I've been watching the news reports, podcasts, and researching the events of the devastating tragedy that occurred in specifically western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee due to hurricane Helene and the catastrophic flooding. Families and hundreds possibly a thousand plus people are still missing as entire towns, buildings, homes, businesses had been washed away. An additional two hundred to three hundred people confirmed dead and that total is rising every day. In many communities the stench of death is in the air from decaying human bodies, pets, and what was livestock formerly in the area now covered under debris.
Most people, all these days later, are still isolated without proper shelter, food, water, electricity, and medical care. Some people/communities are cut off in very isolated areas. Thete is no access to many locations due to roads and bridges having been destroyed, rescue efforts are forced to use other means, ATVs, horses, mules, on foot hiking through the terrain, and when allowed helicopters to try and reach the survivors.
these people lost everything. At this moment they don't need money, they need immediate help, medical and phycology care, food and shelter. These are our American bothers, sisters and children that are in dire need of assistance. I am infuriated by the federal response.
I implore each of you to do a little research find out the organizations that have boots on the ground actually actively doing everything they can to bring aid to these people ( Samaritan purse, Mercuryone to name a couple). If you are able to contribute with a donation of a few dollars please do so wisely. If you are unable to donate then pray, pray for the people and the region. Prayer is very powerful and helps in ways you can't even imagine.
It will be years, if not decades, before this regions infrastructure and communities are restored and rebuilt. This is a very beautiful natural area of our country, the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina from Ashville up throught Bannor Elk, Boone, Chimney Rock devistated. Places like Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain ... it is so very sobering how quickly and unexpectedly everything can change over night. We just never know when it could be one of us in their situation.
www.fema.gov
