To our friends in Helene's path...

[Rocky]

Sincerely hope that all is well with you and your families. Thinking about you. Hunker down!

 

[bearpaw8491]

Thanks Rock. Storm center passed slightly to the west of us. We got almost 10 inches of rain and 45+ mph winds. A ton of medium to small limbs in the yard and 1 downed tree, no power outages - yet - and we're counting our blessings. Power company will be opening flood gates on two nearby dams and folks downstream have been told to prepare to evacuate. Significant flooding in western part of the state. One report indicated that it may be worse than "Great Flood of 1916" - worst in state history. A couple of days will tell the tale.
Thanks for thinking of us.

 

[Rocky]

Thanks Rock. Storm center passed slightly to the west of us. We got almost 10 inches of rain and 45+ mph winds. A ton of medium to small limbs in the yard and 1 downed tree, no power outages - yet - and we're counting our blessings. Power company will be opening flood gates on two nearby dams and folks downstream have been told to prepare to evacuate. Significant flooding in western part of the state. One report indicated that it may be worse than "Great Flood of 1916" - worst in state history. A couple of days will tell the tale.
Thanks for thinking of us.

Stay safe. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be in your situation. I have a lot of friends living in FL, NC and SC and have not heard from them. All the best.

 

[bearpaw8491]

Link to Cowans Ford Dam spill way release from Helene. The dam is about 3 miles from our home and impounds Lake Norman 12 miles NW of Charlotte. Evacuation downstream in progress. We came across NC 73 a few minutes ago and there are 5 gates open now and the island you see below the dam is submerged. Tried to post some video we shot but format is wrong.

 

[Rocky]

The power of Mother Nature is awesome! We are starting to get wind and rain here in central Ohio from Helene. Of course, nowhere near the severity that people in FL, GA, SC, TN and NC have experienced. Actually for us it is a boon. We were suffering the third worst drought in central Ohio history.

My heart goes out to the people suffering in Helene's wake.

 

[jswordy]

We still have friends in the greater Asheville area who we have not heard from yet.

 

[jswordy]

The power of Mother Nature is awesome! We are starting to get wind and rain here in central Ohio from Helene. Of course, nowhere near the severity that people in FL, GA, SC, TN and NC have experienced. Actually for us it is a boon. We were suffering the third worst drought in central Ohio history.

My heart goes out to the people suffering in Helene's wake.

I saw video of some pretty intense flooding in southern Ohio.

 

[bearpaw8491]

We still have friends in the greater Asheville area who we have not heard from yet.

Many of the cell towers are damaged or destroyed; however, heard on local news last night that the cell companies are installing temporary relay towers. Folks need to turn their phones off, wait a few seconds and turn back on. They MAY link to one of the temps and provide a connection. Problem is charged batteries and getting this word to the affected people.
Where is Elon Musk and his star-link?

 

[jswordy]

Many of the cell towers are damaged or destroyed; however, heard on local news last night that the cell companies are installing temporary relay towers. Folks need to turn their phones off, wait a few seconds and turn back on. They MAY link to one of the temps and provide a connection. Problem is charged batteries and getting this word to the affected people.
Where is Elon Musk and his star-link?

We heard from one more NC friend today. He and his partner had to hike out to the city from where they live along with three cats. It was a long hike, as all roads are impassable. Now in Asheville, where he says it is marginally better than when they were at home, but "there's really nothing available much at all here." I feel so sad, since Asheville and Black Mountain are two of our favorite places in the world. Hoping to hear from more friends, and that all are OK. I just saw pix of damages to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly buildings and grounds. That also is a very special place to us. So sad... and to think, the flood damage starts in TN just two hours east of me...