Hurricane Helene


 
Rusty James

Rusty James

TVWBB Emerald Member
Never seen a storm of this magnitude hit the western part of the state before. Some compare the odds of it to a winter blizzard in Miami. Been keeping up with YouTube reports for the most part. Media news reports are helpful, but not as in-depth. Chimney Rock is a mess. We were making plans to visit the area, but that was before the storm hit.
 
Rusty James said:
Never seen a storm of this magnitude hit the western part of the state before. Some compare the odds of it to a winter blizzard in Miami. Been keeping up with YouTube reports for the most part. Media news reports are helpful, but not as in-depth. Chimney Rock is a mess. We were making plans to visit the area, but that was before the storm hit
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We were supposed to be coming back from a 30 day camping trip through Asheville on the 28th of last month
I originally postponed the reservation I had in Candler, just west of Asheville for a couple nights, but had to pivot and come home through Atlanta
On a separate note, I've got a roofer and an insurance adjuster coming out Wednesday morning to look at my roof
While the roof is over 20 years old, I'm pretty sure that I've got water damage from Helene
 
Boy, I feel awful for all you folks that have been beaten up by these hurricanes, it’s frightening to see the aftermath!
We get tornadoes around here now and then but, nothing ot this kind of magnitude. I was a block from the impact zone when the tornado of 1980 blew the brains out of the city which was the worst disaster I’d ever seen. 1/10th what you folks are going through. I was half a mile from the last one that went just south of my house. I’m truly blessed to have not been more affected by either one. I’ve had a few fallen limbs some fence damage but. Nothing like what’s been spanking you guys.
Prayers offered, fingers crossed.
 
So, we’re camping just west of Asheville this week. Pammi’s at a local school volunteering and I’m going to go help sort supplies later
We bought a bunch of toiletries and donated them in Swannanoa Saturday and went into Asheville yesterday for lunch
The pictures you see on TV and the net don’t show the magnitude of the devastation Helene caused IMG_6336.jpegIMG_6331.jpegIMG_6338.jpeg
 
Sorry I haven't posted to this thread in a great while, but the hurricane damage has somehow affected my internet according three different techs.

It's difficult to put into words just how bad some of the affected areas are. Local news is somewhat helpful, but private YouTube channels are the best source of detailed information. State and local regulations are making it difficult to get people out of tents. Hopefully, the powers that be will relax some of the building codes soon.
 
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Phil Perrin said:
SwannanoaSo, we’re camping just west of Asheville this week. Pammi’s at a local school volunteering and I’m going to go help sort supplies later
We bought a bunch of toiletries and donated them in Swannanoa Saturday and went into Asheville yesterday for lunch
The pictures you see on TV and the net don’t show the magnitude of the devastation Helene caused View attachment 102867View attachment 102869View attachment 102868
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Ingle's (grocer) recently built a very large warehouse in Swannanoa, and it was hit hard by the flood. They're set to lose 55 million dollars even after insurance pays off from news reports I saw.
 
In the many years of traversing the Blue Ridge high country, there are some areas I have never been. I am very familiar with the steep eastern slopes, but not some of the western slopes. Until a year ago, I never knew the Toe / Cane / Nolichucky drainage basin even existed. I’ve never been to Spruce Pine, let alone the other communities in the basin.

A train hobo named Hobo Shoestring also introduced me to the old Clinchfield rail line (now owned by CSX) between Spartanburg, SC, and Elkhorn City, KY. I knew the Clinchfield had trestles over US 74 and I-85, but I thought that line hugged the eastern slopes into Virginia instead of crossing the steep continental divide at Altapass, NC. The rail line goes under the Blue Ridge Parkway at Altapass via a long tunnel, so that’s the reason I never saw the rails.

I recently found a gem of a video about this hard-hit basin that was posted about a month before the hurricane hit. It is of PBS quality and resourcefully narrated. The video is a rare treat, I encourage you to watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

Next year, I plan to visit the area – conditions permitting.


Near the last of the video, you can see the Catawba River at Lake James. Had the storm drifted eastward about 20 miles, the western piedmont would have been clobbered. I'm satisfied bridges would have washed out on many highways.
 
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Rusty James said:
In the many years of traversing the Blue Ridge high country,
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We shopped the Blue Ridge Mountains for a house and much like california, insurance is really expensive. To the point that it was cheaper to live here in Northern california, than to move to TN or KY (and have the same lifestyle)
 
My heart goes out to all those affected by Helene and Milton. We flooded bad here in St Pete, FL. Lost almost everything except the WSM and Performer. 😂 All furniture gone, and 80% of personal belongings, 3 cars totaled, etc. Had over 6 ft of water down our street, 3ft water lines outside the house and over a foot inside.

Our neighborhood looked like a warzone up until 2 weeks ago when the city picked up all the storm debris and trash.
 
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Teddy J. said:
My heart goes out to all those affected by Helene and Milton. We flooded bad here in St Pete, FL. Lost almost everything except the WSM and Performer. 😂 All furniture gone, and 80% of personal belongings, 3 cars totaled, etc. Had over 6 ft of water down our street, 3ft water lines outside the house and over a foot inside.

Our neighborhood looked like a warzone up until 2 weeks ago when the city picked up all the storm debris and trash.
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Seen a lot of local videos of the destruction, but here is an interesting video taken from a storm chaser's point of view. Much of it covers the landfall in Florida...

 
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