Aftermath
My daughter, having fled the devastation in Western North Carolina for the safe harbor of her mother-in-law’s home in Atlanta, GA, has now returned to Asheville, bearing a load of supplies. Travel between Atlanta and Asheville is open, as is Interstate 40 East. I-40 west of Asheville is still closed, and presumably – in that it is missing large chunks of roadway – closed for some time. Unlike more rural areas, harder-hit and harder to reach, the situation in the neighborhood where the kid lives is relatively good. The electricity is back on and with that cell service and (perhaps) internet. The big problem is running water. The damage to the treatment plants and supply roads is serious enough that there is talk of no running water until 2025. That’s a long time to wait for a shower. Some places have their own water supplies, people are sharing their RV showers, etc.
In the meantime, some of the really heavy lifting in the denouement to the storm has been done by local and national Republicans, who have contributed their brand of “community” by lying about virtually everything – the failure of the response, the Biden-Harris conspiracy to direct services away from Red states, the money that was to go the FEMA being spent on sponsoring Haitian terrorists into the country, so they can buy up housing stock and drive prices up for CITIZENS (capitalist terrorism, don’t you know?), and god knows what other kind of moronic drivel, crowned by Marjorie Taylor Green insisting that you must be stupid if you don’t believe that “They” control the weather. MTG defines stupid. The jokes almost write themselves.
The irony of many of these lies is that they are pure projection: Refusing to fund emergency services in a state controlled by the opposition is a Trump specialty – he wouldn’t move to fight fires in CA until his aides convinced him that Orange County (natch) was at risk. Similarly, he redirected FEMA funds to anti-immigration efforts. Trump never met an emergency without first trying to figure out how to profit from it.
To give credit where it is due, North Carolina state Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Human Being) has denounced the disinformation swirling in the wake of Helene, calling allegations such as FEMA stealing donations and similar stories “conspiracy theory junk.”[1]
They could at least wait until all the victims are identified.
On that note, I leave you with this, photographed by Marvin Joseph of the Washington Post:
[1] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4916009-north-carolina-lawmaker-hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories/
One more thing, there will be many who are missing that may never be found or won’t be found until landslides start being cleared or bodies begin washing up downstream. The devastation is massive all over the area. There are small communities in the high mountains that have been completely cut off and are having to be accessed either by chopper or by mules. The Blue Ridge Parkway is another physical victim of the torrential rains. The park service is still trying to assess all the damage. Our whole area has always been tourist dependent. The economic impact will be felt all over the region for decades. As we slowly begin to unravel, mourn our losses and begin rebuilding, the area will need you then, in the future, as much as it needs help now. Please keep that in mind as everyone’s future unfolds differently, daily.
Everyone appreciates all the help and support that has “flooded” in. Know that we love everyone for all your money, supplies, volunteers, thoughts, prayers and just everything else that has already helped and will continue to do so. The response of the federal government has been fast, thorough and ongoing. Politics has not been an issue as all governors have enthusiastically said. What has not been helpful though is all the mis and dis information that is being spilled all over the internet. Good information is available. Trust but VERIFY! Your life may depend on it.
My heart breaks for everyone affected by this tragedy. I can’t believe grifters are using people’s suffering as a way to score political points with these lies and the misinformation. This should be illegal. Imagine if you were affected by this hurricane and you were told that your government had forsaken you and your neighbors. It’s hurtful. Even if you don’t believe the lies you are crushed by the fact that people make up such horrible things when your life has been destroyed. Shameful.