jerrymahoney

Trump Lashes Out Behind Closed Doors Over Money (from NYTimes headline) Donald J. Trump is feeling aggrieved, unappreciated by donors and fenced in by security concerns in the final stretch of the race. October 12, 2024 at 7:31 am EDT via New York Times: “The rant, described by seven people with knowledge of the meal who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, underscored a reality three weeks before Election Day: Mr. Trump’s often cantankerous mood in the final stretch. And one of the reasons for his frustration is money. He’s trailing his Democratic rival in the race for cash and has had to hustle to keep raising it.” “Not only does Ms. Harris have far more money to buy ads and pay for staff after raising $1 billion in less than three months as a candidate — a sum greater than the total Mr. Trump raised all year — but she has also been freed from having to plead directly to donors anymore.” https://politicalwire.com/2024/10/12/trump-lashes-out-behind-closed-doors-over-money/

For all the good things the late Senator McCain may have done especially his deciding vote on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), his assessment of female politicians may not be one of them: He was the one who chose Sarah Palin as his VP candidate in 200i8.

Being the sole replier to one's own topic -- kinda like Norman Bates having a conversation with 'Mother'.

From NC Department of Public Safety: Hurricane Helene: Fact vs. Rumor RUMOR: The state and federal government are doing nothing to respond to the ongoing disaster in Western North Carolina. FACT: Roadways in Western North Carolina are still dangerous and impassible in many places. A recent landslide shows the potential for more serious incidents. In some areas, traffic is being rerouted to maintain availability of roadways for emergency response, coordinated disaster relief efforts and local traffic. FACT: The NC State Emergency Response Team, which includes local, state, federal and military partners, along with power and cell phone agencies, private businesses and volunteer organizations, is working around the clock to save lives and provide humanitarian relief to Western North Carolina residents. This is a coordinated effort aimed at saving lives and to speed recovery for residents, businesses and municipalities in the impacted areas. https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene/hurricane-helene-fact-vs-rumor BTW Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr. is the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and serves as the sole representative on the governor's cabinet for the state's law enforcement, juvenile justice initiatives and emergency management responsibilities. Anybody got problems with the relief efforts to date, contact Eddie as above.

Well things are not good right now for many folks in NC and FL, things are looking good for many Americans: Markets News, October 9, 2024: S&P 500, Dow Hit Record Closing Highs as Stock Market Rally Continues https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-10092024-8725414

A wash-out bridge on a back country road in TN near the NC border. There could be hundreds of washed-out small roads inter-connecting small towns in the region.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4916009-north-carolina-lawmaker-hurricane-helene-conspiracy-theories/ Folks, this is a catastrophic event of which this country has never known,” (NC Rep. State Senator) Corbin wrote Thursday. From New Zealand: " ... in an area that expects storms." This is the area of North Carolina where they expect storms:

Your critiques are helpful. Thank you.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said recently that he was impressed with the federal response, noting North Carolina’s impact was not expected to be as severe as it was. “For anybody who thinks that any level of government, anybody here, could have been prepared precisely for what we’re dealing with here, clearly are clueless,” Tillis said. “But right now, I’m out here to say that we’re doing a good job.” Bates pointed to Tillis’s remarks, as well as to comments made by other GOP officials, including South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who called the federal response “superb,” and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who said he “appreciated” Biden’s offer to “call him directly” if the governor needed further assistance. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4918305-speaker-johnson-calls-federal-response-to-helene-a-massive-failure

The UK Mental Health Act -- not American terminology so I missed that.

(In part because I know this area well) Updated 5:46 AM GMT+7, October 4, 2024 The search for the missing hits snags at every corner as Helene’s death toll tops 200 In another county that sits alongside the Tennessee state line, crews were just finishing clearing main routes and reaching side roads that wind through switchbacks and cross small bridges that can be tricky to navigate even in the best weather. Each road presented a new challenge. (my atalics) “Everything is fine and then they come around a bend and the road is gone and it’s one big gully or the bridge is gone.” said Charlie Wallin, a commissioner in Watauga County. “We can only get so far.” Most people the crews come across turn out to be fine and just in need of water, but every day there are new requests to check on someone who hasn’t been heard from yet, Wallin said. When the search will end is hard to tell, he said. “You hope you’re getting closer, but it’s still hard to know,” he said. https://apnews.com/article/helene-asheville-north-carolina-64fe5ca1b80f22fd2fd3b7c50b291d85

Buttigieg Pushes Back on Musk Tweets About Starlink Deliveries in N.C. PC Mag via Yahoo.com Sat, October 5, 2024 at 4:46 AM GMT+7·2 min read The back-and-forth started earlier today when Musk posted a text exchange he had with an unnamed SpaceX engineer working to deliver Starlink dishes to areas of North Carolina hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Musk then retweeted a screenshot from the SpaceX engineer, who claimed that federal agencies were shutting down the surrounding air space to “regulate” private helicopters carrying the Starlink dish deliveries. “We are pushing back with trump team as well to help us, but not looking good,” the engineer wrote. In response, Secretary Buttigieg tweeted back to deny that the federal government is preventing Starlink deliveries. “No one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn’t block legitimate rescue and recovery flights. If you’re encountering a problem give me a call,” Buttigieg wrote. Later on Friday, Musk thanked Buttigieg for "expediting approval for support flights," adding "just wanted to note that Sec Buttigieg is on the ball." https://www.yahoo.com/tech/buttigieg-pushes-back-musk-tweets-214656644.html

Local news with the (R) Governor of Tennessee ‘A lot of misinformation’ | Gov. Lee, FEMA address donation rumors https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/10/03/lot-misinformation-gov-lee-fema-address-donation-rumors/

Hurricane Helene: Fact vs. Rumor| UPDATED OCTOBER 05, 2024 4:08 PM From NC Dept. Public Safety https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene-fact-vs-rumor Emergency officials responding to the Hurricane Helene disaster in Western North Carolina say false rumors on social media are impeding their efforts to help tens of thousands of people in need. “False information is being widely shared on social media channels, including AI-generated content and images,” N.C. Department of Public Safety officials said in a statement. ”Nefarious actors and those with ill intent may be taking advantage of this situation by spreading false information.” False rumors even spread claiming the government had created the hurricane. The public should find and share information from trusted sources and discourage others from spreading information from unverified sources, NCDPS officials said. On social media Friday, the American Red Cross said misinformation is hurting its Hurricane Helene relief efforts. “Misinformation can spread quickly after a disaster, causing confusion and distrust within communities struggling to recover,” the Red Cross said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing this during our response to Hurricane Helene.” Here are rumors being spread on social media and the facts offered in response by government agencies: RUMOR: GOVERNMENTS AREN’T RESPONDING TO THE DISASTER. Facts: The N.C. State Emergency Response Team is working 24/7 to save lives and provide Helene relief. The team includes local, state, federal and military units; power and cell phone companies and other businesses; and volunteer organizations. On Saturday, Mooresville Fire Chief Curt Deaton said his team alone has rescued 11 people and two animals in Ashe County and will remain there until it is safe for residents and their first responders. “This work is very strenuous,” Deaton said. “These men spend most of the time walking and climbing through dangerous debris piles, searching for any survivors or victims ... Some of our team, they’ve been there for 10 days straight now, working around the clock.” Soldiers assigned to the Connecticut, Maryland and North Carolina National Guard work to distribute food and water to local first responders in Avery County. NC National Guard RUMOR: DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERS TURNED AWAY AT CHECKPOINTS. Facts: Western N.C. roads are still dangerous and impassible in many places, and landslides remain a threat. Traffic is being rerouted on some roads so emergency vehicles, disaster relief efforts and local traffic can still access them. Seven-year-old Zander Reed of Hot Springs, N.C. sorts through a massive amount of donations for Hurricane Helene victims in the gym of Hot Springs Elementary on Friday, October 4, 2024 in Hot Springs, N.C. Donation coordinators said they have plenty of diapers, but are in need of PPE equipment, and muck boots. RUMOR: GOVERNMENTS ARE DISCOURAGING AND CONFISCATING DONATIONS. Facts: The state encourages financial donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and to N.C. volunteer organizations responding to the disaster. The state is working with the organizations to collect and distribute physical donations coming in from across the state and country. Coordinated volunteer disaster relief efforts are needed in Western North Carolina, according to the NC Department of Public Safety. “We strongly encourage neighbors to continue helping neighbors in impacted areas,” department officials said. “Those wishing to volunteer should register at www.nc.gov/volunteer,” and not “self-deploy” to the region. RUMOR: THE GOVERNMENT CREATED THE HURRICANE Facts: Helene formed from an organized band of showers and thunderstorms in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported. Rumors that the government created the storm were fueled by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s tweet late Thursday that “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.” RUMOR: THE FAA IS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE AIRSPACE. Facts: The FAA is not restricting access for recovery operations. “The FAA is coordinating closely with state and local officials to make sure everyone is operating safely in very crowded and congested airspace,” according to a statement by the N.C. Department of Public Safety. RUMOR: “THE RED CROSS ISN’T HERE.” Facts: At least 1,300 Red Cross disaster responders are helping people in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia with safe shelter, food, hygiene items, medications and emotional support. Before Helene made landfall, the Red Cross positioned hundreds of disaster responders and thousands of relief supplies across the Southeast. Soldiers assigned to the Connecticut, Maryland and North Carolina National Guard work to distribute food and water to local first responders in Avery County. RUMOR: THE RED CROSS IS CONFISCATING OR DISCARDING DONATED ITEMS. Facts: The Red Cross is not “confiscating, removing or discarding donated items,” Red Cross officials said in a statement Friday. The Red Cross focuses on providing shelter, food and relief after disasters. “While we don’t accept physical donations, as managing them takes time and resources away from our mission, we work with community partners who are better equipped with these resources to handle and distribute these items,” Red Cross officials said. Call 211 to find out where donated goods are available. RUMOR: THE RED CROSS IS TAKING OVER SHELTERS. Facts: The Red Cross does not take over shelters. Rather, it provides management support at the request of local partners. RUMOR: THE RED CROSS IS TAKING OVER VOLUNTEER GROUPS. Facts: While the Red Cross is working alongside other volunteer groups, the Red Cross is not taking over their efforts or services. RUMOR: FEMA DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR HELENE. Facts: FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. In North Carolina alone, FEMA has provided more than $26 million in housing and other types of assistance to over 25,000 households, it said in an Oct. 5 release. More than 700 FEMA staff and over 1,200 urban search and rescue personnel are on the ground. Over 1,000 National Guard troops have also been deployed to the state. RUMOR: FEMA IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE. Facts: FEMA is still accepting assistance applications throughout areas affected by Helene, it said. Over 1,400 people who cannot return home are currently staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program. FEMA said residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Twenty-two shelters are housing just over 1,000 people, FEMA said. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in hard-hit areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties. For current application timelines, visit disasterassistance.gov or FEMA’s state-specific Helene disaster site for North Carolina. RUMOR: FUNDING FOR FEMA DISASTER RESPONSE WAS DIVERTED TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS OR BORDER-RELATED ISSUES. Facts: This is false, FEMA said. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina, FEMA said. Commodity shipments are also en route. “The agency is on track to meet requested delivery timelines for meals and water,” it said in a statement released Oct 5. “Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft.” In North Carolina alone, the Salvation Army has nine mobile feeding units and has served over 7,100 meals, 6,600 drinks, and 3,700 snacks, it said. Resources: Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance. Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews. Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts. RUMOR: FEMA IS IN THE THE PROCESS OF CONFISCATING HELENE SURVIVOR PROPERTY. IF I APPLY FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND MY LAND IS DEEMED UNLIVABLE, MY PROPERTY WILL BE SEIZED. Facts: FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land, FEMA said. When you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA said an inspector may be sent to verify the damage on your home. “This is one of many factors reviewed to determine what kind of disaster assistance you may be eligible for,” it said. If the results of the inspection deem your home uninhabitable, that information is “only used to determine the amount of FEMA assistance you may receive to make your home safe, sanitary and functional,” it said. If you were affected by Helene, apply for disaster assistance. The fastest way is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service.

Newspaper report from Asheville, NC via no paywall Des Moines Register (lots of photos) North Carolina lawmakers to vote on preliminary Helene relief package next week, leaders say "Over the past week, we've heard directly from residents in Western North Carolina and have seen the devastation firsthand. Our hearts are broken for the communities that have been ravaged by Hurricane Helene," Berger and Moore said in a joint statement Friday. "Despite the destruction, it has been incredible to see how North Carolinians have stepped up to help. We cannot let up on those efforts or forget about the small communities that have been effectively closed off because of this storm." They said the General Assembly "is preparing to come back next week to vote on an initial disaster relief package to facilitate the state's response to Hurricane Helene," adding that they were still determining what would be included in the legislation. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2024/10/04/nc-lawmakers-to-launch-nonpartisan-helene-recovery-effort-next-week/75517190007/

90% of customer outages in South Carolina and North Carolina will be restored Friday Crews have repaired more than 2 million power outages in the Carolinas North Carolina In North Carolina, 201,000 customers in the mountain region remain without power, as Duke Energy has restored 1.1 million customer outages. We are on track to restore an additional 27,000 customers by Friday evening, Oct. 4, with another 69,000 in the hardest-hit areas by Sunday, Oct. 6. In the areas where catastrophic damage exists – homes can’t receive power, and total grid infrastructure damage and lack of access exists – 105,000 customers are without power. We’re working closely with the state on plans to address these as quickly as possible. We’ll continue to communicate with customers via email, text and outbound call as their site-specific details become available. Customers can also visit dukeenergyupdates.com for the latest updates on their outage. https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/power-restoration-efforts-ongoing-in-north-carolina-mountains-and-south-carolina-upstate-company-provides-updated-information *********** I will note that many in the most rural areas in the region are served by electric cooperatives, note directly by Duke.

Into how many pieces? Like Humpty Dumpty -- too many to put together again.

Yeah -- save our craft beer breweries first and then worry about those chewin' tobacco red voters up in hills

Well they can't be swing voters for Trump if they're dead -- maybe that's the Harris/FEMA strategy for a close NC race.

Well sure it takes time to figure out how to rescue the blue voters first around Asheville and Boone before going after all those redneck red voters stuck up there in the hills with all those windy roads washed out.

From your link above: Soldiers at Fort Liberty have been preparing for the past week for a possible deployment to western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The soldiers are from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, part of the 82nd Airborne Division. Other units, including engineers and Army communicators, are on standby for deployment. "We had the authority to take the soldiers that are there at Liberty and put them under the command and control of United States Northern Command and utilize them in a synchronized and coordinated fashion with the National Guard and FEMA who are again the leadership role in this." Major General Robert Davis, the director of operations for U.S. Northern Command, told WRAL News. "We want to make sure that we're being complementary, not out there doing something on our own."

FDC 4/2727 Issue Date : October 01, 2024 at 1139 UTC Location : Shelton Laurel, North Carolina Beginning Date and Time : October 01, 2024 at 1200 UTC Ending Date and Time : October 01, 2024 at 2200 UTC Reason for NOTAM : Due to search and rescue operations Type : Hazards No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described). ONLY RELIEF ACFT OPS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF North carolina task force 8 ARE AUTH IN THE AIRSPACE. https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_2727.html

04OCT 12024 In a statement to The Washington Post, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt repeated the claim, without providing evidence, that the federal government had no funding, and made the accusation that Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival for the presidency, “stole” money from FEMA, which handles disaster relief. Leavitt said Trump “is leading during this tragic moment.” “There’s nobody that’s handled a hurricane or storm worse than what they’re doing right now,” Trump said at the rally. “Kamala has spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants.” https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/04/as-trump-makes-false-claims-about-hurricane-relief-white-house-calls-it-poison/

Yes so there was not the same state of NC logistical and infrastructure support in place that there is in the coastal areas.

This is the official State of North Carolina evacuation zone map. No zones in western NC .