Hurricane Helene aftermath

[Ivanhoe]

Due to lack of power and telecom, its still unclear how bad the damage is from Helene. I read one opinion that when all is said and done, its going to be worse than Katrina.

The track of the storm ironically missed big cities, but the heavy rain and wind cut a wide swath.

Quite a few reports of people killed by downed powerlines, it would seem that power companies in Georgia and the Carolinas have not learned to depower in advance of major storms.

I believe Georgia and Florida have a mutual aid agreement for power transmission repair crews, but they may not have planned for both states getting clobbered simultaneously.

 

 

 

[Ivanhoe]

NCDOT has its work cut out for them;

https://www.facebook.com/NCDOT

 

Road closures;

 

[rmgill]

I have driven that section of I26 past Erwin numerous times. That entire set of industry along I26 had EVERYTHING washed down the river and up and over the highway. Lumber, poly pipe, storage buildings, parts of their plant facilities. That's all minor compared to the towns/neighborhoods that were carried away by flooding. 

The Feds seem to be very light on response. 

Edited October 1, 2024 by rmgill

[Ivanhoe]

It has been noted that POTUS, VPOTUS, and Cabinet secretaries are pretty much AWOL.

https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/north-carolina-congressman-says-federal-response-disappointing-following-helene-destruction/

 

US Army Corps of Engineers response also seems a bit light;

https://www.usace.army.mil/Helene/

https://www.wect.com/2024/09/30/supplies-rushed-communities-isolated-by-helene-death-toll-rises-nearly-100/

Cell service is pretty minimal.

Quote

 

Ten federal search and rescue teams were on the ground and another nine were on their way, while trucks and cargo planes were arriving with food and water, FEMA said. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell surveyed damage with Cooper Monday.

Volunteers were showing up, too. Mike Toberer decided to bring a dozen of his mules to deliver food, water and diapers to hard-to-reach mountainous areas.

“We’ll take our chainsaws, and we’ll push those mules through,” he said, noting that each one can carry about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) of supplies.

 

Its been pointed out that Ft Liberty (ex. Bragg) and Ft Campbell have tons of helicopters.

[sunday]

Does not look good, indeed.

[Tim the Tank Nut]

current Fedral response is based on voting patterns.

The strange pattern of the rain and the long soaking nature of it seems to have created a different set of disasters.  It's not just a wind thing this time.

It's going to be a long slog to get it all back on track.  The automotive industry will be full of flood damaged vehicles masquerading as repaired collision cars.

[Ivanhoe]

What I experienced in Virginia with Nor'easter storms and tropical storms; a long, heavy rain followed by heavy winds will push lots of trees over, blocking roads and taking powerlines down. Along with squashing the occasional roof.

About a week from now, eyepro, earpro, leather gloves, 2-cycle oil, and powerful chainsaws will be worth their weight in gold. Not to mention strong chain and/or rope. A motivated pair of guys can clear a lot of road with an old tractor and the above accoutrements.

 

[rmgill]

Why aren't Transportation, MP, Engineering/Bridging and Water Purification units being moved to the region. I don't see how the 82nd would be that useful other than it's aviation assets, but seriously, the above unit types would be doing their proper functions with the above AND it'd be good training. 

[Ivanhoe]

FAFO ROE;

Kamala's Little Helpers;

 

[rmgill]

Just now, Ivanhoe said:

What I experienced in Virginia with Nor'easter storms and tropical storms; a long, heavy rain followed by heavy winds will push lots of trees over, blocking roads and taking powerlines down. Along with squashing the occasional roof.

The problem in NC and TN is the higher angle terrain makes for the heavy rain to make for far more serious flooding. The narrow valleys means the same water that would spread over a plain rises up 5 to 20 feet or more. It also concentrates and runs down far quicker given the elevation changes than with the Piedmont or Coastal plains. The coastal plain has a greater capacity for absorption than does the ridge and fold or otherwise mountainous terrain can handle. That rock is mostly impermeable. 

[Ivanhoe]

Truck tires slashed at truck stop;

 

[Ivanhoe]

4 minutes ago, rmgill said:

The problem in NC and TN is the higher angle terrain makes for the heavy rain to make for far more serious flooding. The narrow valleys means the same water that would spread over a plain rises up 5 to 20 feet or more. It also concentrates and runs down far quicker given the elevation changes than with the Piedmont or Coastal plains. The coastal plain has a greater capacity for absorption than does the ridge and fold or otherwise mountainous terrain can handle. That rock is mostly impermeable. 

Dude, stay in your lane. Back in the day, I knew a thing or two about hydrodynamics.

The coastal plain of Virginia is riddled with clay pans. There's not much loam on top of the clay.

[Tim Sielbeck]

1 hour ago, rmgill said:

Why aren't Transportation, MP, Engineering/Bridging and Water Purification units being moved to the region. I don't see how the 82nd would be that useful other than it's aviation assets, but seriously, the above unit types would be doing their proper functions with the above AND it'd be good training. 

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152) signed on June 18, 1878, by President Rutherford B. Hayes limits the powers of the federal government in the use of federal military personnel.  Does no one remember what happened after Katrina?  Only the Coast Guard responded immediately because they are the only ones that can respond immediately.  The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines need authorization to go.  The various National Guards are under the control of the governors of the various states and are able to be respond quickly but that does not mean that they have the above mentioned equipment for the job.

[Skywalkre]

43 minutes ago, Tim Sielbeck said:

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152) signed on June 18, 1878, by President Rutherford B. Hayes limits the powers of the federal government in the use of federal military personnel.  Does no one remember what happened after Katrina?  Only the Coast Guard responded immediately because they are the only ones that can respond immediately.  The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines need authorization to go.  The various National Guards are under the control of the governors of the various states and are able to be respond quickly but that does not mean that they have the above mentioned equipment for the job.

The bolded bit is key.  On top of that those support units are in high demand with all our deployments over the globe.

The TN/NC border was already getting rain before Helene showed up.  When the storm mixed with the front already there it created conditions that resulted in this Biblical level downpour.  No one predicted this, and I'm struggling to remember the last time a hurricane had this type of damage hundreds of miles inland from where it made landfall.  Authorities are likely playing catch up but per a statement yesterday from the Pentagon nine states have deployed NG forces to the region and it sounds like AD aircraft from the Army and Navy are en route.

[Rick]

5 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

It has been noted that POTUS, VPOTUS, and Cabinet secretaries are pretty much AWOL.

https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/north-carolina-congressman-says-federal-response-disappointing-following-helene-destruction/

 

US Army Corps of Engineers response also seems a bit light;

https://www.usace.army.mil/Helene/

https://www.wect.com/2024/09/30/supplies-rushed-communities-isolated-by-helene-death-toll-rises-nearly-100/

Cell service is pretty minimal.

Its been pointed out that Ft Liberty (ex. Bragg) and Ft Campbell have tons of helicopters.

And Camp LeJeune.

[rmgill]

10 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

Dude, stay in your lane. Back in the day, I knew a thing or two about hydrodynamics.

The point is that I am in Georgia. I don’t believe we were as badly hit as TN and NC but flooding. We were in the path first. 

I figure a lot of that IS the terrain. 

[rmgill]

8 hours ago, Tim Sielbeck said:

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152) signed on June 18, 1878, by President Rutherford B. Hayes limits the powers of the federal government in the use of federal military personnel.  

Yes I have seen Tank. The president can authorize. 

[Stargrunt6]

15 hours ago, Tim the Tank Nut said:

current Fedral response is based on voting patterns.

The strange pattern of the rain and the long soaking nature of it seems to have created a different set of disasters.  It's not just a wind thing this time.

It's going to be a long slog to get it all back on track.  The automotive industry will be full of flood damaged vehicles masquerading as repaired collision cars.

Just like Obama and the Kentucky blizzard.

[rmgill]

The locals are pulling together. 
 

 

[NickM]

8 hours ago, rmgill said:

Yes I have seen Tank. The president can authorize. 

Ah, the pussy communists

[Skywalkre]

1 hour ago, rmgill said:

 

The only story I can find of private helicopter pilots being threatened with arrest can be found here.  One instance where a local Fire chief/captain had a spur up his ass and threatened to have a pilot arrested for "interfering with his operation."  Zero fucking thing to do with the WH.  The story later mentions a SC organization that was utilizing private helos to bring in supplies to areas military birds couldn't reach because they were too large for the LZs.  There are also other stories out there of other pilots doing what they could with no issue.

Also, Trump is in TX for several fundraisers as well... so why is this post calling out Harris and not Trump?  🙄

These efforts are spearheaded by state and local officials.  I saw an interview last night where the mayor of Asheville, which is in the heart of all this mess, said they were getting everything they needed.  If these officials weren't getting that in this day and age they have the bullhorn to spread that word... but it's not happening. 

That article above mentioned the pilot first ran into FD personnel from MI... who were more than willing to work with him (and probably didn't know the area).  If there's an issue at play here in the aftermath of Helene it's probably similar to what we've seen with the USSS - we're not willing to pay for what we think we have and these agencies are desperately in need of overhaul/modernization.  That's not an issue that's the fault of one administration.  That's the fault of our system in general and everyone is to blame for where we're at...

Edited October 2, 2024 by Skywalkre

[Mr King]

Where's all the faggy Hollywood types? Oh right, it was just poor whites who died and lost everything.

 

 

[rmgill]

8 hours ago, NickM said:

Ah, the pussy communists

Required viewing for the Grate Site. 

[rmgill]

6 hours ago, Skywalkre said:

The only story I can find of private helicopter pilots being threatened with arrest can be found here.  One instance where a local Fire chief/captain had a spur up his ass and threatened to have a pilot arrested for "interfering with his operation."  Zero fucking thing to do with the WH.

People may assume the white house is giving orders when dudes with windbreakers and badges start making threats. 

6 hours ago, Skywalkre said:

Also, Trump is in TX for several fundraisers as well... so why is this post calling out Harris and not Trump?  🙄

 

🤔

 

Because he’s not president. 

🥱

[Stargrunt6]

Speaking of DJT

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-launches-gofundme-help-hurricane-helene-victims-raises-more-1m

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/wake-hurricane-trump-seeks-boost-his-presidential-bid-2024-10-01/