Wal Mart disaster relief.

[Sigarms]

All I know is todays FEMA make the FEMA of Katrina look like a Saint. My church sent multiple truckloads of relief supplies for Katrina. It was welcomed with open arms, now the feds try to stop it. "My job not to do" attitude.

Did your your church connect with Samaritans purse or Baptists on Mission?

Not certain where you're getting your information.

We're going up to the Asheville to serve food and then next weekend to do some work with our church. This of course is being approved by some larger volunteer organizations. What I've seen first hand is a pretty remarkable effort from everyone in the state of NC.

I was actually north of Boone in Tennessee for work yesterday since the Helene hit . A normal 2 hour drive became 3 plus hours only because of a couple of miles of road in Tennessee that could not be used. Luckily the locals told me how to come instead of listening to my GPS as truck drivers are still getting jack knifed on NC88 going to the west of Boone before you hit the town, because that's what GPS is telling you to take.

Western NC has the same topography as of the mountainous regions of West Virginia, Georgia and Vermont. Up and down winding narrow roads in the middle of forests makes it interesting going. The amount of trees they had to cut to make that 3 hour drive was mind boggling. Also glad I had my hard topo map of the areas. Cell phone service is very limited and phone gps will not work in a lot of areas.
I get the fact that it's easy to bust on a federal organization for their "help", but the reality is logistically, getting man power, food and tools to a very mountainous region is a nightmare in planning in my opinion. If you don't have a strategy in place, there is a very good chance of a minimal return of work and increasing waste on the resources coming in. The added reality is you also have guys in charge in any organization that sometimes put their authority ahead of common sense, particularly if a strategy isn't in place.

It's a long read, but it shows what even local officials will do when it comes to "power" and common sense. Keep in mind, this official who forced the pilot not to return wasn't FEMA, but a local resident of the area.

https://thehill.com/homenews/4913942-pilot-helene-north-carolina-rescue-missions-arrest-threat/

That said, I've seen first hand a lot of people helping others due to Helene in NC, and it still gives me faith in the human race.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

there’s been several news articles regarding FEMA stifling other relief organizations. Fortunately that hasn’t stopped them. Samaritans purse is doing great work. The group I support has sent at least 33 semi truck loads of supplies so far. They contact local churches to find out what particular items are most needed and they customize the help to each area. The local churches requesting the items become the distribution center. All done by volunteers.
I know The local farm cooperative is sending fencing and feed this week. It’s such a widespread area, different needs depending on the area.
My wife’s niece lives in Asheville area. They were not too impacted.
Also good to see some areas advertising they are opening up already to tourism. This is their prime season.

 

[Jstpssng]

That said, I've seen first hand a lot of people helping others due to Helene in NC, and it still gives me faith in the human race

This is the way that it should be; neighbors
helping neighbors. When we depend on "the government" to do everything, those people become faceless numbers.

 

[Sigarms]

there’s been several news articles regarding FEMA stifling other relief organizations. Fortunately that hasn’t stopped them. Samaritans purse is doing great work.

When something of this magnitude of destruction happens unexpectedly in a rural mountainous region, the reality is sooner or later someone is going to have to play "air traffic controller" with the relief coming in, and someones toes will be stepped on without some sort of logistical planning.

People are people and crap happens because you have decent people in this world, and not so decent people in the same world.

One thing you won't read articles on some issues with generators. Some are given at no charge and the people can keep them. The issue is some people don't need the generator because they have power and take them anyway. Depending on the area, some are given "out in the field", but what is asked is that when power is returned to the home, the generator be returned. Some people when told that they would have to return them will say thanks, but no thanks and will not take them (which I guess is better than saying "sure" and never return them. There were some other things I've heard directly from people who live in the area helping directly with the reliefs efforts there, but it's only things they've heard, not seen or having first hand interaction with.

At the end of the day, this is no different than when we helped with supplies at our school with our church trying to help those in need. When you offer something "at no charge" and trying to do good for others, there are some people who don't need the "help" who will take advantage of it. Reality is you can't let those people discourage what you're trying to do for others.

This is also no different than that local Lake Lure "fire official" who threatened to arrest the helicopter pilot from SC. The pilot was only trying to help, and he was actually saving people. The issue was he was stepping on someones toes by doing first and then asking when he came into contact with this fire official. I get the fact that air traffic needs to be controlled, but this was like the day after the SHTF and this guy was first on the scene. The fire officials ego got in the way of letting a resource help because no doubt he had a ego issue with control. I mean seriously, if a helicopter pilot showed up and was bringing people in using his helicopter and he was the only pilot in the area, why not use him? You have that same type of local "ego mentality" working for the federal and state government as well.

Now, I will admit that I have a cousin who works for FEMA, but some of the stories he tells me it's almost like a no win situation. Kind of like being a cop in some hardcore crime ridden cities. Damn if you do, damned if you don't. Ironically enough, he was a former LEO in Dallas Texas LOL

 

[Hay Dude]

When something of this magnitude of destruction happens unexpectedly in a rural mountainous region, the reality is sooner or later someone is going to have to play "air traffic controller" with the relief coming in, and someones toes will be stepped on without some sort of logistical planning.

People are people and crap happens because you have decent people in this world, and not so decent people in the same world.

One thing you won't read articles on some issues with generators. Some are given at no charge and the people can keep them. The issue is some people don't need the generator because they have power and take them anyway. Depending on the area, some are given "out in the field", but what is asked is that when power is returned to the home, the generator be returned. Some people when told that they would have to return them will say thanks, but no thanks and will not take them (which I guess is better than saying "sure" and never return them. There were some other things I've heard directly from people who live in the area helping directly with the reliefs efforts there, but it's only things they've heard, not seen or having first hand interaction with.

At the end of the day, this is no different than when we helped with supplies at our school with our church trying to help those in need. When you offer something "at no charge" and trying to do good for others, there are some people who don't need the "help" who will take advantage of it. Reality is you can't let those people discourage what you're trying to do for others.

This is also no different than that local Lake Lure "fire official" who threatened to arrest the helicopter pilot from SC. The pilot was only trying to help, and he was actually saving people. The issue was he was stepping on someones toes by doing first and then asking when he came into contact with this fire official. I get the fact that air traffic needs to be controlled, but this was like the day after the SHTF and this guy was first on the scene. The fire officials ego got in the way of letting a resource help because no doubt he had a ego issue with control. I mean seriously, if a helicopter pilot showed up and was bringing people in using his helicopter and he was the only pilot in the area, why not use him? You have that same type of local "ego mentality" working for the federal and state government as well.

Now, I will admit that I have a cousin who works for FEMA, but some of the stories he tells me it's almost like a no win situation. Kind of like being a cop in some hardcore crime ridden cities. Damn if you do, damned if you don't. Ironically enough, he was a former LEO in Dallas Texas LOL

Maybe we now can realize the awful position law enforcement has been put in since George Floyd’s death.

 

[2manyrocks]

I wouldn’t think the local fire chief has any authority over flight operations.

 

[jyoutz]

When something of this magnitude of destruction happens unexpectedly in a rural mountainous region, the reality is sooner or later someone is going to have to play "air traffic controller" with the relief coming in, and someones toes will be stepped on without some sort of logistical planning.

People are people and crap happens because you have decent people in this world, and not so decent people in the same world.

One thing you won't read articles on some issues with generators. Some are given at no charge and the people can keep them. The issue is some people don't need the generator because they have power and take them anyway. Depending on the area, some are given "out in the field", but what is asked is that when power is returned to the home, the generator be returned. Some people when told that they would have to return them will say thanks, but no thanks and will not take them (which I guess is better than saying "sure" and never return them. There were some other things I've heard directly from people who live in the area helping directly with the reliefs efforts there, but it's only things they've heard, not seen or having first hand interaction with.

At the end of the day, this is no different than when we helped with supplies at our school with our church trying to help those in need. When you offer something "at no charge" and trying to do good for others, there are some people who don't need the "help" who will take advantage of it. Reality is you can't let those people discourage what you're trying to do for others.

This is also no different than that local Lake Lure "fire official" who threatened to arrest the helicopter pilot from SC. The pilot was only trying to help, and he was actually saving people. The issue was he was stepping on someones toes by doing first and then asking when he came into contact with this fire official. I get the fact that air traffic needs to be controlled, but this was like the day after the SHTF and this guy was first on the scene. The fire officials ego got in the way of letting a resource help because no doubt he had a ego issue with control. I mean seriously, if a helicopter pilot showed up and was bringing people in using his helicopter and he was the only pilot in the area, why not use him? You have that same type of local "ego mentality" working for the federal and state government as well.

Now, I will admit that I have a cousin who works for FEMA, but some of the stories he tells me it's almost like a no win situation. Kind of like being a cop in some hardcore crime ridden cities. Damn if you do, damned if you don't. Ironically enough, he was a former LEO in Dallas Texas LOL

Usually when there are incident management teams in place, they will request FAA to place flight restrictions over certain geographic locations if needed. For safety.

 

[2manyrocks]

It would make sense for the pilot to adhere to any FAA restrictions, but the fire chief isn’t the FAA. Didn’t see any fires in the area, either.

 

[EddieWalker]

I saw this on FB and thought it was kind of interesting. When you need a bridge, you build a bridge with what you have, as quickly as you can!!!

 

[ponytug]

I saw this on FB and thought it was kind of interesting. When you need a bridge, you build a bridge with what you have, as quickly as you can!!!

View attachment 1645105

I've been across more than a few made of grass and renewed annually, but humans and pack animals only. Most folks focus on the bridge part, but more often than not, the abutments (supports) for the bridge get glossed over, yet are a key component for strength.

Have you ever read any of the Foxfire books? I have only read a few of the early books, but many interesting ways of getting things done with what is at hand, mostly sourced from southern Appalachia.

All the best,

Peter