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Western NC flooding

Western NC flooding




Looks like WNC is getting hammered . Boone webcam shows major flooding on main drag . Anyone out there to report on conditions in Banner Elk of Beech Mtn ! Stay safe !


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RE: Western NC flooding




I'm listening to NC State Troopers out that way on the scanner and lots of flooding. People trapped on their roofs and in vehicles with lots of landslides and flooding has shut down moat major roads out that way. I-40 is also completely washed out in two different spots




RE: Western NC flooding




Looks like WNC is getting hammered . Boone webcam shows major flooding on main drag . Anyone out there to report on conditions in Banner Elk of Beech Mtn ! Stay safe !

izzymcgee


FWIW, from a bud over that way - around 14:30 yesterday:

"We just have drizzle here but it appears the high country 20 miles north west is getting hammered. 13" of rain over night and part of the Beech Mountain parkway just caved in

Another shared that Biltmore Village is underwater...by "how much" I have no clue




RE: Western NC flooding




Roanoke County has a ton of power outages...over 30k. Sister has no power, but our home still does based on our web cam there still working. This system is huge and praying for the families of the 22 people that lost their lives.


RE: Western NC flooding




Nephews in Charlotte have been out of power since 6 a.m., but I talked to my son who lives in Huntersville, and he said he has power and the sun was out with a slight breeze. Yay!

Spoke to daughter to warn her of this Helene system hitting the Midwest. She's in Chicago and nothing rattles her anymore. They have so many tornado warnings that they have spent many a night in the tub with a mattress over their heads. Well...the kids have!


RE: Western NC flooding




As it went north did it follow the projected path and turn left? I got some rain may be outer bands I’m not sure. South west Ohio was in the path. All those states south look bad. I’m afraid they will find people dead in vehicles and attics. Remember Katrina the poor people trapped in attics and drown.


RE: Western NC flooding




Yes, jfalba. Sad but true. People retreat to to their attic, only to be drowned in the attic as the water continues to rise above it. At that point, retreating to the roof outside is no better either. The end is the same. Evacuation is really the best option. But unfortunately, some decide to try to ride it out.


RE: Western NC flooding




Downtown Chimney Rock




RE: Western NC flooding




Wow..."Becky" has a true heart of gold. (her comment on the screenshot above)


RE: Western NC flooding




Wow..."Becky" has a true heart of gold. (her comment on the screenshot above)

GrandpaD


Becky seems like a real sweetheart.


RE: Western NC flooding




Yes, jfalba. Sad but true. People retreat to to their attic, only to be drowned in the attic as the water continues to rise above it. At that point, retreating to the roof outside is no better either. The end is the same. Evacuation is really the best option. But unfortunately, some decide to try to ride it out.

Greg MD


It's mind blowing. Those poor poor folks. Hard to get my head around (being trapped in an attic)...I recall reading accounts of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane (Issac's Storm - a great read) ...how folks, as the water rose around them, chopped holes (as was the practice) in the their first floor floors to allow water in and reduce the water's "lift" so as to try and keep their place on it's foundation. As least during Katrina "most" of the rooftops saves w lower 9th....Asheville and the affected areas are all over the place.

I'm thinking, so hope I'm wrong, it's going to only get worse, way worse, as news/updates begin to get out.




RE: Western NC flooding




Yes, the damage has been awesome and extremely widespread. Pinellas County (Tampa Bay Area) has a lot more surge damage than expected. And of course, the landfall area was flattened. And then there is a large and wide path inland through several states that included the capital cities of Tallahassee and Atlanta. The storm had it all-surge, wind and rain including severe, rapid flowing mountain flooding.The name has been retired, and by the time the damage has been determined, it will take its place high in the record books.

Click to follow link...



RE: Western NC flooding




I defend "Becky's" comment,
She has had enough of "tax" dollars being used to recover or replace on edge properties.
If a tax is accessed because it will be used to restore an at risk area, then justified, but if that tax is levied on all properties in that county who pay an insurance policy for that protection, then BS.
When a storm is forecast multiple days in advance, I have no sympathy for those who are grasshoppers.


RE: Western NC flooding




I defend "Becky's" comment,
She has had enough of "tax" dollars being used to recover or replace on edge properties.
If a tax is accessed because it will be used to restore an at risk area, then justified, but if that tax is levied on all properties in that county who pay an insurance policy for that protection, then BS.
When a storm is forecast multiple days in advance, I have no sympathy for those who are grasshoppers.

Fergie


At risk for the mountains of NC??????


RE: Western NC flooding




Yes, the mountains of NC, just like the mountains of Va., Bent mountain ?
Bottom line I live in the geocenter of Ky.,
I was/ am aware of the approaching weather, I checked my generator, just in case. I am observant of current and forecast conditions.
THIS time we were ~ 75 miles west of the power outage zone.
Still I lost several trees to the wind gusts, but I had prepared.
I'm sorry for those who took no precautions, but my property taxes pay for ROUTINE services, garbage collection, street repair; not for the recovery of the individual who places a business in an at risk area for their area.
Bent, you pulled your boat when you were advised there was a hurricane threat, should your property taxes, or the taxes I pay to rent for my one week in July, pay to have someone else's boat pulled, because they just choose not to worry ?
Bent, my rant is NOT directed to you, I'm a boomer tired of being asked to empathize to or for those who don't already have that T-Shirt






RE: Western NC flooding




Read an article where starlink was used. Many died in cars and there houses that rescue was too late


RE: Western NC flooding




Also someone got through requesting a plane or helicopter to rescue their family at an AIRBNB on a mountain with a 4 year old child no power very little food left. Being on vacation in a disaster zone.


RE: Western NC flooding




Yes, the mountains of NC, just like the mountains of Va., Bent mountain ?
Bottom line I live in the geocenter of Ky.,
I was/ am aware of the approaching weather, I checked my generator, just in case. I am observant of current and forecast conditions.
THIS time we were ~ 75 miles west of the power outage zone.
Still I lost several trees to the wind gusts, but I had prepared.
I'm sorry for those who took no precautions, but my property taxes pay for ROUTINE services, garbage collection, street repair; not for the recovery of the individual who places a business in an at risk area for their area.
Bent, you pulled your boat when you were advised there was a hurricane threat, should your property taxes, or the taxes I pay to rent for my one week in July, pay to have someone else's boat pulled, because they just choose not to worry ?
Bent, my rant is NOT directed to you, I'm a boomer tired of being asked to empathize to or for those who don't already have that T-Shirt



Fergie


I understand what you mean, but in this case, I feel that Becky's remark was insensitive. One would think that residents wouldn't be effected by a hurricane in their sleepy mountain villages and towns, and were probably totally taken by surprise by this weather system's strength. Pretty much like hurricane Camille in 1969 in Nelson County, VA. Those areas aren't considered high risk properties IMO. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. IDK.


RE: Western NC flooding




"Pretty much like hurricane Camille in 1969 in Nelson County, VA."

That was a terrible thing too.

My family is from southern Albemarle and Augusta counties and nobody ever imagined that a storm would drop 36" of rain in one night and kill over 100 people. I think the official number often mentioned is 25" of rain in 5 hours. One report from Woods Mill said 40".

"miles of roads, over 100 bridges, and over 900 buildings. 114 people died and 37 remain missing."

My father's first cousin was the sheriff of Augusta County at that time and the initial requests for help were piecemeal and almost unbelievable. There was no communication system functioning and word of mouth was on the order of send help, any kind, it's all gone.

It was a Cat 5 when it got to MS and it was supposed to go through KY and keep heading north, but it turned east and crossed Virginia, leaving a lot of its moisture behind as it rose to cross the Blue Ridge.

"When the storm was one hundred miles from the Gulf Coast, a reconnaissance plane measured central wind speeds at more than 200 miles per hour, well above the 155 miles per hour wind speed required for a category five storm. Making landfall in the Bay Saint Louis area of Mississippi on August 17, the storm was still packing wind speeds of about 170 miles per hour and the surge was twenty-five feet high."


RE: Western NC flooding




I feel that Becky's remark was insensitive. One would think that residents wouldn't be effected by a hurricane in their sleepy mountain villages and towns, and were probably totally taken by surprise by this weather system's strength. Pretty much like hurricane Camille in 1969 in Nelson County, VA. Those areas aren't considered high risk properties IMO. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. IDK.

Bentmtn


And.."Becky" while she prepped, she didn't (or so it sounds like) get flooded. Losing a few trees (but not penetrating your house) is one thing...getting your house washed/flooded is quite different.

The Camille flooding is a PERFECT example...at the time, the greatest (I think) 24 hour rainfall on record...it was simply unfathomable such a rain event could happen.

Sigh..."Becky" just needs a little "empathy" boost and, the ability to read the room...maybe wait a little.


RE: Western NC flooding




NC12




RE: Western NC flooding




As it went north did it follow the projected path and turn left? I got some rain may be outer bands I’m not sure. South west Ohio was in the path. All those states south look bad. I’m afraid they will find people dead in vehicles and attics. Remember Katrina the poor people trapped in attics and drown.

jfalba


In Katrina, the government left them for a week. IF you got rescued in those first few days after the flood, it was Cajun Navy or a neighbor, and sometimes the coast guard. Thankfully, we've improved a bit since then. The big problem for WNC was that everyone in the area was cut off physically and also in comms.

Black Mountain PD/FD/rescue pulled over 100 people out of the mostly destroyed town via a 3 man team of divers. They had to get out of their boat and swim the water to get them there. But they did it.

SWVA is just as bad, but already had nearly no cell or wi-fi signal so didn't get any attention. Governor visited there Sat, but VA was also the last state to request a disaster declaration yesterday, so they'll have a rougher road. No one vacations there, so the public isn't inclined to care much. Those people are much worse off as more lived in trailers and mobile homes, and fewer have insurance. They're poor, and it's not a destination area except for hikers, so they'll again be largely forgotten unless we pay attention and help.

It makes on feel useful to spend their days connecting people to resources and information and helping them find loved ones, but it's an exhausting weekend. Nothing compared to what the boots on the ground were experiencing, so the least I could do. Feels like you just ran 2 marathons though.


RE: Western NC flooding




600 still missing!

Click to follow link...


RE: Western NC flooding




I cry at almost every tiktok of the devastation,,,,the man crying because he could not save his farm animals except 1horse,,,,,the woman that sent a sister a photo of being in the roof and later the roof collapsed killing her parents and child. The trucker recording the inside of his cab flooding and he's breathing heavy but not even screaming fate unknown. ,,,,,in not religious but
When someone sees another person facing hardship, they might say "there but for the grace of God go I" to indicate empathy and a realization that they could be in the same situation.






RE: Western NC flooding




Read an article where starlink was used.

jfalba


Been texting (and a brief call) with brother in Sylva. He lives just on the other side of the Jackson Co. airport from WCU. He, and most in "the valley" never lost power, but all comms are down other than sketchy cell service. WCU has limited comms but only because an IT employee brought in his StarLink setup from home. Report is that major bundles of fiber have been compromised in multiple locations across WNC & upstate SC.


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