I think people expect things like door to door welfare checks from FEMA agents. And a tent and table at the local high school or shelter, to answer peoples’ questions and apply for assistance. Like they’ve seen on TV in other places.
That may not be realistic, but I think it would make people feel better.
How are you doing down there Flats?
Are you in an affected area?
Makes total sense.
I think the inaccessibility of many places is probably hindering this, and/or they are relying on folks just checking FEMA.gov for information (that is the most efficient way to distribute accurate, realtime information).
But, that misses the human element, and sending out a hundred traveling fema reps to hold “town halls” would have been nice… Though, ensuring consistency of information from those folks in such a fluid situation would be problematic.
I hope you and yours are managing well enough.
Just a little update from what ive been seeing. My area has power about 90% restored. Internet is spotty as power lines were replaced but spectrum lines are still laying on the ground in a lot of places. Most roads are passable except the ones that washed out. It was a pretty quick turn around all in all. 10 days to some normalacy. Kids go back to school tomorrow.
Now for the hot topic FEMA stuff, the helicopters flying out of greenville to asheville stopped around friday. Not sure why, just an observation. Maybe they have a better spot to fly out of now, perhaps asheville regional.
The response here was largely private. People cutting trees, churches donating food, gyms opened up to the public to take hot showers (gotta give PF credit on that one), and people just helping out their neighbors. Also local governments coordinating with power companies. I saw no federal help on the ground, maybe they sent money.
What im getting from people is its very similar in NC, but the destruction is obviously much worse due to flooding. There are national guard in western nc, but the scope of the mission is massive and very spread out. The majority of the response is local government and private citizens. I know a few people that just hopped in their trucks with chainsaws and gas cans and drove up to asheville. Church groups driving the van packed with supplies up there to do anything they can.
Just what im seeing.
The insurance companies are doing it, youd figure FEMA could too.
We’re totally safe and back to normal where I am. We had some trees knocked down and lost power for a couple days. A cell tower went down and lots of people were without service for a week or so.
But if you go 15 miles west or south there are pockets of damage, some people still without power and communities without running water. Thankfully, all those places are accessable, receiving aid and people can drive out to nearby towns and get whatever they need.
Going east or farther south, 20-30 miles higher up into the mountains is where the real issues are. Especially crossing the border into North Carolina. There are way fewer roads, some are still impassable, so the unfortunate people can’t just drive down for supplies.
Yeah, if I remember correctly, you’re in about the same region as my old buddy was from.
I have to give him a call and see how his family and him are doing. He’s probably down there now.
The power companies have been great. We were driving around the day after the hurricane and ran into a guy from a company in a nearby town who was surveying the damage. At that point, dude had probably been going for a day straight.
He rolls down the window and my girlfriend hits him with “how’s your day?”
This dude rolled his eyes so hard he was thrown backwards in his seat. He couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it! I lost my shit laughing.
He most have gotten a kick out of it because he was back the next day with a crew and a couple big boom trucks.
Hey. Wanted to check back and see how things were for you after round 2 and over all.
My brother rode it out just fine. A little yard clean up, but otherwise he’s good. 
Hope all is well man.
I don’t know how, but I lucked out so much again. I think I have some seawall damage, which could be costly. I also had some pool cage damage and lots of clean up. The news was projecting 10-15’ of surge but we got none, it was all south.
My brothers main complaint was those panels. He lost like 3 of them a few years ago and said they cost way too much for what they are.
Glad that you & yours are in good shape. 
Glad you were mostly spared.
I have two friends in Florida who said the same thing. Do all pools in Florida have cages? That isn’t really a thing in Texas where I’m at.
Bugs. So. Many. Bugs.
And those speedy little lizards! 
Most of them do. As others stated, bugs and scaly creatures are kept out. Also cuts down on small debris maintenance. Here is mine before clean up. There is a large oak on my neighbors property that dropped many large branches my way.
I have a buddy in the Asheville area who described the destruction in terms that really brought home the scale of destruction. They are getting help from federal state and local authorities, and he had good things to say about the disaster response.
But, that said, theres a few hundred thousand folks in Georgia/North Carolina whose basic infrastructure is so impacted that voting in November will be a significant challenge. And those two states are super important swing states. I think it would be a really cool gesture to make sure they can vote, whether its a special task force with paper ballots to canvas the areas, or if it’s the ability to vote by phone for folks registered in those areas hardest hit and cutoff.
Disaster victims always talk about the initial response being great, but then feeling forgotten weeks later once national attention turns elsewhere. Even if it is enormously expensive, I think it would be great to make the effort to get these folks to vote, and make sure they are included in the election and do not feel like a forgotten part of the country.
ChatGPT.
4char
If it makes you feel better, it’s not as if individual Ukrainians or Israelis will see any of that money.
I was in New Orleans after Katrina working with the police on anti-looting details. It was indescribable and I’ve been to war
