69 Comments
Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

The NC United Way will direct your money to the organizations that can be most useful in the situation as well: https://www.unitedwaync.org/ - might be the easiest if you are like me and get bogged down in figuring out the best way to give.

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Oct 2Liked by Jeremy Markovich

The United Way is also the fiscal agent for the NC Disaster Relief Fund, and 100% of the donations will assist nonprofits working in affected communities. https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/09/29/donate-nc-disaster-relief-fund-help-helene-recovery-governor-cooper-urges

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Yes and United Way is simply glutted with paper shuffling social engineers, taking your employees contributions and distributing them toward their pet projects, all the while jumping in front of the cameras incessantly, while the community organizing is done by small nonprofits…. And these nonprofits are admonished not to fund drive during United Way fund drives… it may be different where you are, but I doubt it…. I know… have seen it in Cincinnati area for 30 years….

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I want to know when my father, at a retirement community in Black Mountain, will be able to get water to drink. Yesterday he bought a Gatorade at the commissary and nursed it all day. Other than 3 liters of tonic water and some non-alcoholic beer, he has no water and the facility isn't able to offer him any. I'm assuming this means the roads in and out of the facility are closed (the Swannanoa River flooded just nearby). I can't get anyone official at the community to return my calls -- phone lines might be down. Is the National Guard on their way with water trucks? I'm concerned about the 400 or so elderly people there who have nothing to drink. I would drive up from Georgia with cases of water but I-40 is closed and I don't know if back roads are open. He just texted me saying as a last resort he could drink the water from the toilet tank, but he's been reserving that for the cat.

I realize there are many people in much worse shape than Dad, but I just wish I could get some information and know help is on the way...

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Thanks to those who shared links to Asheville Citizen-Times (it doesn't seem to have a paywall right now and has good, current info) and the Black Mtn town page. It sounds like they will start distributing water tomorrow (Monday) hopefully.

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A few notes from people:

- A reader named Duncan is in Linville, and has power and Starlink, and say if you or someone you know needs something in that area, call him at 828-525-4670

- From Pamela: "This is the form I used to contact my son in Weaverville just north of Asheville.

Hope it can help others." https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCZbJHoOE5KREOtf22XQAIfevMzEYtpZVOsSlJNnzUP4Lvzw/viewform

- Signs on U.S. 421 in Winston-Salem state that I-40 west of I-77 is closed except for emergency vehicles.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

https://www.citizen-times.com/

Many stories are usually under a paywall. However, many outlets make inclement weather event coverage like this for free.

I’ve been able to read stories about the storm from The Citizen-Times and other papers.

I can’t speak for all, but it’s worth a shot. Also check the websites for Buncombe County government, City of Asheville, other municipalities, adjacent counties, and well-established media outlets.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

There are no phone lines there, but a ham radio operator (K4SWL) there in Swannoa says (via radio relay) that the Pisgah Brewing Company on Highway 70 is providing clean water to the community. However, getting there might be an issue, the roads are obstructed in many places.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Also, Ingles at Highway 9 Black Mountain has water per the local ham radio operators.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

I have been trying to learn about a particular community and discovered that a lot of social media groups have popped up in the last 2 days with information and photos. Since I can actually recognize many of the places in the photos (barely), I feel confident they are real. So far, anyway.

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Yeah, that's been the only way I've been able to vet some stuff. I've seen some AI-generated stuff that has been confusing people about Boone and ASU specifically. But if I recognize landmarks from a place I've been, that goes a long way. But some stuff that's non-descript is harder to place.

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My sister lives in the northern section of Asheville. A neighbor hiked to a mountain top where they could get a cell signal and sent messages to loved ones. We heard this morning that my sister and brother-in-law are okay, but have no electricity, internet, or cell service. No word on their water situation.

On Reddit, there is tons of info on the Asheville Megathread - Post Helene.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

My understanding is that threading on X/Xitter/Twitter doesn't work, but this is a good thread: https://x.com/chriscooperwcu/status/1840085096679842063?t=UirQaVOv8MILOolba6eOJA&s=19

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Yes, Chris works at WCU, I’d consider him to be a trusted source.

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I really miss WCU. :)

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Poster seems to work at WCU & lives in Sylva.

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Sep 29·edited Sep 30Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Might take another day or so for them to get the Western NC efforts posted - right now it's only got previous coastal Hurricane recovery efforts listed. But might be worth checking back on this. Saw this mentioned on the NC Planner's Listserv, as an alternative to Red Cross. Someone in one of the replies was cautioning people that Red Cross might not be the best bet for making sure your donations get directly to the disaster you intended them for, or in a timely manner (largely due to their size and their focus on 'everywhere' - not anything specifically nefarious, even though there are those who might disagree with that... and I might be one of 'em...)

NC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

https://www.ncvoad.org/

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Red Cross is not active inside the disaster zone at the time, and do your research before donating money to them, IMHO.

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From FB unvetted: The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

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A bunch of people have been flagging this. I think it's too early to know what's up with that specifically. But Spruce Pine's downtown seems to have been especially hard hit: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownSprucePine/posts/pfbid0GeKHJX62UPLYTGfBCN6JNF5EV7T89ve4FWFmqr9UJNfA3Lp1i5zsyJo3gjHuTvdgl

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Sep 30Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Are you able to get any information about Canton, Waynesville, Haywood County area? I have friends there and haven't been able to get in touch with them.

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The Mountaineer is on top of that area: https://www.themountaineer.com/. Also, the mayor of Canton, Zeb Smathers, is on Twitter: https://x.com/zebsmathers

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Thank you very much.

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Sep 30Liked by Jeremy Markovich

My son lives in Weaverville and I used a county form to get in touch with him which they did and somehow allowed him to get a text out to me. He and his family are safe in their house, but there is no power, cell service or fresh water. Roads in Weaverville are basically not useable as of Sunday morning.

Hope this helps others get in touch with their loved ones.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

I would love to have a welfare check in my aunt, Mari Sides in Bakersville (Mitchell County). She lives alone in an old farmhouse, very close to a large stream. She in her early 70s and not in great health.

Address: 670 McKinney Cove

Bakersville, NC 28705

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Sep 30Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Confirmed safe moments ago!!!

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Thank goodness.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

Any info on the Wilson Creek Gorge/Collettsville area in Caldwell County? Also any info regarding Grayson highlands State Park near Damascus, VA?

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Not yet. Know Damascus was pretty hard hit. A friend’s mom had to be rescued there.

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Thank you for the info about Damascus. Still interested in the Wilson Creek/Collettesville area, which is pretty remote.

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I live in Lenoir. Lot of trees down, very little power, but 321 and 64/18/90 are okay. Gas stations and grocery stores largely open. Can speak to the higher elevations. Sorry

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Oops. "CAN'T speak..."

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Thanks - we used to live in Lenoir. My husband used to kayak Wilson Creek and we’ve seen it at flood stage. Lots of communities up there that are pretty isolated.

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Some communities disappeared up there in the Flood of 1940, as I understand it: Mortimer, etc.

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Oh yes I know about Mortimer and Edgemont! We’ve driven up there numerous times up around Globe. Such a tragic and scary event.

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Sep 29Liked by Jeremy Markovich

hi great information on how to help. listen to the local news and donate cash to reputable organizations like the Red Cross.

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There are a lot of sources saying the roads are impassable but my sister-in-law drove from Waynesville, which is just west of Asheville, to Charlotte yesterday. I would have to double-check, but I think she said she took 26 to 85 and that there were no closures. This seems to contradict what many posts I have seen on FB are saying. Not trying to encourage anyone to drive anywhere up there (I am in Charlotte), but it might be worth looking into if there is an emergency.

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