Posted on 12/03/2016 7:46:19 AM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt
GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Charlotte Moore needed a phone charger.
Then she remembered that her home was gone.
The realization came as she made the familiar drive up to the top of Laurel Mountain in the Roaring Fork neighborhood of Gatlinburg on Friday, where what lay ahead was anything but familiar. On the first day officials let property owners return to assess the damage from the wildfire that devastated their homes, the eastern Tennessee tourist destination was headed toward an uncertain future.
As people were allowed into the city, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters raised the death toll to 13 and said the number of damaged buildings now approached 1,000. He also defended the response to the wildfires that spread rapidly Monday, saying it was not the time for "Monday morning quarterbacking." He promised a full review later.
Gatlinburg residents and business owners, meanwhile, got their first look at the wildfire destruction Friday, and many walked around the once-bustling city in a daze, sobbing.
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
News Video at source. More info on the victims of the fire. Several already talking about rebuilding. “If it is burned, we’ll plan to replace it and build some new memories”.
People can be very resilient.
Sadly, there are likely more who perished who’s bodies haven’t been discovered. Lots of pets and wildlife, too.
I drove past a little roadside fire once and could feel the heat immediately. That was the first thing I though of watching the videos the other day of people trying to find a road out.
Yes, the article talks about a victim who rode away from the fires and who tried to put their hand on the car window but couldn’t hold it there because it was too hot.
Just terrifying to think of trying to get out of the burning Village! I don’t think the Gatlinburg residents EVER believed something like this could happen.
Prayers for sure. God bless dolly pardon for giving each family a thousand dollars a month. Not a huge amount but is under the 14 thousand dollar limit for paying taxes.
Many Prayers up for Tennessee!!!!
Prayers up. So sad.
Pets are not usually mentioned when the LSM talking heads tell you stuff.
Not all had their homes or businesses burned down, they just lost their jobs because of the lost businesses. My sis, husband who is near late stage MD close to 60 will have a hard time finding jobs, their daughter will be able to eventually. Meanwhile they need income, health ins. MD doc’s are cheap. And they have always lived pay check to pay check. Neither have more than a HS education. And if Mike falls he can’t get up. He drove the golf cart that shuttled the employees from their parking lot up to West-Gate Resort.
All are having breathing issues now.
Where’s Obama? has he even made a statement about this tragedy?
My dad is up there on a FEMA response team. Been there since the incident. There is a lot of security in town, and investigations as well. Seems that they have to evaluate all buildings and business damage to rule out owner arson. Struggling or run down businesses *might* have taken the opportunity to torch their own steuctures.
I haven’t heard Obummer make any statement about these devastating wildfires.
There needs to be a system in place for the bedridden and disabled to be warned a High Risk list the city/county keeps. 1 double amputee was not notified, and rode his motorized wheelchair through that mess until a Good Samaritan picked him up and took him to the shelter.
Are you kidding??
Have they figured out what started these fires? Were they arson? Or worse jihad? Or was it lightning? Not knowing scares me and I live over a thousand miles away. God Be with them in their time of need.
Not good. Prayers.
Sadly my wife and I have (had) a cabin on the ridge behind Dollywood. Totally destroyed. The entire neighborhood - once a mountaintop heaven - now nothing but ashes and foundations. Please pray for those who lost everything.
The last 8 years have made me very cynical, but I can’t help but wonder what mining claim has been discovered there. What is more important/ valuable than the resort town and the homes and lives that are there? Living in the Western states, we have seen people, ranch families, businesses, get burned out, flooded out, and poisoned out just so the National Forest or National Monument agencies could claim more land. Gatlinburg butts right up next to the National Forest. Who wants the that land? Or am I just being totally paranoid?
Such a terrible loss.
We were in the general area recently. Early reports were that many (up to 2/3? tho I saw no confirmation or references) were arson — and of those, how many may have been answers to the call for chaos jihad? ...as many have already noted.
Chaos — may they reap what they sow.
OH - I am so sorry for your loss!!!!! You have my prayers and my sympathy for this loss.
Thank your dad for being there.
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