the neighbors till it ran out. Then most left...and without the Etag could not return. Still consider myself and my family blessed and lucky.
Helene victims will rebuild, some will move on, the state will start accessing soon and engineers will figure it out. I feel for those, because I know I can evacuate, but they were victims like a tornado...no warning.
Mother Nature controls it all, she bares us fruit, and sometimes rotten circumstances.2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
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erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Maybe we ask Ukraine for a loan, I hear they have $114,000,000,000
This heard Fema ran out of funds taking money to give to the newcomers and Ukraine. It's a crying shame that our own taxpaying citizens have to go through this!!! God bless everyone affected from this. To bad someone dont have your backs!!!Home Theater
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Tom, I think there is press coverage on this. People are talking about it.
I was cautious when I made that post because I didn't want to turn this thread into a political discussion. After hearing from people in the area, seeing videos (not on the MSM) and photographs, there was much more "news" that I hadn't heard a peep of on the national level at that time. Only devastation coverage, which was appropriate.
The news I am talking about is finally starting to come out and frankly, it's about damned time.
It all started when I first heard a report of a volunteer Helicopter flying near Lake Lure (on his own dime, mind you), who had just rescued....tell you what. Just type in these keywords into a browser and you can read from any news source you want. helicopter pilot lake lure fire department rescue husband behind arrest
I heard this and was infuriated. Then I started hearing about other "news" from the area that the "help" wasn't really helping, only hindering and then reports of donations for the hurricane victims being seized and used for another disaster because the donations did not come from a "preferred" vendor. Then you heard yesterday about the engineer reporting about the Starlink distribution and the banning of videos. Then there is the title 10 thing.
You add it all up and I was getting frustrated at seeing the destruction, knowing what was actually happening and not seeing even a hint of it on the national scene. Well, it all seems to be slowly trickling out now for all to see. That's what I was talking about.
Reporting on the destruction is one thing. All media outlets have done a fine job on this IMO. That said, reporting on the confiscation of donated supplies, the threats of arrests for those pilots who were trying to rescue people, the thwarting at all levels of getting supplies to those who desperately need it (and the list goes on extensively), along with the very clear perceived element of covering up what they didn't want the general public to know (about any of this), is what really burst my bubble.
It's out there now, so there is no stopping that domino effect. All one has to do now, is a little bit of research. It does need to be known by all Americans, though.
This should explain part of my frustration. At the same time of knowing about all of the aforementioned, I am reading posts like this from folks who are in the area of destruction....so I had a very heavy heart and was fuming at "certain entities" at the same time. Please allow me to share this heart wrenching post from someone who lives up there and is going through this firsthand.
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I'd like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to a historical restaurant in our area. Kounter.
https://www.postandcourier.com/hurricanewire/kounter-restaurant-hurricane-helene-rock-hill-sc/article_7e950b8e-80e0-11ef-bc1f-7f71cbf8d8db.html
https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/popular-rock-hill-restaurant-provides-meals-utility-workers/UIPKKQZ5CRE6FOJHE3PDM7XGWQ/
This extremely successful establishment has closed their doors to the public to feed linemen headed into the affected areas. Rob Masone is a true class act and one hell of a chef. I have and will continue to support his business endeavors. Not only because of his incredible meals but because of the generosity that he has put out here to feed these linemen.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Such a sad tragedy for the people and environment.
Memories: In my younger days, I traveled throughout those mountains in winter and summer. Beautiful memories and images are still in my mind. Boone, Linville, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Daniel Boone Inn, Blocking Rock, Banner Elk, N. Wilksboro (NASCAR), etc. Take I-85 to HWY-221 just north of Spartanburg SC; then branch off HWY-221to many other places. Sometimes with snow chains when in mountains. I remember so many small motels along those mountain highways.
NC is a beautiful state.
@VR3 and @treitz3 you guys are closer and live in NC so I can't imagine how horrific it feels for you. Tom, I appreciate your concern for those areas that are dear to you and wanting to let the world know about the seriousness of the situation of the people."Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"Anger is just anger. It isn’t good. It isn’t bad. It just is. What you do with it is what matters.
You can use it to build or to destroy. You just have to make the choice. Jim Butcher
Harry / Marietta GA -
After I was able to establish communication with the outside world again, I asked Trey (@VR3) if he made it through unscathed. He lives 40 miles to the West of me. He stated that it was just a typical day for him. 40 miles to the East of me and beyond is a WHOLE other story.
I finally found what I believe is the article (looks to be reprinted) that brought my awareness to the helicopter pilot. This one is very informative of what I actually read - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/helicopter-pilot-flying-helene-rescue-missions-in-nc-ordered-out-threatened-with-arrest/ar-AA1rB1kM
Why would anyone (especially and official trying to help people himself) try to thwart people rescuing people? Why would you close down the area to air traffic when (at the time) their were only two Blackhawks that were in the area? That day, there were 40 volunteer helicopter pilots in the area helping to rescue people and deliver much needed survival supplies to folks who had been ravished. All of those pilots were using their own equipment and everything was on their dime to help folks.
It's simply one of those WTF moments. Unfortunately, there have been many of those with regards to Halene's rescue and help/relief efforts.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I just heard Kat Cammack say that the FAA told her that the order to shut down private air traffic came from the Governor of NC and Lt. Governor and he may be at odds. I haven't fact checked.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
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Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Just as an FYI. The requests for donations have shifted a bit. There is a cold front moving in and the lows at night will get down to 40 degrees. in higher elevations, it will drop down to 30 degrees. Please remember, their are still entire communities that we haven't been able to reach yet. Mules are providing support and supplies when they can to some of those areas.
This will affect not only relief workers (who may not have a way to get home for appropriate clothing) but for those who are now homeless and lost everything but what they are currently wearing. Leaders of the Banner Elk area are telling folks to leave, as their is no hope for getting the water and sewer system up and running again for the foreseeable future.
That situation is but one of many across the areas affected. There are still many folks in that area who do not have power and won't for a while, due to the infrastructure (above and below ground) being damaged or simply not there anymore due to the destruction.
Some of the folks who are getting the mud out of their homes and businesses are reporting discovering dead bodies buried under the mud within these structures, as they are removing it. There is no telling how many folks were buried - or caskets that were once buried that are now relocated to unknown locations.
Some of you may have already seen this, maybe some of you have not. The first pic is a far away shot, the second pic zooms in a little closer.
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Perspective
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Katrina also never went so far inland with force. Helene hit with extreme intensity, well into the interior of the US.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I have friends in the Hendersonville (south Asheville) area in a fairly steep area. Here is what they just posted.
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
On Point Rescue is try but need more transportations
Seems like many are answering on Facebook. Saw this on the news a couple days ago
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/10/04/trucks-drivers-needed-to-transport-essentials-to-hurricane-helenes-hardest-hit-areas/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/628919354995136/
2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
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erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Thanks for this post. I have been wondering the best way to contribute, so I just took your lead. I was in this immediate area (Maggie Valley, NC) two weeks before the disaster. Been going there every year at least once, if not twice, per year for the past 20 years usually on a motorcycle to enjoy the phenomenal riding in the region and made many friends in and around the area during my visits. God bless the sweet people there.
Brian
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txcoastal1 wrote: »@Kex And you took it political...get out of this thread, or we can discuss the border(FEMA) and Ukraine
You can stay only if you pledge.....
He didn't take it political, others mentioned FEMA misinformation yesterday.
Discuss away:
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-funding-biden-1963998
While the funds are distributed by FEMA, they do not come from the agency's budget.
Keep spreading that misinformation from your glorious orange leader. -
After Katrina, Bush took a lot of heat for the slow response.
How is this any different? All the information I see shows me that
volunteer groups and locals are doing the real work. Federal response
is slow to come. Given the close proximity of military air units, why don't
we see them out in force? People in charge are NOT thinking outside
the box.
At this point, a lot of good people have pulled together to help.
Those are the ones that deserve my respect. My money will go
to those organizations that are truly making a difference on the
ground."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
txcoastal1 wrote: »@Kex And you took it political...get out of this thread, or we can discuss the border(FEMA) and Ukraine
You can stay only if you pledge.....
He didn't take it political, others mentioned FEMA misinformation yesterday.
Discuss away:
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-funding-biden-1963998
While the funds are distributed by FEMA, they do not come from the agency's budget.
Keep spreading that misinformation from your glorious orange leader.
Maybe it was KJP that spread the misinformation
https://x.com/Apoctoz/status/1842578046081282531?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1842578046081282531|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=safari-reader://therightscoop.com/breaking-white-house-karine-jean-pierre-told-a-big-fat-lie-about-biden-using-fema-aid-for-illegals-and-heres-the-proof/
2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Government and government agencies almost always fail because they are never held accountable, and because they do not care. They do not care because they rarely (if ever) have a stake in the communities in which they are tasked to serve."Conservative Libertarians love the country, progressive leftists love the government." - Andrew Wilkow
“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
txcoastal1 wrote: »txcoastal1 wrote: »@Kex And you took it political...get out of this thread, or we can discuss the border(FEMA) and Ukraine
You can stay only if you pledge.....
He didn't take it political, others mentioned FEMA misinformation yesterday.
Discuss away:
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-funding-biden-1963998
While the funds are distributed by FEMA, they do not come from the agency's budget.
Keep spreading that misinformation from your glorious orange leader.
Maybe it was KJP that spread the misinformation
I guess you missed where it stated FEMA distributed the money in the first link.
But I see you use right wing social media sound bites for your news. There is probably no reasoning with you. Keep bowing to dear leader.
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Guys, let's knock off the political talk in an effort to get the thread shut down. This thread was made to let folks be aware of the situation in the mountains.
If it reflects badly on an entity or anything/anyone else, then let the facts fall where they may.
Now, can we please get back to the subject matter and stop disobeying the Club Polk rules?
TomPost edited by treitz3 on~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
That woman had all she could do at times to hold back. She has gone above & beyond. She is tough. God Bless her & may the Lord guide her.. What a mess & such a sad outcome situation..
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Just got in my Google travel log for last month. It's actually missing some areas I visited from the week before that. On the right is all work related stuff. On the left is fun time stuff. I'm up in the mountains often and many of the photos I have seen, I can easily place where they are. Heck, even the wife recognized where the temporary rock/mud road coming out of Banner Elk was.
We have cancelled all of our mountain trips for this year, as to not burden the local folks. It takes too long to get up to the cabins near Byson City (where Carverfest is held) due to roads being closed until late next year.
I will be able to take the family up to my Dad's cabin to go visit him. His area didn't get hit that bad. The main damage in that area (near Lake Toxaway) was down at the stream/river basins and the power infrastructure. He finally has power again (and can communicate good now with the outside world).
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
https://youtu.be/ag-hb45J6MQ?feature=shared