Helene - BenefitsLink is ok, others are not

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