The Situation in Western N.C.

Grim reports about the devastation in western North Carolina where he is a member of the (volunteer) fire-and-rescue team.  Since the Blue Ridge mountain range is there, the hurricane unloaded its water at that location before moving on.

...The situation here is catastrophic. The hurricane dropped its load of water here in the mountains of North Carolina. All cellular towers are down. All power lines are down. I-40 is closed and so is I-26, eliminating the major ground lines of communication with eastern N, SC, and TN. Locally our county seat has no power or phones...

 ...Our rescue operations are 24 hours a day currently. I can report steady progress; yesterday at dawn it took me five hours just to cut my way out with a chainsaw to reach the highway and the rally point. Today we have saw crews and a three man team from DOT with earth moving equipment to clear landslides. We have established a temporary shelter for the elderly until they can be moved to proper facilities, but our hospitals are overwhelmed-- one of them is closed, but yesterday all of them were....

 ...Power restoration is estimated between 5 days and weeks, depending on who you consult. I have Internet while standing next to this one fire truck with a mobile Starlink system. Many people have generators, but fuel is an issue: with the interstates down supplies will dwindle, and the economy is cash only because credit card systems can't reach their banks. We are especially concerned about elderly on oxygen, supplies of which will also dwindle....

We met Grim 10 years ago.  He is every inch the gentleman and--as you might guess--a very sturdy helper.  Pray for him, his co-workers and their success, and the victims of the hurricane.  You could also send a donation to the Red Cross and/or to your favorite denomination's Asheville-area HQ.  They know the situation on the ground best and can make sure your money goes to the right place.

UPDATE:  Samaritan's Purse--a very good outfit-- is headquartered in the area.