Hurricanes Helene & Milton (aftermath & devastation)

[John]

Been so busy with other things I really haven't been keeping updated with all the news about this.

I knew Hurricane Helene was probably bad, but I had absolutely no idea how bad Hurricane Helene was until today. In 2004 I inadvertently ended up experiencing the eye of the storm (or very close to the eye of the storm) in Hurricane Charley. What I experienced and saw then was really bad, surreal at times, but nothing like this, at least where I was.

Just watched a bunch of videos on YouTube about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

As far as I can tell, it seems that Western North Carolina was hit terribly hard by Hurricane Helene. Asheville, NC and surrounding areas. I'm sure other areas as well in Florida, Georgia & Tennessee. Maybe more.

Some areas were absolutely devastated. In some places, a catastrophe.

There are many people who have suffered terribly and continue to suffer the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Please say a prayer for those impacted as I'm sure they need it.

Feel free to use this thread as a both a general discussion about Hurricane Helene as well as a place to post links to fundraisers, charities & etc that you believe we should support. I'm sure those who have been most impacted will need a lot of help to recover and rebuild their lives.

[John]

Here are a few YouTube videos if anyone is interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8IKat8FDME (11 minutes) - Flood waters were so high they had to get on the roof; roof eventually collapsed; grandparents & 7 year old did not survive. Not sure but this may be the first time I've seen a news anchor in tears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZU2OKFCY_g (2 minutes) - Tree landed on their home, mother and her two month old sons did not survive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwF-bGv74lI (2 minutes) - News channel reports that the water was 30 feet high; video footage from apartment literally shows a building floating down the flood-"river" then getting ripped in half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2IJROJ_2U0 (7 minutes) - Original cell phone video; looks like their property turned into a river loaded with storm debris; the entire house torn from it's foundation, starts floating away.

Saw a few other videos, one where a lady is pointing out to the YouTuber spots across the river where there were homes. Totally gone. One home just had part of the chimney still there. Some were able to evacuate their homes, went to higher ground and had to stay in the woods for days. Drone video showing homes along the river literally torn in half.

Another mentioned a church with 200 people who had been without food for 6 days. And another video reported on parents and their baby, had to escape out of a window... mother passed the baby to the dad outside then in no time the house was floating down the river, with the mom in it who apparently is now missing.

So many more stories like that. All so tragic.

Some mention that this flood was higher than the previous high in 1916. Heard many mentions of this being a 1000 year level flood.

[FSUZeta]

❤️

[AGDee]

And now Milton looks like it's going to be hitting Florida even harder. Not good, not good at all.

[cheerfulgreek]

Oh my! Another one?

[John]

I saw a report about Hurricane Milton stating that it appears to be the 4th most powerful storm, since storm measurement recording began, to hit Florida or maybe it was the US in general. Also reported the possibility of storm surge as high as 15 feet.

[carnation]

Two of our daughters (one is "Blazercheer") and 3 of our grandchildren have decided to stick it out in Orlando. I have read and heard all these reports and having been raised on the Texas coast, I am a basket case.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by carnation

Two of our daughters (one is "Blazercheer") and 3 of our grandchildren have decided to stick it out in Orlando. I have read and heard all these reports and having been raised on the Texas coast, I am a basket case.

Hugs, carnation!

[*winter*]

Originally Posted by carnation

Two of our daughters (one is "Blazercheer") and 3 of our grandchildren have decided to stick it out in Orlando. I have read and heard all these reports and having been raised on the Texas coast, I am a basket case.

Hope everyone stays safe.

[Low D Flat]

I have family in Tampa that chose not to evacuate. Very scary.

[John]

My mom almost was in Tampa for this hurricane. She had a flight out yesterday, but the airport closed down before her flight. So her plans switched to staying in a hotel near the airport, on the 8th floor. Didn't have any other options as no rental cars were available to drive out.

Then plans switched again. A friend who lives around 50 miles inland drove to Tampa yesterday to pick her up. They are still basically in the direct path of the hurricane, but 50 to 60 miles inland at her friend's house.

[Shellfish]

I've been thinking about the people mentioned here who stayed. I hope they're OK.

[SWTXBelle]

My pledge sister lives in Venice, Florida. She and her aged mother were able to get to Orlando, so they are safe.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Shellfish

I've been thinking about the people mentioned here who stayed. I hope they're OK.

My cousins who stayed are fine. Some wind damage to fences and trees, but they didn't even lose power for long in New Port Richey or Spring Hill. They are relieved.

[John]

Looks like someone was literally swept out to sea by Hurricane Milton, just saw the rescue video: Man floating on cooler off Florida coast rescued after Hurricane Milton