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Message
re: Helene - Recovery Begins...Devastating Flash Flooding in Western NC and Eastern TN
Posted on 10/12/24 at 11:17 am to Obtuse1
Posted on 10/12/24 at 11:17 am to Obtuse1
Yes, a power crew was working on the lines to my sister's house yesterday. Hopefully she'll have electricity soon. It's amazing what's been accomplished in two weeks given the damage.
Update: They have power & internet as of today (the 12th).
Update: They have power & internet as of today (the 12th).
This post was edited on 10/12/24 at 9:54 pm
1
Posted on 10/12/24 at 12:53 pm to Carolhdg
quote:
It's amazing what's been accomplished in two weeks given the damage.
Saw a crew from Canada working. They’re from all over
Posted on 10/12/24 at 7:51 pm to tigeroarz1
quote:
Rutherford County (Chimney Rock and Lake Lure) put out a press release today stating that all 1,000+ previously listed missing people had been found and are safe and the death count is only 3 (it’s been that for about a week or more).
Awesome news!
quote:
Boone and Blowing Rock (Watauga County) have formally announced they are ready for tourists and to visit their businesses. The Blue Ridge Parkway which is the biggest tourist attraction in those areas remains closed.
Have you heard anything about Ashe County (Jefferson/W.Jefferson)? That's our vacation spot. Considering that no river runs through it or borders it(The New River borders the eastern edge of the county w/Allegheny) I believe it got off fairly light considering. We Love that town.
This post was edited on 10/12/24 at 8:05 pm
Posted on 10/12/24 at 9:10 pm to Turnblad85
quote:
seems like a real catch22. Those towns heavily rely on leaf season to fund their coffers and to lose out on an entire season would add insult to injury. On the other, I bet people whose lives don't depend on tourism would rather they give this year a rest.
They should at least try to salvage maybe 10% of their normal fall foliage traffic as otherwise it's going to get into winter and they won't have significant tourism against until next summer.
Small mountain towns like Boone / Blowing Rock and Chimney Rock / Lake Lure are pretty much 100% tourism. Obviously Chimney Rock / Lake Lure is going to take years to recover.
So when it comes to Boone / Blowing Rock, really the only non tourism related jobs are probably with App State University. So if you're not an App State employee, you want at least some tourism otherwise you'll probably find yourself out of a job when you need it the most.
Even jobs that aren't directly tourism related will be impacted. If tourism suffers in Boone / Blowing Rock, then tourism businesses close and some people are forced to move away. That's less business for auxiliary businesses that rely on locals such as grocery stores, spas, hair salons, mechanics, doctors. If you're a doctor in the area, and say Boone loses 25% of its population and you lose 25% of your customer base, you might also have to close up shop and/or relocate. It becomes a vicious cycle.
I really don't think Boone / Blowing Rock will have to worry about getting overwhelmed. Most visitors from out of state have probably cancelled their vacations to the area and are going elsewhere. While Boone and Blowing Rock are nice areas, most people are still coming there to go on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
With the Blue Ridge Parkway closed, tourism will naturally be down a lot. My guess is tourism will maybe be at 10% of normal this fall. My guess would be most tourism will be regional. People from other parts of North Carolina as well as South Carolina and Virginia who can just do a weekend trip and try to help support the community. There will probably be next to no tourists coming in from outside of those three states.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 6:52 am to MountaineerPatriot
There are two ski resorts between Boone and Banner Elk that say they will be open for ski season. Many of the cabins that you’d rent for fall leaf peeping are actually built for ski season. So not all is lost.
Blowing Rock and Boone have announced they’re ready for tourist and Banner Elk hopes for next weekend to open up.
West Jefferson’s FB page says they are open for tourism.
Blowing Rock and Boone have announced they’re ready for tourist and Banner Elk hopes for next weekend to open up.
West Jefferson’s FB page says they are open for tourism.
This post was edited on 10/13/24 at 7:05 am
Posted on 10/13/24 at 9:48 am to tigeroarz1
Longer article on the Asheville water situation
Asheville Watchdog
TLDR it is going to be a long time before everyone has potable water but they appear to have worked the problem, developed a plan and are working the plan. They have started to pressurize lines and so as they fix all the leaks that find people will be getting "boil order water" growing out from the North Fork plant. At least bathing and flushing will get a lot easier.
The power companies are still making steady progress. Buncombe County (Asheville) is down to 6.5% out but Yancy and Mitchell counties are still over 30%.
Asheville Watchdog
TLDR it is going to be a long time before everyone has potable water but they appear to have worked the problem, developed a plan and are working the plan. They have started to pressurize lines and so as they fix all the leaks that find people will be getting "boil order water" growing out from the North Fork plant. At least bathing and flushing will get a lot easier.
The power companies are still making steady progress. Buncombe County (Asheville) is down to 6.5% out but Yancy and Mitchell counties are still over 30%.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 10:10 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
Have you heard anything about Ashe County (Jefferson/W.Jefferson)? That's our vacation spot. Considering that no river runs through it or borders it(The New River borders the eastern edge of the county w/Allegheny) I believe it got off fairly light considering. We Love that town
I used to do some work in that area. Beautiful spot but not the easiest place to get to.
Fun fact…the New River is considered one of the oldest rivers in the world and definitely in NA.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 10:12 am to Obtuse1
quote:
At least bathing and flushing will get a lot easier.
Can confirm. Can poop in my house now.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 10:35 am to MountaineerPatriot
quote:
I really don't think Boone / Blowing Rock will have to worry about getting overwhelmed. Most visitors from out of state have probably cancelled their vacations to the area and are going elsewhere. While Boone and Blowing Rock are nice areas, most people are still coming there to go on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With the Blue Ridge Parkway closed, tourism will naturally be down a lot. My guess is tourism will maybe be at 10% of normal this fall. My guess would be most tourism will be regional. People from other parts of North Carolina as well as South Carolina and Virginia who can just do a weekend trip and try to help support the community. There will probably be next to no tourists coming in from outside of those three states.
Frankly, some of these areas may need to ratchet up their marketing. People can stay away too much in these situations. Obviously this was a horrible event with catastrophic impacts, but it is somewhat localized.
A slow build is better right now, but fast forward to next spring and a lot of these spots will desperately need visitors. Places like Chimney Rock aside.
I know it’s not job #1, but has anyone reported on the actual damage to the parkway?
Posted on 10/13/24 at 10:45 am to Bruco
quote:
I know it’s not job #1, but has anyone reported on the actual damage to the parkway?
I haven't seen anything specific re damage, but they just opened the first 198 miles in VA in the last couple of days. The sections in NC were a lot worse hit obviously.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 11:27 am to Bruco
quote:
I know it’s not job #1, but has anyone reported on the actual damage to the parkway?
shite ton of trees down as you can imagine.
I saw a photo of one washout in the area near Mt Mitchell.
In my uninformed opinion, I wouldn’t be surprised if the parkway in NC remains closed until next spring…at least between Asheville and the VA state line.
This post was edited on 10/13/24 at 11:27 am
Posted on 10/13/24 at 11:48 am to GetCocky11
quote:
In my uninformed opinion, I wouldn’t be surprised if the parkway in NC remains closed until next spring…at least between Asheville and the VA state line.
I think that would be a smart money bet, unfortunately.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 4:07 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
The power companies are still making steady progress. Buncombe County (Asheville) is down to 6.5% out but Yancy and Mitchell counties are still over 30%.
If like after Laura, immediate repairs the first month or so was just to get power back, but not an actual long term fix. The next spring there were crews still at it for permanent fixes. I ran into a Canadian crew staying at the same hotel I spent the night in. Most of the hotels were still booked with repair crews. They were from Alberta and drinking beer in the parking lot after work and had several months more of work.
Posted on 10/13/24 at 9:22 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
In my uninformed opinion, I wouldn’t be surprised if the parkway in NC remains closed until next spring…at least between Asheville and the VA state line.
I would be shocked if any of the NC portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway reopens this year. Maybe the part around Asheville that a lot of people actually use as just a regular road more than anything and maybe the extreme northern part near the VA state line, but that's about it.
I've seen a fair amount of pictures. Tons of trees down and the road is washed out in several locations closer to Asheville. That will be the bigger problem.
Typically the Blue Ridge Parkway closes for the season at the end of November and is closed December, January, February and March.
My guess is they'll keep it closed going into next April as well and that the goal will be to have it open by Memorial Day Weekend in May next year for the summer travel season. But I seriously doubt hardly any of the NC portion of the Parkway reopens this year.
This post was edited on 10/13/24 at 9:26 pm
Posted on 10/13/24 at 9:28 pm to MountaineerPatriot
quote:
My guess is they'll keep it closed going into next April as well and that the goal will be to have it open by Memorial Day Weekend in May next year for the summer travel season.
For selfish reasons I hope it is open by May 19th for the Assualt on Mt Mitchell.
Posted on 10/14/24 at 3:26 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
Chimney Rock
Odd question... But the bat cave apple house? Anyone know if those old folks eho run it made it alright?
Mid covid we stopped in and I grabbed a mask in case they were like the rest of the area and complained about it... This old lady was lighting one pall mall red off the previous one and eating a pack of raw salt pork.
Her response of, I don't give two damns about that, was the nicest thing a local had said. We spent like $300 on apple related stuff.
Posted on 10/14/24 at 8:10 am to MountaineerPatriot
quote:
Typically the Blue Ridge Parkway closes for the season at the end of November and is closed December, January, February and March.
This not true at all. The Blue Ridge Parkway is open year round unless the weather like snow comes in but it never closes for the season.
Some of the best views at Devil's Courthouse is during the winter when there is no ice.
Posted on 10/14/24 at 8:24 am to TideWarrior
The other issue the parkway will have were the construction projects already started.
The big project is the bridge over I26 going to Bent Creek is supposed to be replaced due to the widening on I26.
Some part of the Parkway in VA are still closed and all NC is.
quote:
Reconstruction and Repaving is occurring from Milepost 229 to 305 through Fall 2024. Both lanes will be paved simultaneously, requiring full closure of 12-15 mile segments at a time.
quote:
The Laurel Fork Bridge at Milepost 249 is undergoing a replacement through November 2024. The Parkway is fully closed between MP 248.1 and 249.3
The big project is the bridge over I26 going to Bent Creek is supposed to be replaced due to the widening on I26.
quote:
Work is underway on a project to widen approximately 16.9 miles of I-26 from U.S. Hwy 64, in Hendersonville, to Brevard Road, in Asheville, NC. The widening of I-26 requires the installation of a new bridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway over the I-26 interstate at interstate mile marker 36 (near Parkway Milepost 391). Construction of the new bridge also requires realigning approximately 3000 linear feet of Parkway. Officials from NCDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior and the Blue Ridge Parkway have agreed on a general plan to build the new bridge and remove the existing structure.
Some part of the Parkway in VA are still closed and all NC is.
Posted on 10/14/24 at 8:28 am to TideWarrior
Posted on 10/14/24 at 1:12 pm to TideWarrior
Thanks for the pictures, Those aren't easy repairs at the top of moutains.
TV Channel 10 in Knoxville has a video about Asheville. 26 minutes long
LINK
TV Channel 10 in Knoxville has a video about Asheville. 26 minutes long
LINK
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