20-30 inches--and perhaps locally 40+ inches--of rain fell along highest ridges of the Southern Appalachians due to 1-2 punch consisting of extreme "predecessor rain event" (PRE) that was historic in its own right followed by further extreme rain directly from #Helene. [2/n]
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 28, 2024
These floods, which were concentrated in valleys containing rivers and typically modest creeks and streams, involved extremely large volumes of water moving downhill at high velocity. This was not a gradual or "gentle" inundation by any means. [4/n]
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 28, 2024
Most, if not all, major roadways in the region remain impassable. Multiple major highways and even interstates will likely be closed for weeks to months as major bridges have been severely damaged/destroyed and many embankments/hillslopes have eroded or collapsed. [6/n]
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 28, 2024
Nevertheless, it's already clear that human toll is high & will likely rise further once access & telecommunications are gradually restored. This is a major regional flood disaster on a scale we haven't seen in some time in U.S., & many communities have been devastated. [8/n]
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 28, 2024
Does anybody thinks it’s wild that people are posting TikToks bawling their eyes out desperately trying to get in contact with family in Asheville and I can’t find any coverage on the news channels. How is catastrophic damage to a massive swath of the country not a top story? https://t.co/vDi3Nhhr64
— Don’t be an asshole (@caribwayoflife) September 28, 2024
🚨 Asheville and Western North Carolina are UNDERWATER.
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 29, 2024
Biden’s at the beach and Kamala’s at fundraisers with West Coast Elites
RADIO SILENCE from the White House
This is INFURIATING.
pic.twitter.com/tbbXuJxXfP
🚨 ALERT: Asheville, NC is a TOTAL blackout zone, so we’ve set up TWO Starlink Stations for Public Use
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 29, 2024
Even NC State Police aren’t able to connect to cellular networks, so they’re using our Starlinks now.
SPOT 1:
DoubleTree Hilton Downtown
199 Haywood
SSID: SORTOR STARLINK… pic.twitter.com/FWfDXDk2QB
📍Lake Lure…debris piled up in the water pic.twitter.com/fAxqsHYvzg
— Hannah Goetz (@HannahGoetztv) September 29, 2024
📍Lake Lure 2 pic.twitter.com/mo98GRBoAV
— Hannah Goetz (@HannahGoetztv) September 29, 2024
What has happened there from Helene may be on the level of Katrina in New Orleans. There has been barely any contact in or out from many of these areas. All roads are either washed away or flooded, power is down, cell service is down, and it appears that it's far worse than initial reports.
These videos look catastrophic. I'm not sure how anyone could survive a violently rushing flash flood of that much water coming down the mountain.