Yard

[lighter]

I'm glad everyone's ok on board.  As you guys could see, better than I, WNC is a biblical disaster.  Our crawlspace flooded, tree on car shattered rear window, tree on retired nurse's house, 2 trees on our street but the next neighborhood over looked like a tornado went through with a washed out road.

All the roads around us have trees down and power lines everywhere.  Long stretches of single lane travel....very scary, but I drove once to get DD22's exbf and once to evacuate in 2 vehicles.  Had to pick route carefully so truck could get through tighter spots.

We're at the lake with regular services up and running after power was out one day.  Some trees down here, roads closed, but feels normal compared to WNC.

DD's ex's mom picked him up already ..she lives in Atlanta.

DD23,'s roommate is expected and her dad/Dand a post op (heart by pass) neighbor already here.  Expect at least 2 more friends to show up.

We found little hot spots to text....had to crawl through downed trees and trek through yards in next neighborhood to let families out know we were soggy but safe. 

DD23's bf was MIA till yesterday morning.
 DD23 was struggling with COVID and visions of him buried in mud, bc he was scheduled to play in the worst hit area where a damn broke, bridge out.....she was despondent. 

The disabled neighbors on the other side left with their DD and little grandsons the day we lost water, headed to Mississippi.

We filled tubs and every large container with water before it went out, cooked on propane grill.  I'd take hot water to disabled neighbors so they had coffee in the morning.  We fed them hot meals and good food was a balm. 

Two competent neighbors with chain saws cut up trees blocking our street and maybe 10 of us cleared.  Unhappy yellow Jackets were problematic.

Clearing out crawlspace consisted mostly of sopping wet Halloween items.  We hung most of it up and left it to dry.

Once we planned to go, we helped the Cowgirl neighbor fill up coolers with some of our water, cleared 2 fridges/freezers, packed the good with the garbage and left. Lots of people staying.....not sure how they'll do it with freezers cold but not for long.  Water.....it could be weeks before either is restored.

It felt like driving out of a nightmare....most places taking only cash....even here.

I need to clear broken glass from car and deal with dreadful smell....get window replaced, today if possible.  DD33 wants this first meeting with bf to go well, so I'm still dealing with coolers, laundry and getting people settled..... it's an overwhelming amount of interaction,.  D made lovely breakfast out if his salvaged freezer items.  I'm going to put him in charge of food and kitchen so I can finish dealing withcoolers ...one has spilled chili oil and dubious items. 

The pug has an abscessed tooth and appt on 3rd back home.... I'm thinking of going back for that, bc we left with food items and almost no clothes or toiletries.  I can check on soggy crawlspace, but that's if vet office back up and running.

I want to say ... it's real dark at night.  Trash isn't running.  The bears will be feasting on rotting food soon  if they aren't already.

We're weened from our devices, strangely.  The girls are playing music together.  We're so relieved to have power, water and safety again. 

[Hopalong]

Good summary, thanks Amber. It's so easy to assume mountains are a retreat, and they are. But ultimately, nature's in charge and she's not knocking on home doors to alert people she'll be coming through.

Thinking about that this morning as a team of tree guys are coming my way with the bucket and pole saws. My neighbor's largest front yard tree has had a touch up; I'll be next if they think the crepe myrtle will look better with a buzzcut. Next up then is my Very Assertive Gardener neighbor, who'll probably flatten their tires.

I'm trusting B's old family place isn't where he is now? His poor sister! 20 miles! I hope he doesn't harm himself in cleanup or rescue action. Yegods.

We've had some serious storm chaos here at times, notably the derecho some years ago. But we seem to have missed the worst of Helene so far. River's still rising.

Keep us posted...stay cozy.
hugs
Hops

[Hopalong]

Lighter, thank you for that post. I'm very relieved to hear you're safe, but what an ordeal. I don't know exactly where your home is, but am certainly thinking WNC. I hope order and services are soon restored. Poor DD, juggling disaster plus BF plus Covid.

I can't imagine (nor could do) the sheer labor facing people in your neck o' the woods. It's a mercy you have your extra lake home to retreat to, and I hope its peace will rebuild the strength of all whom you're sheltering.

Keep us posted when you can; it felt like tenterhooks when you were quiet! I'm tracking WaPo mostly, and it's shattering.

hugs and safety,
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Thanks for that update Lighter!

Pumping well water & keeping fridges/freezers cold is possible with a generator. Either large portable or whole house. Because our worst outages are in winter, I opted for storing more propane and getting a whole house genny. But they are not be had in the aftermath of a storm like this - especially over such a widespread area. They aren't THAT expensive and as we age, carrying 5 gals of pond water just isn't in the cards. There are also smaller gennies with built-in inverters that make clean power for computers but if that service is down, you still won't get online. (We have a blu-ray library for those situations.)

Watch for displaced snakes - like in your crawlspace.

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer till repairs are made and services/roads restored. Good on you taking in others who are displaced. Yes, it's a lot of people so make sure you protect your own downtime. Rest - share the kitchen & clean up duties with others.

Patience will be running short for everyone. Watch out for the despair & depression signs setting in. Hopefully, everyone will pitch in and no one expects to be waited on. Check back in when you can!

[lighter]

Driving back from our dark houses and apartment in WNC yesterday, I thought about all the missing people still waiting to be found.

What they'll be wearing. 

Whether their throats are full of mud or water or the names of loved ones or whatever marks screaming leave.

Then DD22 piped up from the backseat and that was the end of that. 
 
Baby girl pug spent night at vet after dental appointment.  I miss her badly.  Want to comfort her. Going to pick her up now

 I remember feeling similarly when I was booked on the Value Jet plane, that crashed in the swamp, but took the same flight  a day early.  How did we have so little idea this Hurricane would be so devastating?  We thought it would be big wind...big rain, but nothing like this.

My brain and stomach feel wrong.  Friends' behaviors were off when we dropped off food and water/ice,socks,canned goods for distribution. They seemed hollow.  Not there.  Dissociation I think after volunteering in harder hit areas.  Not enough supplies for the needs at the charity they're serving.  They have gift cards for the emptying grocery stores.....I could see their brains trying to solve problems they just can't solve now.  Confusion....despair. 

Everyone says they're ok, but their eyes don't match their words. 

My water came back on, power still out.  DD's apartment has electricity back, but no water.  My friend's house has no water or power. 

DD22 has plans in the city and I'm driving her.  She could go herself, but has never driven in that city, which is bigger, faster and scarier.  My Nervous system is bent from DD24 and bf driving to her BF's mother's home....6 hours away, back to NC, but unhurt area.....l'm feeling very brittle.

Our guests will watch the pug when we go to ATL.  Pug seems fine, but a little off, which is expected.

My brother's StepS was hunting this property, but my nerves can't stand the possibility of stray arrows or bullets, just...NO.  I asked that stop.  He can hunt with his father ....he has other options,not requiring more distress on my part.

There were lots of choppers flying around WNC....really small ones flying nap of the earth... low.  I think they're looking for cut off pockets to deliver water and food.  Larger ones flying more slowly and higher.  Not sure what they're doing.  Maybe moving army reserves around....tree cutting crews.

We have some drama at the lake this am....DD24 's roommate will be with us soon.  Her dad already with us at the lake and his ex is without funds or places to go.  His DD DD spent money, he gave her, to put her mom and stepS in a hotel for 2 nights.  He thought I might ask the mum and SS to stay here ...and he had a bad reaction.  I can't digest my breakfast bc his DD is worried about her mom and it's not up to me to resolve that.  My friend married the unstable woman and made a baby with her ..... it's his responsibility, IME and imo.  I told him so, bc his DD can't be ok if her mum and SS aren't ok.  He can fix that with money....he has money.  Fix it.

I think he's going to choose the place and be as spiteful as can be managed, while helping his DD feel ok. I don't blame him.  Will see.

When our girls were in 6th grade, their very wise teacher told me DD's best friend was "the only adult in that family. " It's still true now.

I'm on the back porch, pug in lap, trying to will my breakfast through digestion process...hoping hummingbirds will come back to refilled feeder.  Haven't seen any yet....oh.  One just buzzed the feeder....didn't land.  So they're still here and I guess it would've felt like a bad sign if they were gone.

Rescue efforts have ended....switched to recovering those still waiting. 

Lighter

[Twoapenny]

Lighter, I'm so sorry you've got all of this horror and devastation around you to deal with.  Awful combination of practical here and now problems along with loss, worry and long term rebuilding/regrouping issues.  Terrible things for people to deal with, and people will experience things differently.  I'm glad you're avoiding solving other people's situations when there are others that can deal with it.  I hope in amongst it all you're able to get some clear head space to help your own internal system settle a bit and I hope some sort of 'normal' appears now, at least until people have clearer long term plans in place xx

[sKePTiKal]

Dissociation is correct Lighter; and shock. The storm terror is usually not the worst. It's the recognition and attempt to accept the aftermath, when the worst reactions set in.

One thing I'm now aware of, is the conflicting information that's coming out - and the spinning of that into narratives. SIGH. Now is NOT the time. Helps no one. But the good news is that there IS a large amount of help in the area now and it IS getting better. I hope that brings some comfort. It's simply a matter of time before the basics of "normal" return - roads, bridges, power & water. Yeah, a lot of people will be "camping" till then.

Walmart send over 40 truckloads of supplies into the area. Corps of engineers are already getting to work on the bridges. Locals are handling tree clearing, cleaning the mud off the roads, filling in the washes. It's "all hands on deck" to keep people clean & fed... and keep looking for survivors who may not be able to keep going much longer. (Some will be able to keep on.) The cavalry's there, Lighter. It's just time & work now.

You get some rest, some pug time. That will help.

[Hopalong]

Oh, Lighter.
You are flooded yourself, with terror images and disasters and other people leaning on you.

This is self-care time. Whatever you sense would help yourself right now, do that. There's no way you won't be making a difference to others and in your community going forward, but the oxygen mask has to go on you first. I'm glad you have water back. With water, and wood for heating, you are safe.

Amber, one of the more informative things I've seen is this from a river guide and rescue (now recovery) worker who knows what is happening locally, and what has happened. I think I'll remember this scene forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag-hb45J6MQ

Words don't work well in the face of what's happening, but hearts are sending.

hugs,
Hops

[Hopalong]

Amber, you're probably already all over this author's books, but I think you'll feel understood by her views on Appalachian culture. Since yours are the same. Good short read here:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/06/barbara-kingsolver-demon-copperhead-jd-vance-holding-the-line

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

It's the images of people and animals fighting for their lives in the raging waters.  It's the image of them losing the fight in mudslides....and I can't tell what's going to trigger it. 

I hav to stop asking people how the hurricane effected them, in areas where they're relatively unaffected, bc listening to 3 minutes about a tree rocking itself out of wet soil, that hit nothing, is definitely a self inflicted  trigger I can stop pulling.

DD22 and I ran to nearby (nearby, bc tummy troubles,)Asian market and bookstore we've loved since she was small.
It was a lovely respite from reality.

Another Hurricane bearing down on Florida.  Lord have mercy.

[Twoapenny]

((((((Lighter))))))))))

I think time's the only thing that makes a situation like this ease off a little.  A new kind of normal settles in, meaning routines start to become a thing again, and we can get out of the constant thinking and problem solving that's needed to get through the practical problems.  Until then, I think it's very hard to get enough head space to be able to get in front of terrible, unwanted images, and feeling other people's pain and suffering.  I think the lack of time to adjust is such a big problem in these situations.  A terrible thing happens, but there's no time to process that because everyone has to deal with no power, no water, food shortages, no place to stay, and all those other bare essentials that are absent.  And when it's so many people as well - one person suffering a disaster can lean on others, but when everyone's in the same boat - it's so very hard.

I think definitely avoiding the 'oh the tree fell down' people is a good step, though, it's always odd to me that people don't just say, "we were fine" in situations like this.

I hope as things settle around you the images will come less frequently, and that will make it possible to manage them until they're not there any more.  Horrible. horrible situation.  I'm hoping the Florida situation isn't as bad xx

[sKePTiKal]

Well Lighter, I can offer a close to first hand replacement for some of those images. I'm on a board with some smart social media refugees (as in - we avoid the oversharing, exaggerate everything crap). Last night, one of our friends alerted us that he and a local friend are taking an 18 wheeler & pickup & trailer load of donations to WNC on the weekend of the 21st. Their church is collecting a lot of the usual stuff.

I volunteered a bit of unusual "relief" info I'd picked up, that those solar charged batteries - go by brands like Jackery, Bluetti, Ecoflow, etc - provide a good backup power source for people who need oxygen generators, cpaps, and to even in some cases power electric appliances. He asked if I was volunteering to donate. LOL. So money where mouth is, as soon as we can sort out the transfer tech. These CAN run inside and are very quiet.

Also, pics of the studio in the not too distant future. My cabinets are coming this weekend. I can FINALLY put stuff away!! Hol contributed a punched tin swag lamp for the bar... it's a chef's kiss & even dimmable. She kept it after it didn't work in her dining area.

Calling for frost tonite; both Hol & I have to get the last of the things into the ground or lose them.