Hurricane Helene

[dogmush]

Speaking of Respect Ma Authoritah, fire official forces helicopter pilot to abandon rescue operations after he flew his private helicopter up.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFAEA9su/

Seems like disasters always bring out this type of shitbag.

A non-TikTok link to that news coverage:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si9kPy7IffU

I genuinely hope that assistant Chief is run out of town.  I can only imagine what I would do if I were that Husband up on the mountain when I finally got down and found him.


FWIW, the Flight Restriction has been lifted, and that guy is back helping people with his helicopter:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008208344812

[WLJ]

Remember who to send your donations to

Jessica Kutz
@jkutzie
We put together a list of resources @19th

for those looking to donate in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

We focused on mutual aid groups and  organizations on the ground that are helping LGBTQ+ people and people seeking an abortion.

From The19th:

    Climate change makes hurricanes more destructive by increasing rainfall and storm surge, and some research has linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes like Helene to warming ocean waters.

    LGBTQ+ people and women face unique needs after climate disasters that are often ignored by federal disaster response. LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely to be displaced after a disaster and have a harder time accessing recovery resources. Many of the largest organizations that offer relief post hurricanes are faith-based, and some have discriminated against same-sex couples and transgender people seeking shelter or recovery assistance.

    After a climate disaster, there are also significant hurdles in accessing reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion and supplies like menstrual hygiene products.

https://twitchy.com/samj/2024/10/01/group-focused-on-aid-for-gays-and-providing-abortions-in-aftermath-of-helene-n2401627
 
I call BS on the underlined. On the former why are they as you claim twice as likely to be displaced? Do storms target trannies? On the latter don't get me started. And what is it with these people and we got to make sure those babies get ripped apart sucked out

[WLJ]

Speaking of Respect Ma Authoritah, fire official forces helicopter pilot to abandon rescue operations after he flew his private helicopter up.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFAEA9su/

Seems like disasters always bring out this type of shitbag.

I could see them wanting to clear the airspace of unnecessary traffic as I saw a bunch of private planes buzzing around on FlightRadar24 no doubt with the pilots eyes glued to the ground but not helicopters actively pulling people out. Could this be an honest mistake based on that?

[dogmush]

I could see them wanting to clear the airspace of unnecessary traffic as I saw a bunch of private planes buzzing around on FlightRadar24 no doubt with the pilots eyes glued to the ground but not helicopters actively pulling people out. Could this be an honest mistake based on that?

I wouldsay No, it can't be an honest mistake because within 30 Min of his conversation with that Asst. Chief, Lake Lure (and only Lake Lure) airspace had a Temporary Flight Restriction to stop those volunteer helicopters, and within 10 hrs of it going viral that TFR was lifted. Neither Lake Lure PD nor LLFD looks like it has a helicopter, but both have trained with NC Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team.

If I were to guess, I'd say he was setting up some kind of SAR with NC HART, who is understandably busy and hadn't gotten there yet, and saw some non-credentialed "civilian" doing his job before he could get it done, and had to shut that down.  Otherwise, what good is he?  But that's a guess.

Even if it WAS some misunderstanding about ongoing operations in the AOR, telling that guy he could not go get the lady's husband down even though it was less than 10min round trip, AND that he had to leave his son on the mountain under threat of arrest?  That's not a misunderstanding, that's "I am the only one professional enough to do this!".  100% *expletive deleted*ck that Asst. Chief and his pedo-stache.

[BobR]

I saw a post on some social media platform yesterday  where I counted 17 private helicopters on the ramp. I don't know if any were flying at the time but shutting down 17 potential rescuers and the delivery of supplies reeks of BS to me.

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/north-carolina-volunteers-organize-private-helicopter-army-to-aid-helene-victims-220553797641

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1kXAkENZFE


bob

[RocketMan]

I saw a post on some social media platform yesterday  where I counted 17 private helicopters on the ramp. I don't know if any were flying at the time but shutting down 17 potential rescuers and the delivery of supplies reeks of BS to me.

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/north-carolina-volunteers-organize-private-helicopter-army-to-aid-helene-victims-220553797641

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1kXAkENZFE


bob

That's Hickory Regional Airport, just on the other side of the hill from me, a quarter mile or so to the perimeter fence.  I can confirm helicopters have been buzzing around the area like angry bees since Saturday.

edit to add:

The news story says they're having difficulty with comms into the affected area, relying mainly on social media.  Makes me wonder if they have anyone tied into the amateur radio emergency networks working the Asheville area and Buncombe County.  I used to do a ton of emergency services stuff back in the day.  I think I'll go up and check with them, see if they can use some help.

[JTHunter]

Do storms target trannies?

Could it be that God is trying to point out the "error of their ways"? 

[grampster]

Mrs. Smith in Tennessee is OK.  More info as things improve.

[RocketMan]

Mrs. Smith in Tennessee is OK.  More info as things improve.

That's good news.  Thanks for the update.

[Angel Eyes]

Send in the mules:

https://www.southernliving.com/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-mules-8721273

[MechAg94]

I saw an instagram post claiming 82nd airborne personnel with families in the area have been denied leave due to potential they are needed in Middle East.  I don't know what past protocol has been.

[WLJ]

[230RN]

^ Wow.  Thanks.

[dogmush]

I saw an instagram post claiming 82nd airborne personnel with families in the area have been denied leave due to potential they are needed in Middle East.  I don't know what past protocol has been.

It's complicated, and needs more detail than that post (which I also saw).  Briefly, there is usually one Brigade of the 82nd that is the US's Immediate Response Force. Which Brigade it is rotates.  In the Brigade that is on IRF, there is one Battalion (that also rotates) that is on 18hr notice.  Those are the guys we can have anywhere in the world in 24 hours.

So if you are in the Alert Bn, You don't get to go anywhere.  Those guys are in Bragg, or around it, no leave, no passes.  Probably, given the Mid East right now, they have been called in, drawn weapons and ammo, and are sitting very near an aircraft playing spades.  If you are in the IRF Brigade, but not the alert Bn, leave and passes will be restricted.  You still have to be able to get back to base and on an airplane in a hurry.  Those guys are probably (A guess, I've never been in the 82nd, but I've been on similar duty) on a 100-150m from Bragg restriction, maybe passes in that area, probably not leave unless emergency leave, and probably takes the BDE or DIV CDR to sign that.  A couple emergency leaves from that BDE might be approved, but not a whole bunch at once (like to go to NC and TN to help out) because that would seriously degrade combat effectiveness.  If they are 82nd, but not in the IRF BDE, they should be on normal leave rules.

A caveat is I don't know when the IRF BDE rotates, but as it gets close, the oncoming BDE will have more restrictions on their movement to make sure they are there when they take the watch. 

[RocketMan]

From what I am hearing on the nets, the state level emergency services folks are trying to get info out of the affected area around Asheville and having little success other than via social media and email.  The the state EOC has been asking hams at the EOC to facilitate HF contact into Buncombe County, but it appears the emergency response folks at that end are not utilizing hams in the area.
Same with the VHF nets.  There is a repeater at almost 6700 feet on Mt. Mitchell near Asheville that can provide clear comms to points east.  It's full quieting at my place in Hickory.  An emergency net has been operating on that repeater since Saturday morning, but little has come out of the impacted area on that net.

edited to add social media reference.

[dogmush]

Two different reports of the same thing:

https://x.com/RastaGuerilla/status/1840832236028834061?t=j3niDjJ-NM2On8Z7CHaKWA&s=19

Just got down from the mountains delivering supplies.

Families with kids haven’t ate or had water in 3 days before I got there.

Multiple counties completely shutoff from every utility.

FEMA is currently confiscating donations and blocking volunteers.

I fear we might need a militia to inhibit or stop FEMA. As crazy as it sounds FEMA is directly confiscating donated items and blocking volunteers from helping, kicking churches out of parking lots etc.

https://x.com/hodgetwins/status/1841547435946225938?t=S7uI-Fkorav4VKq5X581LQ&s=19

This text is an image, can't quote it.

And traffic off the local HAM repeater outlining people being told to divert all help to FEMA for distribution.

It could just be FEMA trying to centralize stuff for more efficient distribution,  but since they are a week late, there's not a lot of goodwill towards the feds to pull that off.  Otherwise it seems like FEMA is trying to get shot.

[Ben]

Hey, the good news is that FEMA will be providing $750 to those affected. One would think they could at least give Helene victims the same amount they hand to illegals as they cross the border.

https://twitchy.com/dougp/2024/10/02/kamala-harris-comforts-storm-ravaged-georgians-with-reminder-fema-will-give-them-750-n2401706

[dogmush]

Because that worked so well in Maui.

Hillbillies gonna lynch them some Feds.

[Jim147]

Two different reports of the same thing:

https://x.com/RastaGuerilla/status/1840832236028834061?t=j3niDjJ-NM2On8Z7CHaKWA&s=19

https://x.com/hodgetwins/status/1841547435946225938?t=S7uI-Fkorav4VKq5X581LQ&s=19

This text is an image, can't quote it.

And traffic off the local HAM repeater outlining people being told to divert all help to FEMA for distribution.

It could just be FEMA trying to centralize stuff for more efficient distribution,  but since they are a week late, there's not a lot of goodwill towards the feds to pull that off.  Otherwise it seems like FEMA is trying to get shot.

They filled the FEMA regs up with DEI. They have to make sure they give the stuff to the minorities and LBGYTABC first. Since that is a bunch of rednecks they might see something later this year.

Myself I don't have a problem with minorities or the LBG community. I have a problem with the commie democrats causing this problem.

[WLJ]

They filled the FEMA regs up with DEI. They have to make sure they give the stuff to the minorities and LBGYTABC first. Since that is a bunch of rednecks they might see something later this year.

They call that equity

[Cliffh]

Two different reports of the same thing:

https://x.com/RastaGuerilla/status/1840832236028834061?t=j3niDjJ-NM2On8Z7CHaKWA&s=19

https://x.com/hodgetwins/status/1841547435946225938?t=S7uI-Fkorav4VKq5X581LQ&s=19

This text is an image, can't quote it.

And traffic off the local HAM repeater outlining people being told to divert all help to FEMA for distribution.

It could just be FEMA trying to centralize stuff for more efficient distribution,  but since they are a week late, there's not a lot of goodwill towards the feds to pull that off.  Otherwise it seems like FEMA is trying to get shot.

The second link seems to have been deleted.

If true, WTF is FEMA thinking?  They looking to piss people off?  I can see a situation like what's being described getting out of control, fast.  Hungry, thirsty people who've just lost everything don't have anything to loose by disobeying some .gov flunky.

[Angel Eyes]

[WLJ]

North Carolina Asks Zelensky For $100 Billion In U.S. Funding
https://babylonbee.com/news/north-carolina-asks-zelensky-for-100-billion-in-us-funding

[Ben]

Not from Helene, but it seems logical private help is being blocked for the same reasons:

https://twitchy.com/samj/2024/10/03/ryan-tyre-volunteers-helping-n2401718

[JTHunter]

Cliffh beat me to it.