Beth we were ok, especially compared to some. It was horrible for many in our coast, Cedar Key is only 62 miles from us but they got it really bad as did Steinhatchee , also those in Ashville N.C. We fell so bad for them. We had strong winds, and everything was closed down roads all blocked here, although no comparisson to many. Some homes on the coast washed out into ocean with people in them never found.
I didn't realize that Steinhatchee go hit so hard. My cousin and her husband have a "fish camp" down there (they live in GA). Her husband spends all his free time down there and she enjoys him being gone, lol.
One of my nieces, Dianna, was in Asheville when Helene was hitting, They were out of gas like to have never found any, they payed some guy, who went and found them some, luckily. She was there for a wedding of one of friends, and storm hit. My sister in law of one of my brothers, told Marie my other brother the father of her and his wife were going crazy, with worry. She said they finally made it out, down lots of back roads there, and which she said took them a long time. Haven't talked to them yet, to get whole story. I feel sorry for everyone going through this.
Watching these videos again after clearing our drives and yards, getting power,reminds me how fortunate we really were.
Asheville just lifted their "boil water" last week. They have had water for a while now, but it has just now been deemed safe to drink. Winter is closing in and the weather is getting cold. My wife is in contact with a quilt store in Weaverville, a suburb of Asheville where we lived after leaving Asheville proper, and she donated a quilt to their quilt drive. That one store has given away over 1,000 quilts to needy families throughout the region. According to my wife's contacts in Asheville, the state is just now getting the children who were removed form their families to temporary foster homes back to their parents. So many people lost their homes and had no place safe for their children to live and little food for the family. The U.S. hasn't seen devastation like this since the Galveston flood of 1900, and the people there have largely been forgotten. Certainly the Federal government, where such an uproar was raised over Katrina, has forgotten these citizens in favor of illegal immigrants. So sad! They are now looking for heaters to help them get through the winter. Some families are still reportedly living in tents without heat. This guy is collecting donations of heater and other stuff if anyone feels like donating: Pastor Tim Clark Bethel Wesleyan Church 901 Tracy Grove Rd Flat Rock NC 28731 *(If shipping by USPS) P.O Box 268 Dana NC 28724 (828)489-1714 -Buddy Heater: $76 https://amzn.to/3OlGk8w -20Lb Propane Adapter Hose: $30 https://amzn.to/3OkeWHJ (*****PLEASE Switch the Delivery ADDRESS To Above)
I posted about an Amazon Wish List for NC hurricane relief several days ago, but I removed the post. I could not personally vouch for the link, but I did use it myself to shop for some things to send to a distribution center in NC. I selected items to send and paid for them; Amazon shipped the stuff directly to a school in NC. I can't imagine the hardship of living in the NC mountains and being in a tent while the temperatures dip down and winter sets in. Just terrible.