Posted on 09/29/2024 12:56:07 PM PDT by CFW
More than 1,000 people have been reported unaccounted for in a devastated North Carolina county where 10 people have already been confirmed dead after Hurricane Helene, officials said Sunday.
Authorities in Buncombe County reported the horrifying toll in an emergency meeting announcing emergency medical shelters and ongoing rescue efforts in areas almost overwhelmed by stormwater.
They also announced a special website to appeal for help finding those unaccounted for — with “more than 1,000 reports so far,” one local official told the live-streamed meeting.
“We’re doing the best we can,” Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said of conditions making it almost impossible to reach the stranded due to collapsed roads, failing infrastructure and widespread flooding.
Many of the unaccounted for are hoped to just be those without electricity and efforts to let loved ones know they are safe, officials said.
However, the county, home to Asheville, already has 10 of the Tar Heel State’s 11 confirmed deaths — a terrible toll expected to soon rise, Gov. Roy Cooper conceded.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
“Catastrophic flooding in this area was predicted ahead of time.”
Most of the predictions I saw had Helene veering well west of Asheville, directly into Tennessee from northwest Georgia. In any case, the hurricane’s impact area was very wide and Busick, 45 miles northeast of Asheville, got 29.6 inches of rain in a very short period of time.
In Georgia, the predictions were all over the place, from west of Atlanta to east of US 15. The actual path in central and northeast/north Georgia roughly followed US 441, despite what some post-hurricane maps show. The “eye” of the then-tropical-storm Helene was almost directly over Athens, GA early Friday morning. I was looking at wind maps for that area at 4 am that morning.
Exactly. Some areas had flooding PRIOR to Helene. Many were already scrambling. At some point it’s almost impossible to “evacuate”. Evacuate to where? Flooding was happening, roads were closed. It’s so bad. I have a dear friend in the Hendersonville, NC area. They’re OK but are trapped…and were before Helene.
As of 4:41 PM, WLOS is reporting death toll is up to 30 in Buncombe County.
I’m not sure where your friend is- but Samaritan’s Purse is very active in west NC right now and they take information about stranded people to try and get help to them. Sadly for them- their headquarters are in Boone, NC- one of the hard hit areas.
Go here
Friday morning, Helene was 100 miles east of where it was predicted to be the previous evening. I sure as hell didn't see any predictions of 29.58 inches of rain anywhere.
Now that’s a combination that does my heart good!. Elon and the Cajun Navy! America.
Flood insurance?
I have family stuck in Maggie valley who cannot leave and another family outside of Asheville. I know the area well. I also live in hurricane alley in Florida and know all too personally about hurricanes and big weather events. Been through countless storms and floods. My comment was to your comment about Trump voters. Untwist your panties girl
Fair. I have friends and family in the both of the same areas. Emotions are high. Can’t reach some people. Apologies for any snarkiness. We’re worried and feeling helpless.
This is almost an annual event in Houston. Three times in one year for me, north of Houston.
For weeks into months? Doubtful. But if so, that’s rough. Anyway…our FRiends need our thoughts and prayers. Prayers up!
OMG... that is insane...PRAYERS UP
we’re experiencing communication issues and lack of electricity in suwannee county florida...
I hear that this is on the federal TVA which did not open those slices to drain waters but kept the lakes full to please mansion lake house owners.
Why aren’t the locals busying themselves with looting?
I live in Charlotte and would like to help but don’t know how.
I'm in Charlotte and also don't know how to help. To the best of my knowledge, no information has been made public about how to help. Hundreds of roads are closed, including I40 near the TN-NC line.
Army buddy of mine who lives near Greenville, SC, said he drove 11mi to finally get a internet signal. He posted that he and the misses were fine but “I wasn’t prepared. Hell, NOBODY was prepared because this just doesn’t happen here”.
Said his town was “shredded”.
Yeah, nobody expects a 500 yr flood event to come along and wash out homes, roads and bridges in 3 states in the Appalachian mountain towns.
Horrific stories and scenes of complete destruction on YouTube everywhere, it will be years before some places become liveable again, if ever.
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