Tropical storm Helene

Bob you still got family in the appalacias or no? Everybody okay?

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Bob you still got family in the appalacias or no? Everybody okay?

thanks for asking.

yeah, been in touch with a lot of family and friends. The devastation down there is impossible to comprehend, I think even for the folks on the ground there. They are looking at years of rebuilding, if they rebuild at all. The stretch of I-40 from Haywood County (my home county) over into Tennessee literally washed into the Pigeon River. You don't just build the highway back - the mountain it was built into is gone.

like, gone. Not even there anymore.

I get frustrated 'cause it's easy to mock people from Appalachia, the vast rural-ness of it all. It's obviously a little more developed over the years in areas, but I grew up in 'town'. Grocery stores, etc weren't far away. Some people still have to drive 45+ minutes just to get to the grocery store. It's their trip to 'town' every Saturday morning. Put the family in the truck and drive into town.

My grandmother - the only grandparent I ever knew or even met - didn't have a tooth in her mouth. Strong, mean 'ol woman but she had to be mean to survive. In the 1970's she was still washing clothes in the creek behind her house and I'd help her carry them back up to the clothesline to dry. These people are forgotten by the outside world, so to see the devastation online, on TV it's very difficult to watch.

A lot of footage of Asheville, of course, which is fine. It's the town people know. But I saw pictures and footage of people packing supplies - food, water, medicine - on mules to lead them over mountains to folks who are totally stranded from civilization. Those are the stories that make me tear up because that would've been my grandmother, just waiting for someone to show up.

A forgotten area that is used as a punchline.. now they're just waiting for someone to lead a mule to them for life-sustaining supplies.

it's been tough and I feel so guilty just leading my privileged life here but I'm not sure what else I can do. Wife and I are connecting with reputable local charities down there and helping as much as we can. I've already texted family and friends twice this morning.

I appreciate more than you know asking. I just hope people don't forget the strong, tough, mountain folks who keep fighting back, because it's all they know, once the news cycle forgets them.

Thanks for posting that, Bob. It's a sobering read, and so sad. I'm sure in a couple of days the national news cycle will move on, so I welcome any updates you want to pass on here.

Thoughts to all of those people down there. In the 25 years, I’ve lived in my house. The basement is flooded twice.. We experienced a little bit of wind damage last May, But all that’s really happened to our basement and that time is a flood twice.


My wife and I were miserable . Getting the water off the floor and fixing the sump pump redoing some of the drywall in the basement, replacing the carpet, getting a new couch and loveseat.


But that was it. Our town was still fine,, Our school district was still up and running, Restaurants, theaters, and gas stations were still in business. And we were miserable, maybe 14 days to three weeks.

It’s like I’m almost ashamed now, of my misery, or something so simple. I know some people from Ocracoke Island, Some of the toughest people I know, with a spirit to match. I hope all those people in North Carolina find some peace as soon as possible

This is unbelievable damage, like wartime unbelievable.

With no roads this is going to take a huge effort to just keep people alive.

It takes hundreds of mules to replace one semitruck.

MiamiSpartan wrote:Thanks for posting that, Bob. It's a sobering read, and so sad. I'm sure in a couple of days the national news cycle will move on, so I welcome any updates you want to pass on here.

thanks, man - I appreciate that.

and I openly and honestly admit that it's easy for all of us to fall into the stereotypical tropes. I'm as guilty, if not more so, than most - but it's times like these that, hopefully, make us all take a step back and reflect on what really matters.

I remember when we moved to SC. We were driving through that run between TN and NC. It was beautiful. Then a hail storm rolled in the the roads iced quickly. It was awful. We’d pass a few tiny towns basically at the bottom of mountains. I thought “thats kinda romantic in a way. Small quaint living. Simple.” Not a  ton of amenities obviously but kinda cool. Thinking back there is no way possible for those towns to survive a sustained torrential rain. Zero chance.

Pretty sad.

kingstonlake wrote:I remember when we moved to SC. We were driving through that run between TN and NC. It was beautiful. Then a hail storm rolled in the the roads iced quickly. It was awful. We’d pass a few tiny towns basically at the bottom of mountains. I thought “thats kinda romantic in a way. Small quaint living. Simple.” Not a  ton of amenities obviously but kinda cool. Thinking back there is no way possible for those towns to survive a sustained torrential rain. Zero chance.

Pretty sad.

it is an absolutely gorgeous place. That sort of romantic, small town, even 'off the grid' beauty, if that's your thing.

I called a guy I know in TN. He is ok and his house is fine. He is in produce and thinks the season is going to finish early. I was in Asheville a couple of times over the past few years. Well north of it, I think. The pictures look devastating. I'm glad I haven't had to go through anything like this yet.

This pretty much emphasizes what Bob posted:
Man hikes 11 miles and 2,200 feet high to reach his parents in North Carolina

I-40 in Haywood County, NC - guessing about 5 miles east of the Tennessee state line.

The mountain that it's built into is washed away. You can't rebuild a mountain.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I-40 in Haywood County, NC - guessing about 5 miles east of the Tennessee state line.

The mountain that it's built into is washed away. You can't rebuild a mountain.

There are choices on that washout, but the good news is there might a lane that can be used

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Bob you still got family in the appalacias or no? Everybody okay?

thanks for asking.

yeah, been in touch with a lot of family and friends. The devastation down there is impossible to comprehend, I think even for the folks on the ground there. They are looking at years of rebuilding, if they rebuild at all. The stretch of I-40 from Haywood County (my home county) over into Tennessee literally washed into the Pigeon River. You don't just build the highway back - the mountain it was built into is gone.

like, gone. Not even there anymore.

I get frustrated 'cause it's easy to mock people from Appalachia, the vast rural-ness of it all. It's obviously a little more developed over the years in areas, but I grew up in 'town'. Grocery stores, etc weren't far away. Some people still have to drive 45+ minutes just to get to the grocery store. It's their trip to 'town' every Saturday morning. Put the family in the truck and drive into town.

My grandmother - the only grandparent I ever knew or even met - didn't have a tooth in her mouth. Strong, mean 'ol woman but she had to be mean to survive. In the 1970's she was still washing clothes in the creek behind her house and I'd help her carry them back up to the clothesline to dry. These people are forgotten by the outside world, so to see the devastation online, on TV it's very difficult to watch.

A lot of footage of Asheville, of course, which is fine. It's the town people know. But I saw pictures and footage of people packing supplies - food, water, medicine - on mules to lead them over mountains to folks who are totally stranded from civilization. Those are the stories that make me tear up because that would've been my grandmother, just waiting for someone to show up.

A forgotten area that is used as a punchline.. now they're just waiting for someone to lead a mule to them for life-sustaining supplies.

it's been tough and I feel so guilty just leading my privileged life here but I'm not sure what else I can do. Wife and I are connecting with reputable local charities down there and helping as much as we can. I've already texted family and friends twice this morning.

I appreciate more than you know asking. I just hope people don't forget the strong, tough, mountain folks who keep fighting back, because it's all they know, once the news cycle forgets them.

Thanks for posting that, Bob. Those are always the forgotten people. They just want somebody to recognize they are there and are people too.

Rick Saunders wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
thanks for asking.

yeah, been in touch with a lot of family and friends. The devastation down there is impossible to comprehend, I think even for the folks on the ground there. They are looking at years of rebuilding, if they rebuild at all. The stretch of I-40 from Haywood County (my home county) over into Tennessee literally washed into the Pigeon River. You don't just build the highway back - the mountain it was built into is gone.

like, gone. Not even there anymore.

I get frustrated 'cause it's easy to mock people from Appalachia, the vast rural-ness of it all. It's obviously a little more developed over the years in areas, but I grew up in 'town'. Grocery stores, etc weren't far away. Some people still have to drive 45+ minutes just to get to the grocery store. It's their trip to 'town' every Saturday morning. Put the family in the truck and drive into town.

My grandmother - the only grandparent I ever knew or even met - didn't have a tooth in her mouth. Strong, mean 'ol woman but she had to be mean to survive. In the 1970's she was still washing clothes in the creek behind her house and I'd help her carry them back up to the clothesline to dry. These people are forgotten by the outside world, so to see the devastation online, on TV it's very difficult to watch.

A lot of footage of Asheville, of course, which is fine. It's the town people know. But I saw pictures and footage of people packing supplies - food, water, medicine - on mules to lead them over mountains to folks who are totally stranded from civilization. Those are the stories that make me tear up because that would've been my grandmother, just waiting for someone to show up.

A forgotten area that is used as a punchline.. now they're just waiting for someone to lead a mule to them for life-sustaining supplies.

it's been tough and I feel so guilty just leading my privileged life here but I'm not sure what else I can do. Wife and I are connecting with reputable local charities down there and helping as much as we can. I've already texted family and friends twice this morning.

I appreciate more than you know asking. I just hope people don't forget the strong, tough, mountain folks who keep fighting back, because it's all they know, once the news cycle forgets them.

Thanks for posting that, Bob. Those are always the forgotten people. They just want somebody to recognize they are there and are people too.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I-40 in Haywood County, NC - guessing about 5 miles east of the Tennessee state line.

The mountain that it's built into is washed away. You can't rebuild a mountain.

Drove I-40 from Tennessee to/from the Lake Lure area years back. Recall it being the wildest piece of interstate I had been on...low speed curves, rock slide barriers, in addition to heavy truck traffic. No idea the plan to get 40 fixed ASAP. IMO the plan should include thoughts about long term renovation of that stretch of road.

Longer term option is cutting further into the mountain

The Pantry wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I-40 in Haywood County, NC - guessing about 5 miles east of the Tennessee state line.

The mountain that it's built into is washed away. You can't rebuild a mountain.

Drove I-40 from Tennessee to/from the Lake Lure area years back. Recall it being the wildest piece of interstate I had been on...low speed curves, rock slide barriers, in addition to heavy truck traffic. No idea the plan to get 40 fixed ASAP. IMO the plan should include thoughts about long term renovation of that stretch of road.

Yeah, a few years back I took that route between Asheville toward Knoxville. I was surprised many sharp curves there were for being an interstate (having driven I-75 through Tennessee a lot, and I-76 through the Pennsylvania Appalachians several times). Plus I was driving that I-40 stretch late at night, which made it even more freaky with the sharp turns.

Trapper Gus wrote:Longer term option is cutting further into the mountain

Didn't say it would be environmentally friendly or cheap. Guys that initially designed that stretch were likely on a limited budget and resources. Same as now.

The Pantry wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:Longer term option is cutting further into the mountain

Didn't say it would be environmentally friendly or cheap. Guys that initially designed that stretch were likely on a limited budget and resources. Same as now.

They could always up the minimum speed to 100 mph or so and fit a nice superelevated curve in there

MiamiSpartan wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Drove I-40 from Tennessee to/from the Lake Lure area years back. Recall it being the wildest piece of interstate I had been on...low speed curves, rock slide barriers, in addition to heavy truck traffic. No idea the plan to get 40 fixed ASAP. IMO the plan should include thoughts about long term renovation of that stretch of road.

Yeah, a few years back I took that route between Asheville toward Knoxville. I was surprised many sharp curves there were for being an interstate (having driven I-75 through Tennessee a lot, and I-76 through the Pennsylvania Appalachians several times). Plus I was driving that I-40 stretch late at night, which made it even more freaky with the sharp turns.

It's a chaotic, frantic 20 miles or so. Trucks are supposed to stay in the right lane, but you're passing one of them in one of those snake-y curves, pinned between him and a concrete wall with what feels like about 18 inches on either side of you, it'll get your attention.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Bob you still got family in the appalacias or no? Everybody okay?

thanks for asking.

yeah, been in touch with a lot of family and friends. The devastation down there is impossible to comprehend, I think even for the folks on the ground there. They are looking at years of rebuilding, if they rebuild at all. The stretch of I-40 from Haywood County (my home county) over into Tennessee literally washed into the Pigeon River. You don't just build the highway back - the mountain it was built into is gone.

like, gone. Not even there anymore.

I get frustrated 'cause it's easy to mock people from Appalachia, the vast rural-ness of it all. It's obviously a little more developed over the years in areas, but I grew up in 'town'. Grocery stores, etc weren't far away. Some people still have to drive 45+ minutes just to get to the grocery store. It's their trip to 'town' every Saturday morning. Put the family in the truck and drive into town.

My grandmother - the only grandparent I ever knew or even met - didn't have a tooth in her mouth. Strong, mean 'ol woman but she had to be mean to survive. In the 1970's she was still washing clothes in the creek behind her house and I'd help her carry them back up to the clothesline to dry. These people are forgotten by the outside world, so to see the devastation online, on TV it's very difficult to watch.

A lot of footage of Asheville, of course, which is fine. It's the town people know. But I saw pictures and footage of people packing supplies - food, water, medicine - on mules to lead them over mountains to folks who are totally stranded from civilization. Those are the stories that make me tear up because that would've been my grandmother, just waiting for someone to show up.

A forgotten area that is used as a punchline.. now they're just waiting for someone to lead a mule to them for life-sustaining supplies.

it's been tough and I feel so guilty just leading my privileged life here but I'm not sure what else I can do. Wife and I are connecting with reputable local charities down there and helping as much as we can. I've already texted family and friends twice this morning.

I appreciate more than you know asking. I just hope people don't forget the strong, tough, mountain folks who keep fighting back, because it's all they know, once the news cycle forgets them.

It's a great area. The town you grew up in, would be a great place to retire.