Helene - BenefitsLink is ok, others are not

[Lois Baker]

Many of you know that BenefitsLink is headquartered in the mountains of North Carolina.  Thankfully, we're safe and sound, albeit without cell service and primary internet (thank goodness for StarLink!).

Many around us are not.

We know that Florida and Georgia experienced significant damage. The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee took a devastating hit. 

Over 2' of rain fell in a large swath of the NC mountains; the runoff put rivers at historic flood levels.  Power, cell and internet service are all down over a large area, roads are collapsed or otherwise impassable, and many homes and small towns are completely isolated -- or washed away. 

Two of the four interstate routes in/out of Asheville -- the two that cross the mountains to the west -- have washed out; a third route (to the east) is blocked in several places.

The damage is almost unbelievable -- and the affected area is almost the size of Massachusetts.

This area is not equipped or prepared for this level of catastrophic destruction.  Mountain people are self-reliant survivors, both individually and collectively, but this will be quite a stretch. 

It will be a long, difficult road forward. 

Please keep all in this area in your thoughts and prayers.  And if any of our BenefitsLink neighbors have been affected, please reach out on this thread - we'll do what we can to help.

Lois and Dave

[Peter Gulia]

As many Philadelphia people say it, I'll keep a good thought for you and your neighbors.

[MoJo]

Lois and Dave:  You've got my thoughts and prayers, but is there a local org that needs cash to help with the recovery?  I can certainly send to the national orgs, but I've found that local efforts are better equipped to serve local needs.  Let us know.

Michael

[Lois Baker]

3 minutes ago, MoJo said:

Lois and Dave:  You've got my thoughts and prayers, but is there a local org that needs cash to help with the recovery?  I can certainly send to the national orgs, but I've found that local efforts are better equipped to serve local needs.  Let us know.

Michael

Thank you so much -- this area needs all the help we can get.  More info is coming out, and it just looks worse and worse; the toll both in lives and in economic loss is going to be staggering.

• Samaritan's Purse is on the ground -- distributing food and water, setting up field hospitals, etc.
• Operation Airdrop has been in the air for two days -- helicopter is the only way to get to many locations
• The Y'all Squad -- they're buying and installing portable StarLink units; communication (even among first responders) is the biggest struggle right now.