Please stay safe.
The death toll is up to at least 15, some from driving into flood areas, some from generator carbon monoxide.
Glad you all are ok. Jackie Cochran, how did you fare?
The rain arrived here in the mountains last night. Creeks are rising, power outages and lots of down trees and it’s supposed to continue throughout the night. I guess it’s just as well that I had to work today, at least there is a generator here.
We’ve been without power since sometime last night. I went to SO’s work for a recharge, which is why I am posting now.
I kicked the ponies outside today, although we’ve had some of the worst rain and wind this morning (weird, I hate you Florence). The kids are wet, but fine.
I’m tired though. I know I have had an easy go compared to most. But the stress and worry about our farm, my friend’s farm in Wilimington, my friends in the Sandhills, colic for our horses who aren’t typically stalled, etc. I’ve been checking the ponies every two hours and have been staring down the Bradford Pear tree that threatens the barn.
Again, I am more fortunate than most but I am so tired.
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I’m sure you are tired. I can’t imagine the stress that must come with that… I hope you get some rest soon.
It is like we are under a river of rain right now, it just keeps on pouring down.
Amazingly I have internet still.
We have been staying home so I do not know how the rest of Stanly county is now, but to get out to the main roads we would have to cross rather low bridges over creeks, so we are definitely staying home!
Union Co. and southern Mecklemburg county are having creeks flood, several over the roads they usually go under (as seen on TV.) Several normally shallow creeks look like rivers now.
I will be glad when it stops raining!
We are no longer under a “feeder band” (looks like an angry red river on the radar) though it is still raining some.
But it will END sometime tonight.
Several counties, including Union and Stanly counties and others around here have curfews for everyone. It is just too dangerous to be in a car after dark.
The mountains will get it next. Watch out for flash floods! The “feeder bands” are wicked mean with a lot, lot, lot of rain for hours. I would not want to be on mountain roads tonight. Take care, this is a catastrophic storm.
The long term damage will probably be worse than hurricane Hugo, maybe not as many trees down since the wind was slower, but Hugo lasted less than a day, not three days or so.
Several of the secondary roads in the greater Charlotte, NC area have washed out or collapsed into sinkholes, including a road we usually do not use near the next town to the west. Other roads have creeks flowing strongly over them, and I suspect the bridges will not be safe to drive over after the water goes down.
The counties in the eastern part of NC are in much worse shape. It is going to take a lot of money to get stuff anywhere near back to normal in NC. People without flood insurance are so out of luck, for in eastern NC the flooding is widespread, and around here places flooded that had not flooded before.
Then the rivers are not expected to crest until Wednesday or Thursday, which will bring even more flooding to add to the waters that are already flooding towns, houses, businesses and farms.
I’m fine, I did not loose electricity and I even had the internet through most of the storm, a rarity when there is a lot of rain. I am sure that some of my land flooded, but since I am not using it and there is little infrastructure down there it is no big deal (I hope.)
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The Weather Channel just said that the NC authorities have said Wilmington is totally cut off, 600 roads across NC are closed, and the rivers haven’t crested yet, and the maximum flood stages will last through the week. Travelers are being asked to detour around the entire state of NC. Every major road in the east side I-95 is closed (or are closed, I can’t decide, they both sound wrong).
Latest toll is 18 dead.
No animals involved, but my niece just moved to New Bern, NC last month for her first teaching job. Her and her roommates evacuated to Asheville for the duration.
I hope their apartment and town didn’t get hit too bad.
I’m glad your niece, and roommates left. Cajun Navy and other rescuers were using boats, and air mattresses to rescue people who refused to leave New Bern.
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I keep seeing stories about people needing to be rescued. Was the flooding more widespread than was thought or were there people who did not evacuate despite warnings?
I’m just curious. I’m sorry you are all going through this. The media coverage has been mixed up here since the gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley happened when the best hurricane coverage would have happened, and now someone got eaten by a shark on the Cape.
I’m getting the impression the damage is similar to Vermont when Irene hit, but I was expecting more like Houston when Harvey hit.
@Ruth0552 … the flooding was happening pretty quick, and those that stayed at home were now in danger of the rising water. Yesterday in the danger areas, authorities were going house to house telling folks they needed to leave if they were in the areas that were expected to flood overnight or today 9/17.
I’m in Wake County (Raleigh area) and it’s wet here but down east is way way worse off.
Still Jingling for all NC/SC COTHers to come out of this with no damage to themselves, animals or property.
My NC friend has lost a big pine, has been w/o power for 3 days now, but at least she has allowed horses - all 8 - to decide for themselves if they want shelter.
Leaving stalls open for them & allowing them to go in & out from pasture.
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Ruth, in interviews people said they had a disabled/terminal person living with then, too manysny animals (shelters/hotels have limits on # of animals per family), they couldn’t afford hotels/travel, were afraid of looting as reasons for not evacuating
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I think New Bern knew it was going to get hit bad, but I don’t think anyone thought it was going to be as bad as it was. Two animal shelters were destroyed and it sounds like over 200 shelter dogs have been evacuated by two rescue groups.
@2DogsFarm I have been thinking of your friend and glad to hear it worked out!
I’m hoping to see posts soon from 2 who I think are in the Sandhills: @ElementFarm and @Lord Helpus I don’t know them personally, only from this board. I hope they are either OK or my mind has put them in the wrong location!
@RMJacobs - how is your boarding barn? Heard there’s some flooding down that way.
Everyone on our farm is still fine - we’re on high ground here. DH went to work down at the beach this morning though and now I don’t know when he’ll get back - I think all available routes between here and Myrtle Beach are closed.
Thinking of all of you in the Carolinas. Hang in there and take care.
I hope we will hear from our COTH members that haven’t yet checked in. Of course they may have other priorities but it would be nice to know they are safe.
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As of yesterday, all was well at the barn. They are high ground and pretty far from the river. They lost power at the house but the barn stayed up, and got power back at the house pretty fast. Salt is in a stall until the rain stops.
So glad all is well with you. Hope your DH gets/got home OK.
Rebecca
I wasn’t sure how widespread the evacuation orders were either. Were services not offered for people with disabilities? I definitely see a potential issue with people who can’t afford to leave with their animals, but at the same time, I feel like then you probably shouldn’t have so many animals. What a bad situation.
Jingles for everyone still riding this out and/or beginning to recover.
Thought I’d give an update as I really appreciated the inside info response to my earlier questions. We really lucked out with our trip. Snuck in and out of the Bay before Flo made it that far north, and got home just hours before our route (WV) got hit with the bands of rain. The wedding was gorgeous, the sunset was amazing, Tilghman Island was SO idyllic and I highly recommend it to everyone, and the ponchos, wellies, rain pants, tarps and umbrellas remained crumbled in the car the whole time. So… Phew. But everyone’s thoughts were always very close to our southern neighbors.
Here’s a pic of that tremendous sunset. I hope that everyone continues to fare well.
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