Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and West Coastal Florida Check-in


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.

Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and West Coastal Florida Check-in


Posted originally on the CTH on October 18, 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.

Return Hubs – Brussels Attempts Damage Control Over Migrant Crisis


Posted originally on Oct 18, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Refugees Just Men

The European Union is beginning to change its stance on its open border policy. Over 1.14 million sought asylum in the EU last year, a completely unsustainable population spike. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has faced harsh criticism from member states throughout the bloc who are calling upon Brussels to address the situation. Von der Leyen has now expressed interest in creating “return hubs” to house and deport migrants whose applications are denied.

I reported that Italy saw a 64% reduction in illegal migration under President Giorgia Meloni, who promised to curb immigration once elected. Instead of building shelters to house migrants with taxpayer funds, Meloni sought to build detention centers. Centri di Permanenza per il Rimpatrio (CPRs) or Repatriation Centers were extremely controversial but effective. Thousands of migrants were detained and deported if their application for asylum was denied. Word traveled that conditions in these centers were less desirable, making Italy less desirable for would-be intruders.

Leyen Ursula von der

Ursula von der Leyen supported Meloni once she realized migrants were spilling into the rest of the bloc from Italy and has pointed to Meloni’s “out of the box thinking” to stop the inflow of newcomers. Specifically, the European Commission president stated that the Italy-Albania protocol proved effective whereby both nations signed a treaty that permitted Italy to send asylum seekers found in international waters back to Albania where they are then held in detention centers. “We should also continue to explore possible ways forward as regards the idea of developing return hubs outside the EU, especially in view of a new legislative proposal on return,” von der Leyen writes. “With the start of operations of the Italy-Albania protocol, we will also be able to draw lessons from this experience in practice.”

Now, 17 members of the EU sent a document to Brussels earlier in the month demanding border reform. “People without the right to stay must be held accountable. A new legal basis must clearly define their obligations and duties,” the members said. “Non-cooperation must have consequences and be sanctioned.” Suddenly, leaders of European nations realized that they were beneath Brussels in terms of power and had lost the ability to secure their own borders.

The 17 member nations are demanding that Brussels implements rules to detain and deport migrants who could be a threat to national security. Furthermore, they want to non-EU nations to accept their own citizens back once they are deported. As with everything, money rules all and these nations are willing to use trade and monetary gifts or aid as leverage, as Italy did with numerous African nations under the Mattei Plan.

Countless EU nations are attempting to control their borders, and in doing so, Brussels is relinquishing its power. Poland even attempted to announce a temporary suspension of asylum seekers the same week that Ursula voiced concern over the migrant crisis. The forced cohesion of the European Union is coming undone.

Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and West Coastal Florida Check-in


Posted originally on the CTH on October 16, 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, today my 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, I am 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.

Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and West Coastal Florida Check-in


Posted originally on the CTH on October 15, 2024 | Sundance 

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

As the areas in Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina and the Western gulf coast of Florida continue recovery operations from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, today my 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, I am 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.

Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and West Coastal Florida Check-in


Posted originally on the CTH on October 14, 2024 | Sundance 

As the areas in Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina and the Western gulf coast of Florida continue recovery operations from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, today my 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, I am 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.

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Free 10-Gal Emergency Fuel Depots


Posted originally on the CTH on October 12, 2024 | Sundance 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has initiated an emergency fuel service in the central and western Florida regions impacted by Hurricane Milton.  Fuel is the lifeblood of all recovery efforts.

The program is for several areas to have tanker trucks that can pump directly to consumers.  Each resident who can go to the fuel distribution center will get 10 gallons of gasoline free, either in their gas cans or into their vehicle gas tank.   Distribution will be made in Port Charlotte, Pinellas, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties, with more on the way.

Additionally, 50 highway patrol vehicles have been assigned escort duty to assist fuel tankers getting quickly to gas stations in the needed areas.  There are a few videos below outlining the emergency distribution:

.

Additionally, FEMA has extended the full reimbursement for debris removal to a 90-day window.  This will help municipal areas quickly get their contractors working to remove debris.

.

President Trump Proposes Tax Credit for Home Generators


Posted originally on the CTH on October 12, 2024 | Sundance 

President Trump has proposed that homes in critical areas be granted tax credits for the installation of emergency generators.  It is a smart plan given the nature of crisis events that have unfolded in recent years.

.

Factually, it would not be difficult to repurpose much of the “Green New Deal” spending legislation to permit such a credit.  There are millions of Americans who could benefit.  Sounds good in both principle and practice.

Made in America generators!  Watch how fast the private sector industries would start scrambling to make USA built generators.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Gives Milton Recovery Update


Posted originally on the CTH on October 11, 2024 | Sundance 

Appearing in Bradenton, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis discusses ongoing recovery efforts from the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.  There is plenty of fuel in the supply chain, the issue is that many gas stations may be waiting on power restoration.

Debris cleanup from both Helene and Milton is now being handed back to the municipal regions who are the first responders for debris removal.  For those unfamiliar, generally a hurricane creates 7 years’ worth of debris that needs to be cleared and removed.  FEMA underwrites the first 10 days and reimburses the local authorities for debris removal.

Full state DOT assessments have been completed for state roads and bridges. Power restoration continues. Governor DeSantis walks through the current state of recovery. WATCH:   

.

CB One App


Posted originally on Oct 11, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

J.D. Vance brought up the topic of the CB One application during his debate with Tim Walz. The majority of Americans were largely unaware that the federal government has been operating a special app to fast-track asylum status to migrants throughout the world.

The app was first launched in October 2020, designated as a single portal to Customer and Border Protection (CBP). However, in January 2023, the Biden-Harris administration repurposed the app to streamline the process of permitting migrants into the country. “So there’s an application called the CBP One app where you can go on as an illegal migrant, apply for asylum or apply for parole and be granted legal status at the wave of a Kamala Harris open border wand. That is not a person coming in applying for a green card and waiting for 10 years. That is the facilitation of illegal immigration,” Vance said on the debate stage.

Between June 2023 and June 2024, over 170,000 migrants accessed CBP One to quickly enter the United States. Haitians, Mexicans, and Venezuelans have been the primary users of this app. The app saw 1,450 appointments per day in June, a 50% uptick from the month prior. Anyone from any nation can simply sign up, enter America, and receive their free taxpayer-subsidized life.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has not detailed the cost of creating or operating the app, despite questions from politicians like Senator Josh Hawley. “Under your leadership, the Department is marketing a new phone app, called CBP One, that allows unauthorized migrants to reserve a time to cross the border, like making a restaurant reservation. How convenient,” wrote Senator Hawley. He continued, “I imagine there are plenty of Americans who would appreciate this level of service from their government. Your choice to spend untold sums of taxpayer money—you said you had no idea what it cost—on concierge service for illegals is baffling. It is also revealing. It demonstrates your priorities: open borders, no matter the cost to Americans; no matter the jobs lost, the wages lost, the drugs flooding our schools.”

The truth is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have no budget when it comes to the migrants as they will spend everything and then some to flood America with illegal migrants. Then they turn around and say they’ve run out of funds for their own citizens who have been paying into the system their entire lives. CBP One is like an Open Table reservation app that lets absolutely anyone come to America to leech off our resources.