Posted originally on the CTH on October 21, 2024 | Sundance 

UPDATE: We will continue bumping this thread to keep the communication lines available.

...”I live in the Western part of the US; reading these comments is like listening in on a (telephone) party line. This is the first I’ve heard firsthand live reports from the people directly affected. For the first time there is no canned, approved spoon fed mis-information delivered by the faceless and unaffected paid to be there.”….

Which is exactly the reason we keep this thread going!

As the areas in Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina and the Western gulf coast of Florida continue recovery operations from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our thoughts are with those who are still impacted and dealing with the long-term recovery process.

If you have stability and the ability to communicate, we are wondering how you guys are doing.

Working with several ground groups, we have sent toolboxes and resources into the area for the arduous tasks that remain.  There are many who feel overwhelmed; just know our thoughts and deepest prayers remain with you. It will get a little better every day.

Resourceful teams (mostly electrical restoration experts) who learned quickly after they helped the Puerto Rico Mountain areas in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria are doing amazing work reaching some of the more isolated areas.  These are good friends with a git-r-done approach.

Eastern Tennessee power has mostly returned; however, approximately 23,500 of the 1.5 million customers that lost power, just in the Western North Carolina area still lack electricity as of today, according to Poweroutage.us.  Additionally, there are still about 365,000 Floridians without power.

The power restoration in the dense mountain forests of WNC is slow going, some roads and bridges are completely washed away.  According to the Associated Press report, “The crews aren’t doing what they typically do, which is a repair effort. They’re rebuilding from the ground up,” said Kristie Aldridge, vice president of communications at North Carolina Electric Cooperatives {link}.

There are widespread rumors and disparate reports of the overall death toll, at last count was well over 200.  Anecdotal reports from people in the WNC region put the death toll much higher but are difficult to confirm.  We do not want to spread rumors, yet we simultaneously accept this close to the election there is an unfortunate incentive for both federal and state emergency management officials to keep the death toll numbers hidden.

The bottom line is a concern for everyone in the impact areas.  Therefore, ground reports are the most valuable.  How are y’all doing?

Dear God of grace and strength, in the midst of uncertainty, fear and change we turn to You for stability and strength. Please grant us the wisdom and fortitude to navigate the unknown, the courage to face challenges, and the faith to trust Your divine plan.

Heavenly Father, let Your unwavering presence be our anchor in the aftermath of these storms. Grant us the resilience to face the challenges of recovery with grace and hearts filled with purpose.  May we continue to find, patience, stability and fellowship in Your eternal love.

Thank You for guiding us through these uncertain times.  In Jesus blessed and loving name we pray.  ~ Amen.