What is it with you guys over there? You got a storm magnet or something? Time to check in Pumpkinslinger.

Yeah, what's up with all this??

I'm OK, didn't even lose power, although it blipped. I spent part of the day helping neighbors clear fallen trees blocking their roads. I'm a good branch dragger, as y'all might expect.

My daughter near the coast is OK, but they still have a tornado watch.

My daughter in the mountains is stuck at home without power. Many roads up there are washed out, including some main thoroughfares. They may be stuck in their little valley.

I-40 is washed out near the NC/TN border. That will be a MAJOR problem!

That foot or so of rain that fell up there is coming this way. Some low areas already flooding. But the river will have to rise about 60' to start worrying me.

Western NC took a major hit. Signs on the highways telling people not to try to go there.

You be safe Punkin, and look after your girls mate. All the best buddy.

There are whole towns (small ones) that have been washed away in the NC mountains. I gather that TN is just as bad. Landslides, roads washed away, etc. This was a "100 year event". Every newscast seems to be worse. At one point Asheville (94,000 people) was only accessible by air, although I heard that a land route was now available.

I’ve heard of some really terrible events and damage courtesy of Helene mate. As I said, you be careful and look after your girls.

My hillbilly daughter was able to get out by some back roads. The bridge on her road is washed out. The hotel she used to manage is letting them stay for free in exchange for some help at the front desk. I guess some employees can't make it in. So they have power and water for now.

Ah! As I'm typing this she found out that Appalachian State, where she works, is letting them use a staff apartment until they can get power back at the house! They are estimating it could take a month.

The National Guard is evacuating some people and flying supplies in to others.

The view I saw on the news are scary.
I am glad you and yours are ok Pumkin

Glad your family is safe bud. Times like these make a fella stand back and look at where houses have been built in distant past and scratch head. As a species we need to get a lot more clever so when mother nature throws a wobbly we aren't in firing line. A little preparation is not a bad thing.not into full on prepping but have enough to get buy for awhile.

Thanks folks! I've seen this described as a "once in 500 years" event (up from 100 years). The last time there was flooding like this in the NC mountains was 1916, and this one beat those records.

Elvis, I'm with you. This really got me thinking about how poorly prepared we tend to be. Of course, in this case, lots of folks lost their homes, vehicles, everything.