Hurricane Helene

Btw eff lowes food. They refused to sell me a pallet of water to take west. Food lion was happy to take my money and even gave a discount. Hopefully we can help some folks out
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CLRracer said:
They have closed 40 west at 77.

Duane
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I saw that on the electronic road signs on 485 and hwy 16 today as I drove up to Burke County to take my generator to my parents. I got on 40 at Newton and went all the way to Drexel no problem.
But, if they really do close 40, hwy 70 will be a parking lot because I-40 was heavy traffic.

On my way back this evening I did notice a couple convoys of police vehicles all with blue lights on heading west.
 
This is some or the worst shit I've seen in years. I remember 2004 but I was living in Knoxville at the time. Maybe I'm older, but this breaks my heart. It makes me sad and has all day. All I want to do is run back and try and help but I can't. It'll be a decade before things are back. I'm just happy my family and my friends are safe and in good health.
 
There's a video (maybe in this thread) of the uhaul trucks and a box trailer floating in 5-6ft of water. Edit. This is on the East side of Asheville, looking West from the 540 overpass.

 
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I'm just waiting for the looters to come out. You know, the folks scavenging essential survival supplies, like 70" 4k tv's.
 
Noel said:
Was gonna go to Boone. But might try Marion as it is wrecked pretty bad. Probably make another trip next week too to help
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If you end up in Marion, I think the only emergency shelter in the county is here:

Glenwood Baptist Church
155 Glenwood Baptist Church Road
Marion, NC

Sending you my number if you end up here and need a contact. Cell service is sketchy depending on what carrier you have. We have AT&T and it’s been pretty good…but having a hard time getting in touch with a lot of folks on other networks.
 
shawn said:
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That bridge is about 5 miles from me and is on the main route to Unicoi,Erwin and I-26 to Asheville. Normally the water is 50 or so feet below the bridge,that's how much its up.The Nolichucky runs thru the southern part of the county and at least three of the bridges has washed out.They just reopened the bridge on 321 to Newport and 70 to the NC state line.
 
Man, what a storm.
Started Thursday when I decided to shut the plant down on Friday. Upper management was questioning my decision. I SAID, HAVE YOU SEEN THE WEATHER FORECAST. Them being from WI did not understand what mountains and water meant. I told them I had been through this before, more than once and it was going to be bad. They agreed.
Got home Thursday and made sure generator ran and topped it off with gas, just in case….About 4:30 am, heard wind picking up. Layed there and couldn’t go back to sleep. About 5:15am power cut off and on a couple of times. At that point figured I had better get my shower before power went off. Got done, went to make some coffee, was ready to push the start button and power goes off. It was down hill from there. Spent the rest of the morning watching trees fall. The wind was just releantlass. Was about 3 1/2 hrs of worst storm I have been in. Trees falling everywhere, you could hear the in the woods fall and breaking as well. One huge oak after another falling in the front yard, then one in the back. I went back to front and Boom, felt it the house. Sure enough another large tree and hit the. I was extremely lucky up until then.
The whole county looks like a war zone. Here are a couple of pics.
Back of house
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Front yard
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More of back
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This was a typical road
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More to come tomorrow
 

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Ron said:
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
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2 oldest with Duke damage assessment teams...one in Asheville since Friday at 1AM and one working his way there from the south. This recovery won't be fast for lots of folks.
 
89wrangler said:
Man, what a storm.
Started Thursday when I decided to shut the plant down on Friday. Upper management was questioning my decision. I SAID, HAVE YOU SEEN THE WEATHER FORECAST. Them being from WI did not understand what mountains and water meant. I told them I had been through this before, more than once and it was going to be bad. They agreed.
Got home Thursday and made sure generator ran and topped it off with gas, just in case….About 4:30 am, heard wind picking up. Layed there and couldn’t go back to sleep. About 5:15am power cut off and on a couple of times. At that point figured I had better get my shower before power went off. Got done, went to make some coffee, was ready to push the start button and power goes off. It was down hill from there. Spent the rest of the morning watching trees fall. The wind was just releantlass. Was about 3 1/2 hrs of worst storm I have been in. Trees falling everywhere, you could hear the in the woods fall and breaking as well. One huge oak after another falling in the front yard, then one in the back. I went back to front and Boom, felt it the house. Sure enough another large tree and hit the. I was extremely lucky up until then.
The whole county looks like a war zone. Here are a couple of pics.
Back of house
View attachment 425279

Front yard
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More of back
View attachment 425282

This was a typical road
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More to come tomorrow
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I was in Bostic yesterday checking on Mom and going back today with more supplies. She lucked out in that a neighbor had just done major logging around her house so no trees down on The house, but the rest of the area is just like the pics you posted. Absolute destruction. Roads only passable by one or half a lane, and that's mainly from farmers and country boys out with chainsaws and tractors. No power, no phones, no internet.
Phones seem to be coming back though. Mom was able to text me this morning, no talk though.
 
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