Helene rescue efforts ?

[DALEPQ]

The devastation from Helene is horrific. Areas still totally cut off from access.
What I am not seeing is help coming from the National Guard/Armed Forces.
There should be massive rescue efforts from these military services.
Equipment, helicopters, air dropping crucial supplies, food, water, etc.
Not sure if the news media hasn't reported on this or if it isn't happening.
Any way to get more information on what's happening with this??

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The devastation from Helene is horrific. Areas still totally cut off from access.
What I am not seeing is help coming from the National Guard/Armed Forces.
There should be massive rescue efforts from these military services.
Equipment, helicopters, air dropping crucial supplies, food, water, etc.
Not sure if the news media hasn't reported on this or if it isn't happening.
Any way to get more information on what's happening with this??

There's lots of information on it. You're not finding it because you're looking in the wrong places.

In fact, I came back from a trip to the southeast of Florida yesterday, and at the rest area, there were dozens of rescue teams returning to Miami from North Carolina. They went in and assisted the National Guard there for three days, and had to come home to attend to our own issues here in Florida.

There have been air drops, Georgia's governor spoke with the President, Harris met with the task force and FEMA to determine needs and implement procedures for the coming days and weeks.

Yes, these disaster areas need (and received and are still receiving) National Guard assistance from adjacent states. But this is the peak hurricane season and there are more hurricanes expected. The National Guard will be needed, rested, refreshed, and ready to move to other locations as well as the season continues.

In addition, Biden has authorized and ordered the DoD to send another 1000 soldiers to assist with food, water, and other commodities needed in the hardest-hit areas. The first few days had to be rescue - they had to get the survivors out. That was the #1 priority and anything else would've been in the way of those rescues.

Instead of reading the media, try checking with the actual White House press releases. They're giving daily accounting of everything they're doing, with names, numbers, totals, locations.

[blueash]

The devastation from Helene is horrific. Areas still totally cut off from access.
What I am not seeing is help coming from the National Guard/Armed Forces.
There should be massive rescue efforts from these military services.
Equipment, helicopters, air dropping crucial supplies, food, water, etc.
Not sure if the news media hasn't reported on this or if it isn't happening.
Any way to get more information on what's happening with this??

Google suggests that
1. The US military, active service, does not have a role in disaster relief for civilians although they do have protocols for disasters that happen on military bases. Requests for active aid can be initiated by other agencies

The Federal Government has been active in relief in hurricane Helene

a. See this PRESS RELEASE (https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3923795/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-maj-gen-pat-ryder-on-dod-support-to-hur/) from the Pentagon on how they are assisting FEMA

soldiers are assembling and moving to the affected areas within the next 24 hours, and will join other servicemembers from the Department of Defense who are already supporting FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene, including:

US Army and US Navy helicopters, Soldiers, and Sailors providing critical capability to move personnel and supplies in areas where access via roads is not available or viable.
US Air Force aircraft, helicopters, and Airmen providing search-and-rescue capabilities.
US Army Soldiers and high wheeled vehicles moving personnel and supplies over roads and terrain damaged or impassable to normal vehicles.
Army Corps of Engineers Temporary Power Teams and subject matter experts supporting debris removal, water and wastewater management, and bridge inspections.

b. The WHITE HOUSE issued a statement 2 days ago and updated today (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/02/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-continues-life-saving-response-efforts-in-response-to-hurricane-helene/)explaining what the administration had already deployed and what was available in Federal agency actions including
FEMA, Federal search and rescue, Army Corps of Engineers, US Dept of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Deptarment of Agriculture,
The White house has been directly speaking with the governors of each state in the disaster zone and offered and delivered disaster declarations and asked what support each governor believes is needed.

2. The national guard has a role in disaster relief. The guard is called to action by the individual governors of the states with disasters. The Federal government does not call up the guard. The National Guard has been "mobilized in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, (https://www.ang.af.mil/Media/Article-Display/Article/3921819/national-guard-assists-with-hurricane-response-in-southeast/) Tennessee and Virginia, with help from the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Connecticut"

So to answer your question as to how to get information, I found it easily on Goggle. And there is a lot more to be read.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Google suggests that

2. The national guard has a role in disaster relief. The guard is called to action by the individual governors of the states with disasters. The Federal government does not call up the guard. The National Guard has been "mobilized in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, (https://www.ang.af.mil/Media/Article-Display/Article/3921819/national-guard-assists-with-hurricane-response-in-southeast/) Tennessee and Virginia, with help from the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Connecticut"

The National Guard in Washington DC does get called into action by the President, because DC doesn't have a governor since it's not a state.

The President can also federalize the state National Guards in particular circumstances, such as to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion. Authorized by the Insurrection Act of 1807. A hurricane, however, is not one of those circumstances.

[asianthree]

The devastation from Helene is horrific. Areas still totally cut off from access.
What I am not seeing is help coming from the National Guard/Armed Forces.
There should be massive rescue efforts from these military services.
Equipment, helicopters, air dropping crucial supplies, food, water, etc.
Not sure if the news media hasn't reported on this or if it isn't happening.
Any way to get more information on what's happening with this??

So I can give you first hand knowledge, our oldest in Greenville SC, left their home, Saturday, with thousands of downed trees, no power, cell towers, or water. On their 11 hour drive to our home in TV, they stopped counting military vehicles at 57, 45 airboats on trailers, and too many to count Duke and Seco trucks.

Sometimes relying on one news station doesn’t give you the entire picture.

Their power estimate was 10/7, however there was more damage to the grid than expected so no new date has been given. Hundreds in their town, are in search and rescue mode. Their information is coming from colleagues, who had safe shelter, outside their town.

[DALEPQ]

Thanks for the updates.
Just really didn't know how to get first hand information.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Thanks for the updates.
Just really didn't know how to get first hand information.

What you do, is you ASK for it.

What you don't do, is read posts on social media and assume that they're telling the truth.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Yeah....the live video I’m watching out of NC is pretty sobering. Seems like it’s never ending!

[Dotneko]

What we havent seen on news is the still horrific conditions. They are still recovering bodies and will be for some time. I have seen some reports from friends in the area that they will start seeing the number of deaths increase as the bodies start to float to the surface. There are mule teams heading into the back country with supplies. The Cajun navy is doing a lot. As usual, FEMA is not leading the pack.

[Taltarzac725]

I do wonder why these 500 or 1000 year events keep happening rather often?

Seems like some new labels are needed .

I was about 1 mile north of Davis Creek Park on Memorial Day 1983 when an avalanche went into a mountain lake and a huge wave of water, trees and mud came down very quickly. I had been on my last day at work at a food service building at Bower's Mansion in Washoe Valley, NV. Davis Creek was on just over a ridge to the South. I had to go all around in the Valley to get South as the mud had covered the highway going South as well as pushed a school bus to the other side of the highway and had been entrenched in mud.


I think the kids who had come in the bus were fortunately not in the path of the mudslide but were off to a side.

[La lamy]

2 days ago I heard Canada is sending help.

[Andyb]

The devastation from Helene is horrific. Areas still totally cut off from access.
What I am not seeing is help coming from the National Guard/Armed Forces.
There should be massive rescue efforts from these military services.
Equipment, helicopters, air dropping crucial supplies, food, water, etc.
Not sure if the news media hasn't reported on this or if it isn't happening.
Any way to get more information on what's happening with this??

My wife is from WNC, we both went to App St. I can tell you from many friends and family in the area, that FEMA and government help is about non existent.
Samaritan Purse and Governor DeSantis has done more. They(government) is now limiting independent and citizens from helping and has closed down air space. Many people still missing. It is a lot worse than the MSM portrays. The best thing for you to do and help is give to SamaritanPurse.org.

[Bogie Shooter]

What we havent seen on news is the still horrific conditions. They are still recovering bodies and will be for some time. I have seen some reports from friends in the area that they will start seeing the number of deaths increase as the bodies start to float to the surface. There are mule teams heading into the back country with supplies. The Cajun navy is doing a lot. As usual, FEMA is not leading the pack.

Based on what?

[Taltarzac725]

I remember FEMA did a good job here in Villages with the Groundhog Day 2007 tornado. But they do need working roads to get to places.

[Dotneko]

Based on what?

Reports from friends and family. Read the statement above yours saying the same thing from someone else.

[airstreamingypsy]

My wife is from WNC, we both went to App St. I can tell you from many friends and family in the area, that FEMA and government help is about non existent.
Samaritan Purse and Governor DeSantis has done more. They(government) is now limiting independent and citizens from helping and has closed down air space. Many people still missing. It is a lot worse than the MSM portrays. The best thing for you to do and help is give to SamaritanPurse.org.

That is just not true, but it is a right wing talking point on right wing "news" channels. The federal government had 1,000 first responders in place before the storms hit, and that he had approved emergency declarations as soon as he received the requests from the governors. Yesterday POTUS directed the Defense Department to move 1,000 soldiers to reinforce North Carolina’s National Guard to speed up the delivery of supplies like food, water, and medicine to isolated communities, some of which are accessible now only by pack mule.

I used to live there, there are so many people in remote areas...... and it's only been a week. The response has gotten bipartisan praise. Republican governors Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia both thanked Biden by name for what McMaster called a “superb” response.

[asianthree]

Greenville SC still has substantial roads blocked with 100s of downed trees. Our son’s neighborhood and surrounding area main roads are still blocked, but have one road that had less damage. Road is narrow and winding, for large trucks will be a challenge.

No time frame of when the main road will be cleared, and some power and cell towers will be restored.

Search and rescue is still priority, with restoration of power to schools that can be used for shelters. FEMA should be entering into stage 3 activation and deployment of 6 stages.

[graciegirl]

There's lots of information on it. You're not finding it because you're looking in the wrong places.

In fact, I came back from a trip to the southeast of Florida yesterday, and at the rest area, there were dozens of rescue teams returning to Miami from North Carolina. They went in and assisted the National Guard there for three days, and had to come home to attend to our own issues here in Florida.

There have been air drops, Georgia's governor spoke with the President, Harris met with the task force and FEMA to determine needs and implement procedures for the coming days and weeks.

Yes, these disaster areas need (and received and are still receiving) National Guard assistance from adjacent states. But this is the peak hurricane season and there are more hurricanes expected. The National Guard will be needed, rested, refreshed, and ready to move to other locations as well as the season continues.

In addition, Biden has authorized and ordered the DoD to send another 1000 soldiers to assist with food, water, and other commodities needed in the hardest-hit areas. The first few days had to be rescue - they had to get the survivors out. That was the #1 priority and anything else would've been in the way of those rescues.

Instead of reading the media, try checking with the actual White House press releases. They're giving daily accounting of everything they're doing, with names, numbers, totals, locations.

I said something political and it was removed.

FEMA is still in rescue mode. Right now. This minute. The damage is so extensive that it isn't a quick fix in any shape or form and can't be a quick fix if all the kings horses and all the kings men show up.

That said. I see all kinds of earth movers moving dirt and gangs of people helping with their own hands to search, move dirt and repair. People from the "private sector".

It isn't enough, and we are depleting the monies in FEMA and other governmental rescue organizations.

I will say that I can see clearly what AMERICA needs right now.

We should all find and support VALID rescue attempts with money since many of us Villagers are older and unable to physically help.

Every little bit helps.

Glittering generalities doesn't get the job done.

[kingofbeer]

But it took a week to show up and giving residents $750 while billions go overseas is a slap in the face to the hard working Americans who have lost everything. First to visit the area was President Trump as always. I pray for the victims of this disaster.
I hope the homeowners have homeowners insurance and flood insurance. That's what insurance is for. You can't expect the federal government to pay for the loss of your house.

[Decadeofdave]

North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund
20312 Mall Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

Just passing along address for donations if you like.

[asianthree]

The area is so devastated, only search and rescue, military, fire/police/ first responders, power trucks, are in these areas. Red Cross is just able to put a toe in due to lack of open roads. As progress advances, and becomes safe, you will see other organizations arriving.

The only people that belong in a disaster area is those that can actually perform a service., to help those in need.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Some questions:
1) Why don't you consider the possibility that the information is true?
2) Why would you instantly want to imply the commenter is a liar? That is a stunning assertion regarding someone you've never met.
3) Why would you assume a several hundred mile, mountainous region has suffered the exact same impacts as the parts that were low-elevation and experienced the extreme flooding destruction?

Three questions, direct answers appreciated.

I already answered the questions in the post you quoted.

If you have no cellular service, AND no internet service, AND no landline service, AND no SAT phone, THEN you have no way to communicate via cell phone to twitter. It's not possible.

IF they are able to communicate, THEN 1) their situation is either not what they're claiming it to be, OR 2) they aren't where they are claiming the situation to be. At least one of those two things has to be true.

[Bill14564]

Some questions:
1) Why don't you consider the possibility that the information is true?
2) Why would you instantly want to imply the commenter is a liar? That is a stunning assertion regarding someone you've never met.
3) Why would you assume a several hundred mile, mountainous region has suffered the exact same impacts as the parts that were low-elevation and experienced the extreme flooding destruction?

Three questions, direct answers appreciated.

These search results (https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=chimney+rock+nc+sezure&ia=web) might help.

The information is not true. The story is a lie.

Why would a mountainous region with rivers that overflowed after receiving 19+ inches of rain NOT experience the same impact as a low-elevation region with rivers that overflowed after receiving 19+ inches of rain? Mudslides or mud flows are both mud in the wrong place. Rushing water, upended trees, downed power lines all look the same in mountainous regions as the do in low-elevation regions.

[MightyDog]

I already answered the questions in the post you quoted.

If you have no cellular service, AND no internet service, AND no landline service, AND no SAT phone, THEN you have no way to communicate via cell phone to twitter. It's not possible.

IF they are able to communicate, THEN 1) their situation is either not what they're claiming it to be, OR 2) they aren't where they are claiming the situation to be. At least one of those two things has to be true.

I always allow (and hope) for genuine dialogue between people but, when they refuse to answer sincerely posed questions and don't pose any clarifying questions of their own -- there is nothing constructive happening.

I explained that terrain and how varied it is. Not hard to grasp for anyone who's been to mountainous regions. Also, the WNC local did not post that comment to X (Twitter) so full comprehension of the contents of that link is missing.

It is always mystifying to me when some chose to dispute information when they are in no position to do so. There is simply no point in doing so. Let facts and reality reveal themselves.

[Bill14564]

I don't know if the info is true or not and never claimed to. Yet, you claim it is not true but, cannot not possibly prove that. So, why would you make the claim? The search links are not proof of anything and everyone should know that. Where is a statement from the US Govt?


That statement is 100% untrue and defies basic reasoning. Simply, wow.

No, the links are not proof of anything. I suggest you read the stories the links point to where government officials are dispelling the rumors of seizures, bulldozing, and bodies everywhere.

Believe what you want, it won't affect me or the people in the town of Chimney Rock. I'll stand by my belief in the multiple reports with multiple government officials over an "I heard from someone who heard from someone on X."

I'll also stand by my statement that the angle of the flow of water or mud or the the angle of the land the tree *was* standing on or the angle the power lines were running make no difference. When the mud or water destroys a home or a tree falls across power lines and cuts the power then the effect is the same whether in a mountainous region or a low-elevation region.