ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE


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mdblackjazz
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ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by mdblackjazz »



Hope this Chat helps inform everyone about the hurricane event in Western North Carolina.
I am not asking for donations of food or money , I am not asking for a day of fasting or prayer, I am not asking NON professionals
to assist with rescue or recovery.
The only information my wife and I received during the storm and flood was from a small Radio Shack transistor radio.
It was our life line for any information.
The radio station that keep us up to the minute was staffed by real people that live here.
No Cell, No cell towers, No internet No electric No water No gas No stores No banks, lots of No Nothing.
We have lived here a long time and have seen flooding before so we always keep a bug out box and water , camp stove etc.
The amount of storm damage is worse than we expected and all of us got caught off guard , we thought after about three days or so
we could go about our routine.
My wife in the rush to get home after work before the storm did not fill up or primary car with gas so now down to less than half tank.
The worst part is after the storm people seeing the destruction and knowing someone needs saving and can't get help.
Western North Carolina is a combination of small and medium size towns and communities on the ridges or in the valleys next to rivers and streams.
The amount of water was more than anyone could predict , however because we live in a modern era with satellite images most people got
a warning and advised to evacuate .
A relative who lives in another state was able to get through on my cell to check on us on day three.
They were saying how poorly the response was to get people rescued and FEMA has failed us big time according to some media opinion .
I LIVE HERE , I have seen nothing but North Carolina National Guard , and first responders of every kind from many states , people bring in ATV, bulldozers, all kinds of heavy equipment to get to people to save them and convoys of FEMA water tankers FEMA fuel trucks ,FEMA food convoys ALL DAY on and on.
Daylight hours are nothing but all day helicopters rescuing people, dropping food and water and supplies to stranded areas.
We are still in rescue mode and progress is being made to get help to people stranded .

Yes its worse than the media has relayed to the public.
No we have NOT been abandoned by various emergency services and organizations especially FEMA .
For anyone thinking NOAA is a government tool to scare people about false climate change...you are mistaken, it saved many many lives
and all Americans should be grateful we have it.

Now the reason I am telling you this. Fall is almost upon us and the mountain scenery is awesome . DON"T COME HERE its too dangerous .

Update I was able to drain 6 gallons of gas from my two restored gl1100 Goldwings to add gas in my wife's car so she could drive 300 miles or more to daughters house that has everything we have been blessed to have before the storm.
I am one of the lucky ones I have electricity now but no water and will not have water for who know when. The water infrastructure is gone.
Some of my neighbors lost there house but are part of rescue effort to save others.


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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by WingAdmin »

I'm glad that you and your wife are safe. I have been following this and the coordination of aid is absolute chaos. I was going to offer assistance in flying in supplies in my airplane, but I'm told now by two different agencies not to come. There are multiple organizations coordinating rescues, including aid delivery and rescue by civilian helicopter pilots, and some of those pilots are being threatened with arrest by local officials literally as they are delivering water and supplies and evacuating victims. The organizations aren't talking to each other and they sure aren't coordinating with local or federal officials. I was told this morning "we desperately need supplies flown in, but now we need to get permission for our pilots to land here and nobody knows who to talk to."

It's absolute chaos. FAA has enacted a TFR (temporary flight restriction) to prevent pilots from flying into the zone, one agency says "actually you're fine if you are a planned aid flight" while another says "you'll be violated if you fly here." Yet there is still a convoy of aircraft needed to move aid into the area.

And now they are shutting down a massive portion of the airspace in North Carolina for HOURS today for a presidential TFR so that Biden can fly in and view the disaster - which means ALL aid flights, rescue flights, supply flights etc. will be grounded while he is there. That is beyond ridiculous, stopping all the rescue and aid efforts for hours so that Biden can have a damn photo-op.

There are a large number of airplane and helicopter owners like myself who are ready and willing to transport aid and people in or out of the disaster zone, but can't get a straight answer from organizing agencies. This entire disaster has shown that there needs to be a serious revisiting of how all of this is coordinated.
mdblackjazz
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by mdblackjazz »

yes I hear you , the number of military aircraft here now is very high.
There are two major highways into Asheville and I think it is caravans with escorts from all over.
Someone has made the airport more of a military landing zone for the most part.
things are coming in through 74 and 26 and east via 40.
I think 40 west will reopen from eastern part of the state soon but only to the Tennessee State Line.
I feel your frustration but things are getting done from what I can see.
The charity donations with water food and supplies are available to most everyone in my imamate area if they can get to it.
Volunteers are going door to door in some places and friend and relatives are trying to connect services to those in need.
Traffic on the main roads is still dangerous to be in but the most effective way to get heavy machinery to damaged communities .
I think flying in emergency supplies to an alternate air port then transporting by road may be workable but I don' t know.
FEMA not FIMA I stand corrected.
The beautiful scenic roads will take some time to repair but even if passable not really safe for motorcycles because of
shoulder wash aways. It's a long way down.
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by newday777 »

Blue Ridge Parkway is now shut down from end to end, indefinitely.
Glad you made it through.
I have friends in Greeneville TN. That area got hit hard too.
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by Big Bob »

mdblackjazz so sorry for the hardtimes you are experiencing. People unfamiliar with the land scape and area you live in do not realize the length of time and amount of money it will require to rebuild the area. I have a family friend in Bostic NC, they live off the grid, but currently have no power, water, etc. I also have close family in GA, and I have been to Ashville traveling. Beautiful area destroyed by one nasty storm. My prayers are with you and all the people of the area. 🙏🙏
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by remindme »

Thanks for the update. Good to hear from someone actually there.
mdblackjazz
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by mdblackjazz »

Update: In my area but not everywhere.
Electric on .
Flush water on. (flush toilet only) no drinking or brush teeth. We live in a area that gets water from other than the reservoir..
Other areas in and around Asheville get water from reservoirs or wells. Some people still not with Electricity or Water.
This event has changed the landscape , the geography , the hearts minds and soul of people here.

I want to thank everyone that donated or contributed anything.

Please plan a visit to Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee in the future but NOT now especially if on a Motorcycle.
Bridges and roads are getting repaired, replaced, and rebuilt to serve people living here but this will take a long time.
As of now only a section of the BRP is open in Virginia . The surface and sub surface of secondary roads may appear road worthy but
can be deceiving .
It's a long way down .
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by FM-USA »

Picked up my first Wing (83-A) in Asheville, west-northwest area.
Didn't have time to look around, just in, load go.
They say go to the high ground when it rains a lot to avoid floods, looks like that's been debunked.

Glad to hear you're all getting basic services back.
Considering the devastation, those various services you mentioned sounds like they're doing a good job.

.
When I do one thing, I'll side-step a little & learn few more things.
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klook
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by klook »

Glad you are safe and sound. Good advice to steer clear for awhile. I considered coming in on the rebuild as I have those skills. Still waiting on a couple of organizations.
I have friends and family in the affected areas, both Tenn and NC. None of them report so optimistically about FEMA. Ashville may have drawn them because of its size.
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Re: ASHEVILLE FLOOD DON'T COME HERE

Post by dacolee »

My son and daughter-in-law live in Ashville, somewhere on the north-west side. She is a professional chef, and he's just a very good cook. As soon as they could get out of their apartment, they started cooking anything that they could get their hands on and feeding everybody they could. A local business (not a restaurant) offered them space, people started offering whatever they could, and the effort grew. Basically, they'd take any donations they could get and make something from it, feeding anybody who was hungry.

That came to a halt for them a week ago, when both of them got sick. They are now on antibiotics and bed rest, with lots of hydration.

The last time I heard from them (yesterday), they were feeling better. They said that western North Carolina and up into Tennessee are going to need a lot of help getting back on their feet, and tourist money will help. But, according to them, now is not the time to visit. While crews from a lot of different building trades are hard at work restoring services and facilities (think roads, bridges, electrical networks, water systems, etc) and securing buildings for rebuilding, the last thing they need are tourists in the middle of the mix. If you want to go, please stay out of the harder hit areas. Some of the outlying areas would be happy to see you, and can supply more info about what is available and where it's safe to ride.

If you want to help from a distance, there are a few reputable charitable organizations that will be helping people in the affected areas that could use your support.


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