Hurricane Helene

[JSJJ388]

But I’m a bit worried about @ncpartsguy @Jeeper1093 and all the others around Boone. And everyone north and west of there too, all the way over to @Pless @Jody Treadway @Loganwayne and beyond. This is an absolutely unprecedented event. The pics and devastation I’m seeing in the Watauga county FB group is unreal. This is 321 right through Boone between Lowe’s and Walmart:

Just saw a post from Jody on the book of faces, so he's good! Hope our other members in the area are alright.

 

[DSM Turbos]

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8M views · 79K reactions | *WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE* Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC after devastating flooding from former Hurricane Helene. It’s hard to believe anyone survived this. | Meteorologist James Scott WCCB

*WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE* Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC after devastating flooding from former Hurricane Helene. It’s hard to believe anyone survived this..

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3.3M views · 27K reactions | Asheville, NC - Swannanoa River Road. #Helene #asheville #HurricaneHelene | Steve Mohrman

Asheville, NC - Swannanoa River Road. #Helene #asheville #HurricaneHelene.

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Nick Beres NC5

A BRIDGE SWEPT AWAY. A woman messaged me and shared this link writing: —- Hey Nick, I live here in middle Tennessee, but Erwin is my home away from home. My dad and sister live there and she...

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[justjeepin86]

wonder how those folks are gettin home??

I know it's tough with things like that, but my guess is they regret not canceling. Sometimes being a tough guy is being stupid.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Just got contact from the wife’s cousin. They are north of Boone off of Howard’s creek road. Everyone is fine but the property is FUBAR. This is the entrance to a neighborhood with 20+ houses

He was not home when the worst flooding hit yesterday, so thankfully his truck is on the other side. He said there was a house literally in the road when he was trying to get back.

They also had a historic cabin on their property that someone lived in. Keyword had. Taken out by a landslide. Nothing left but the chimney.

 

[Wes]

Anybody up that way know if 321 out of Boone is passable? My daughter lives there with her fiancé and I just wanted to see if they can get out, or if I can get to them if need be. They’re doing ok right now. Just planning.

 

[Ron]

Just got off a disaster response power call…now the fun starts.

Apparently Duke has already identified failed pole mount transformers - with many more yet to be identified - that total a deficit of 300+ more than they have in inventory and in network available.

Right now they believe some customers may be looking at 3+weeks before power is restored…and if they can’t source XFMRs say it could be 16-20 weeks.

I suspect the utility network will pool resources and figure that out…but as of right now there doesn’t appear to be an apparent solution

 

[mbalbritton]

Is there source for damage reports as they roll in?

I’ve been out of contact with my parents since yesterday morning. I’m certain they are ok, but I’d like to know just how cut off they are.

They are just outside of Burnsville, up on a mountain. With the way their house is positioned, they are not at risk of flooding or landslide. I’m sure their power is out and all communications are down. Just would like to hear from them.

I know the community they live in most certainly has trees down and landslides. Just curious and wonder how long until help.

 

[awheelterd]

Just got off a disaster response power call…now the fun starts.

Apparently Duke has already identified failed pole mount transformers - with many more yet to be identified - that total a deficit of 300+ more than they have in inventory and in network available.

Right now they believe some customers may be looking at 3+weeks before power is restored…and if they can’t source XFMRs say it could be 16-20 weeks.

I suspect the utility network will pool resources and figure that out…but as of right now there doesn’t appear to be an apparent solution

That's not surprising unfortunately. My power company guy said we've been upside down on transformers for 5+ yrs.

 

[awheelterd]

That's not surprising unfortunately. My power company guy said we've been upside down on transformers for 5+ yrs.

Is now a good time to ask how the Asheville hippies are liking their electric cars?

 

[CasterTroy]

That's not surprising unfortunately. My power company guy said we've been upside down on transformers for 5+ yrs.

For 2 years we've had to put out early electrical packages and GUESS what size transformer and service any given project will have so we can get them in the 18-24 month window of construction and actually have power by the time the project is completed
This really sucks because municipalities are trying to push electric boilers and all electric commercial kitchens so we're going from 2k amp services being more than enough to 4k amp being questionable

That shit didn't work in the 70's and we replaced all of those with gas for 30 years and now we're repeating the same huge mistakes

 

[DSM Turbos]

Saw that banner elk is only accessible by air right now

 

[Dawnpatrol]

Anyone near Waynesville or heard a report on how the creek that goes through town held up? My sister lives right near downtown and has a shop in frog level. Haven't heard from her since Friday morning.

 

[justjeepin86]

So, is the transformer thing political somehow? Why the hell are they so hard to manufacture?

 

[Hokie_YJ]

This is the aftermath in Erwin, TN on the other side of the mountain from Asheville.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/E7rpRa8wT8cvDoQ2/?mibextid=WC7FNe

 

[zuke]

So, is the transformer thing political somehow? Why the hell are they so hard to manufacture?

They aren't that hard to manufacture, we've just put ourselves in a perfect position for demand to far outstrip the capacity to manufacture... And Covid threw the industry way behind...

The U.S. has a 'critical' shortage of power transformers. Can it bounce back?

A new report from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) examines the current state of the power transformer shortage in the U.S.

www.power-grid.com

 

[77GreenMachine]

Wow. I feel very blessed. I did not realize the severity of the storm right in my own area, much less western NC. After a few folks checked on me I clicked on this thread and am now also seeing social media. I have been in my own little world busy on my new land.

We were supposed to go to Oklahoma in just a few weeks, but I can’t go now knowing I could help. I have the time to give, so we are planning to go help however we can.

I can be entirely self sufficient for a week or more if I have a place to park. My heart is broken for my brothers and sisters west of here.

 

[89wrangler]

I will try post some pics later. It looks like a war zone,

 

[CLRracer]

Is there source for damage reports as they roll in?

I’ve been out of contact with my parents since yesterday morning. I’m certain they are ok, but I’d like to know just how cut off they are.

They are just outside of Burnsville, up on a mountain. With the way their house is positioned, they are not at risk of flooding or landslide. I’m sure their power is out and all communications are down. Just would like to hear from them.

I know the community they live in most certainly has trees down and landslides. Just curious and wonder how long until help.

North Carolina Weather Authority on Facebook is doing a pretty good job crowdsourcing and posting info. He started a few county specific posts if you search his feed.

North Carolina's Weather Authority

North Carolina's Weather Authority. 337,515 likes · 186,576 talking about this. The North Carolina’s Weather Authority is based out of Raleigh with coverage in all 100 NC counties. Local Weather...

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Duane

 

[justjeepin86]

To all you guys that live in the mtns.....


When things get opened up for help. I'm in to come up with chainsaws and do whatever I can to help clean up on weekends when I can. Just say the word.

 

[Tom@Hilltop_Machine]

Power just came back on here.

 

[shawn]

Radar indicated rain totals.

 

[shawn]

Is there source for damage reports as they roll in?

I’ve been out of contact with my parents since yesterday morning. I’m certain they are ok, but I’d like to know just how cut off they are.

They are just outside of Burnsville, up on a mountain. With the way their house is positioned, they are not at risk of flooding or landslide. I’m sure their power is out and all communications are down. Just would like to hear from them.

I know the community they live in most certainly has trees down and landslides. Just curious and wonder how long until help.

Depending on where they are, roads may have to be rebuilt before power, data, and water can be restored. Stories about getting fuel or portable generators to cell sites that are accessible, only to find out there's no upstream network.

Gonna be a while.

 

[shawn]

Turkey pen road:

Video from Brevard.... Says it's current, but I can't tell for sure that it's post storm. 276 and hospital Dr.

 

[shawn]

 

[shawn]