Getting help to the WNC disaster area (10-04-2024--Hour2)

[00:00:04] [SPEAKER_00]: What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon to three on WBT radio in Charlotte

[00:00:11] [SPEAKER_00]: And if you want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, my daily show prep with all the links become a patron

[00:00:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Go to thepeakkalinershow.com and make sure you hit the subscribe button get every episode for free write your smartphone or tablet

[00:00:26] [SPEAKER_00]: And again, thank you so much for your support

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Governor Roy Cooper traveled to Ash

[00:00:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Wataga and Avery counties yesterday

[00:00:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Today the plan is for his appearance in Jackson County and Haywood County

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: They put out a press release from the governor's office

[00:00:46] [SPEAKER_00]: last night and

[00:00:50] [SPEAKER_00]: they say

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_00]: That by president Biden approved 100% FEMA reimbursements for six months

[00:00:56] [SPEAKER_00]: If you want to apply for individual assistance, you go to disaster assistance.gov

[00:01:02] [SPEAKER_00]: President Biden also approved governor Cooper's request for active-duty military personnel and equipment to support ongoing operations in Western North Carolina

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Military helicopters personnel and other equipment have already been deployed more than a thousand North Carolina National Guard are currently deployed

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_00]: conducting search and rescue missions and

[00:01:21] [SPEAKER_00]: distributing food water and other supplies

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_00]: In order to ensure that all resources are available for use in the response to Hurricane Helene Governor Cooper issued executive order

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_00]: 316 which permits the use sale and distribution of died diesel fuel

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_00]: for highway use

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_00]: FEMA has delivered more than five and a half million meals

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_00]: 6.3 million liters of water more than 36,000 people have registered for individual assistance through FEMA already

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_00]: There's about a quarter of a million customers still without power across the region

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_00]: But power has been restored according to the governor's office to about 700,000 customers

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I'll give you more. Oh and by the way if you are

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Looking for somebody

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Don't know where they are you want to report a missing person or request a non

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_00]: emergency

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Support of some kind called 211 if you are out of state you call

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_00]: 888

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_00]: 89 to

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_00]: 1162

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_00]: So again in state

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_00]: You're calling

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_00]: NC 211, so I'm guessing that's just 211

[00:02:40] [SPEAKER_00]: At a state 888 892

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: 1162 all right 704 570 1110 let's go back to the phones and talk with Jim hello Jim welcome to the show

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_04]: Good hi, how are you? Hey, I'm all right. I'm just I'm calling about the similar about the helicopter stuff

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_04]: I was in the National Guard back in 89 after the Hugo

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_04]: Situation I was on a helicopter crew that flew down

[00:03:07] [SPEAKER_04]: He was a black Hawk helicopter which is a brand new helicopter at that time and we flew down to Charlotte from Raleigh

[00:03:13] [SPEAKER_04]: With the Department of Crime Control

[00:03:16] [SPEAKER_04]: Secretary to come down for a meeting about the situation down here and of course for us to fly around a look at things and

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_04]: I I chopper probably was Vietnam vet which probably today's are most likely

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_04]: Afghanistan vet he put our chopper down. I don't know you know 277 where it gets off at

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_04]: At the 4th Street, you know where that loop is on the north side

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_04]: No on the south side of town like well, I guess it's more though. Yeah

[00:03:46] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, that's a north somewhat, you know when you're coming up from

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_04]: From Huntersville area and you get off to the right and then it curves around to the left

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_04]: And then it goes around on the left side of the the bowl there of

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_04]: Panther Bowl

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_04]: Will you get off at 4th Street? There's a loop that you have to come down and go down

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_04]: Turn left on 4th Street. Yeah, I

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_04]: Chopper pilot he he put it down right in that loop

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER_04]: I

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER_04]: Don't don't think it ever been done

[00:04:16] [SPEAKER_04]: And I'm sure it hasn't been done since and I don't even know if they'd let them do it now

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_04]: So that we could bring him the crime control secretary up uptown right as we could

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_04]: And so these guys are all you know, they're all

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_04]: Really trained experienced pilots a lot of them are ex

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_04]: Active duty folks who have worked in you know bad environments. Yeah

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_04]: And I did it's you know, just to add the story of how good these guys are

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_04]: I like I said, I don't know if it's ever been done since but we he put it right down in that little space

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not aware of another helicopter landing in that space. I've been in the Charlotte area since

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Well since 92 so I'm not aware of

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Aware of anybody else doing that or attempting it for that matter, so

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER_04]: But I could be wrong. Yeah, I took pictures of it and stuff in the background

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_04]: Because we were there about an hour while he was up at his meeting was just waiting on him

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER_04]: I it was very few people on the road

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_04]: But they actually stopped their cars and got off to look at and take pictures

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_04]: They had a camera. Yeah, we didn't have cell phones. It took pictures

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, that's right

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_04]: pictures of what we were doing just waiting around with a helicopter

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_04]: Wish I still had a copy of it, but now yeah, so these guys are good

[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, I've been retired for a long time now from that show

[00:05:42] [SPEAKER_04]: But we flew all over the state. We actually even went out to the airport and

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_04]: Landed our helicopter at the National Guard base there

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_04]: And it was it was like to see planes were upside down and all that kind of stuff

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_04]: We wanted to work tied down and stuff, but yeah, these guys are good if they you know, if you're sent

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: They'll do it right now. I hear you usually just be it. Yeah, Jim. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thanks for calling. I appreciate you

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Jenny is up next. Hello Jenny. Welcome to the program

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, I'm good. How are you?

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Fine. I wanted you to elaborate a little on that terrain in North Carolina

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_01]: For the state for years and so going to Western North Carolina anywhere

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not saying at all that this shouldn't be happening

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_01]: But what I'm telling you is on a sunny day when it's nice and pretty it's hard to get anywhere

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_01]: You can have rough slides on 40 or any other small

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Road your end you can have a quick shower and the quicks rides and you're stuck

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Or you're in there's a splendor of sun down here in the valley and you're up in moon

[00:06:51] [SPEAKER_01]: And then it's leading and snowing on the way out or going to Asheville

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_01]: You're going through the when I have to go through the Pisco National Forest and it's always either foggy

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Rainings leading or something or other so the weather is really not exactly cooperative and the terrain is pretty

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Tretuous in some areas before

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Covid I used to have to go to Mitchell and Avery County for example

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_01]: And there was no cell coverage at all

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_06]: Yeah

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_01]: In fact you had to go to maybe the courthouse or some other central place

[00:07:25] [SPEAKER_01]: So whenever I will be needing to talk to central command

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_01]: I would have to go somewhere where I could have a signal

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_01]: But if you're in transit and some of those little b-roads

[00:07:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Good luck and of course, you know telephone

[00:07:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Was not even available in certain areas

[00:07:43] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's it's always been difficult and right now the main problem

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_01]: They're having well from hearing from some of the folks that we've been in touch with

[00:07:53] [SPEAKER_01]: Out there is they can't land this huge military helicopters, right?

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_01]: So they need smaller aircraft and that's what this man was doing from Hickory

[00:08:04] [SPEAKER_01]: We indirectly know him was actually, you know flying its own private

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_01]: aircraft

[00:08:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Trying to deliver or pick up supplies or people

[00:08:16] [SPEAKER_01]: so that is what is needed and

[00:08:20] [SPEAKER_01]: One we know for a fact my husband is former Navy

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_01]: We know for a fact that it's a specially trained unit or

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_01]: disaster disasters

[00:08:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That stood out in Fort Bragg

[00:08:34] [SPEAKER_01]: That could be could have been deployed. They're waiting there to be deployed, but they need a signature from full number one

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_01]: So that they can be deployed to help out

[00:08:46] [SPEAKER_01]: They have the equipment and the wherewithal to be able to help at least

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Get some of these by land resources out to where they really need them. Yeah, that's what's happening. Yeah was a

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Believe a

[00:09:02] [SPEAKER_01]: National guard, I don't know whether he's I believe he's active out of Florida that was on the news yesterday

[00:09:08] [SPEAKER_01]: He actually got permission to come up here and to mobilize some of his buddies to start

[00:09:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Doing some extra voluntary work up here

[00:09:17] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's how we found out actually that we knew about the unit before the one in Fort Bragg

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_01]: But it has not been deployed only the president can deploy that and it's just it takes just one little thing

[00:09:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, and they would have been here within like early 24 hours because they're always ready to be dispatched

[00:09:36] [SPEAKER_01]: They have all the resources to heavy machinery and all they know how to their specially trained

[00:09:41] [SPEAKER_01]: First for this type of stuff. Yeah, so that Jenny no

[00:09:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I've talked about the terrain the topography the treacherousness of it. You are exactly correct

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_00]: It's challenging on a sunny day for a rescue operation let alone after the the mudslides and

[00:09:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Road washouts and everything else. I appreciate the call Jenny. Thank you very much. Thanks for the info, you know stories are powerful

[00:10:06] [SPEAKER_00]: They help us make sense of things to understand experiences stories connect us to the people of our past while transcending

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Generations they help us process the meaning of life and our stories are told through images and videos

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Preserve your stories with creative video started in 1997 in Mint Hill, North Carolina

[00:10:24] [SPEAKER_00]: It was the first company to provide this valuable service converting images photos and videos into high quality produced slide shows

[00:10:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Videos and albums the trusted talented and dedicated team at creative video will go over all of the details with you to create a perfect project

[00:10:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Satisfaction guaranteed drop them off in person or mail them

[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_00]: They'll be ready in a week or two memorial videos for your loved ones videos for rehearsal dinners weddings

[00:10:48] [SPEAKER_00]: graduations Christmas family vacations birthdays or just your family stories all told through images

[00:10:54] [SPEAKER_00]: That's what your photos and videos are they are your life told through the eyes of everyone around you and all who came before you

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_00]: And they will tell others to come who you are visit creative video comm

[00:11:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Got a message from Russ who relays a message from a friend in Gertron

[00:11:16] [SPEAKER_00]: That's how I pronounce it in Henderson County G E R T O N

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_00]: total population of

[00:11:26] [SPEAKER_00]: 290

[00:11:28] [SPEAKER_00]: So one of those 290 people in Henderson County

[00:11:32] [SPEAKER_00]: wrote to Russ and said

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_00]: The only thing that FEMA is adding is an increased demand on the insulin supply

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Do not count on FEMA

[00:11:46] [SPEAKER_00]: I great they show up. They're gonna coordinate stuff after the fact okay, whatever but like they are not

[00:11:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Search and rescue. That's not what they do. They're not dragging people out of

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Collapsed homes, you know search and rescue operations ongoing in Western North Carolina

[00:12:06] [SPEAKER_00]: There is a total of 55 search and rescue teams from the state and beyond consisting of more than

[00:12:13] [SPEAKER_00]: 1600 personnel they have conducted search and rescue operations

[00:12:18] [SPEAKER_00]: The National Guard is interacted with over 5400 people that includes assists

[00:12:24] [SPEAKER_00]: evacuations and

[00:12:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Rescues

[00:12:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Hang on a second there was here Governor Cooper has activated more than 1100 North Carolina

[00:12:34] [SPEAKER_00]: National Guard soldiers and airmen to both conduct search and rescue operations and to deliver critical supplies

[00:12:41] [SPEAKER_00]: To the area as of Wednesday

[00:12:45] [SPEAKER_00]: 372 specialized vehicles 26 aircraft have been deployed to facilitate the missions

[00:12:53] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm looking for the blurb that I had on the

[00:12:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Marines here it is

[00:12:59] [SPEAKER_00]: the United States Marines

[00:13:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Posted on social media on the night of October 2nd

[00:13:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So that would have been Wednesday evening that the US Marines

[00:13:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Expeditionary was leaving at 4 a.m. So that would have been 4 a.m. Yesterday

[00:13:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Heading to Asheville to help in recovery efforts

[00:13:18] [SPEAKER_00]: They are stationed out of Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Base, and yes it is Lejeune

[00:13:26] [SPEAKER_00]: That's how you pronounce it. It's a family name

[00:13:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Colin welcome to the program hello, Colin

[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_03]: Hey Pete just want to share this with you as of yesterday

[00:13:37] [SPEAKER_03]: a guy said

[00:13:40] [SPEAKER_03]: They're on your about your shows on the show and or maybe it's on YouTube where

[00:13:45] [SPEAKER_03]: He said that there were many

[00:13:49] [SPEAKER_03]: Air Force guys

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_03]: Pararist you guys PJs and up there and they had URIs and

[00:13:57] [SPEAKER_03]: Chinooks and all

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER_03]: Helicopters everywhere and those chopper pilots especially the ones that were

[00:14:06] [SPEAKER_03]: in Vietnam to put you that could lower can lower that

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Chopper down and put it on a dime or hover above it

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_03]: 20 feet in the PJ guys

[00:14:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Repel down and in a search and recover and search and rescue people even do first aid

[00:14:26] [SPEAKER_03]: And there I know you know the last sentence in our in the PJ creative is that others may live

[00:14:33] [SPEAKER_03]: And they're the best trained

[00:14:36] [SPEAKER_03]: 13 rescue guys probably in America

[00:14:38] [SPEAKER_03]: And I just don't understand why in the world

[00:14:44] [SPEAKER_03]: They're not utilizing these guys and I don't know if there any females or not

[00:14:48] [SPEAKER_03]: They weren't when I was in Vietnam, but probably are but they're just up there twirling their thumbs and they probably got steam coming out of their ears

[00:14:56] [SPEAKER_00]: So I right so I I don't know what resources the totality of the resources that have been deployed there are

[00:15:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Dozens and dozens and dozens of these choppers that are flying in

[00:15:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And they're staging out of different air airfields, you know out of Hickory at a Rutherford

[00:15:16] [SPEAKER_00]: and so I

[00:15:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Don't have a clear tally yet of the citizen

[00:15:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay

[00:15:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for the call. I don't have a I don't have a clear tally of all of the the flight missions and

[00:15:34] [SPEAKER_00]: You know, who's from which organizations and that sort of thing

[00:15:39] [SPEAKER_00]: It it does seem at this point it does seem that the US military

[00:15:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Has not been at the forefront of the

[00:15:52] [SPEAKER_00]: deployed assets

[00:15:53] [SPEAKER_00]: It does seem that way. I could be wrong about that, but that is the way it seems and

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And I have heard various explanations from you know, they got to be on standby

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER_00]: To be going over to the Middle East

[00:16:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Because of what's going on with Iran and Israel and Lebanon and all of that

[00:16:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Don't know I don't have a good answer for you. I wish I did but I all I all I see are reports and

[00:16:26] [SPEAKER_00]: people who are

[00:16:28] [SPEAKER_00]: You know not seeing help

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER_00]: They get amplified those voices get amplified

[00:16:36] [SPEAKER_00]: Because there is an incentive to do so people who are spreading

[00:16:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Stories that they have not confirmed are rewarded with the social media algorithms and

[00:16:50] [SPEAKER_00]: The outrage gets you clicks

[00:16:54] [SPEAKER_00]: And it doesn't matter if it's true

[00:16:56] [SPEAKER_00]: But to me it does it does matter if it's true and I don't know what like I said what assets specifically have been deployed

[00:17:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Versus what is available?

[00:17:08] [SPEAKER_00]: But I also recognize

[00:17:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Once again that the federal government is not going to be there to help you

[00:17:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Usually it's the opposite right usually it's your

[00:17:22] [SPEAKER_00]: It's your local and then your state and the neighboring states and we have seen

[00:17:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Report after report after report confirmed that that is what has been happening the amount of

[00:17:36] [SPEAKER_00]: supplies and

[00:17:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Personnel an aircraft

[00:17:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Chain saws and everything else that have come into the area

[00:17:46] [SPEAKER_00]: There it there are too many to go over there are so many reports of it

[00:17:51] [SPEAKER_00]: So there is a ton of help that has arrived

[00:17:53] [SPEAKER_00]: it just took a long time and it's going to take a long time and

[00:17:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Again part of it is the challenge of the topography and it sucks

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER_00]: It does

[00:18:03] [SPEAKER_00]: All right holiday season approaches and here's an idea give a gift that makes a difference with simply NC Goods

[00:18:10] [SPEAKER_00]: You directly support North Carolina's local artisans while gifting something truly unique

[00:18:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Simply NC Goods

[00:18:17] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a curated box service owned by two lifelong North Carolinians the boxes bring the best of North Carolina

[00:18:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Directly to your doorstep the boxes from simply NC Goods feature handpicked treasures from across the state think

[00:18:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Artisanal foods handcrafted beverages unique home decor skin care items pretty much anything NC

[00:18:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Every item shares a piece of North Carolina's heart and you'll discover new businesses in every box

[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_00]: There are boxes of various sizes and prices

[00:18:45] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's super easy to find the perfect gift for anyone and any occasion

[00:18:49] [SPEAKER_00]: The special holiday themed boxes are available for order now until October 15th

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_00]: So time is running out these boxes make great gifts for friends family even yourself

[00:19:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Don't miss out on spreading the joy with gifts that support North Carolina based small businesses

[00:19:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Just visit simply NC goods comm slash Pete and check them out

[00:19:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Simply NC goods comm slash Pete and thanks for being a part of simply NC Goods story

[00:19:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I

[00:19:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Just saw Elon Musk posted this on

[00:19:23] [SPEAKER_00]: the social media platform that he owns and

[00:19:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Twitter and

[00:19:29] [SPEAKER_00]: He said

[00:19:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'll just read this part to um

[00:19:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I just received this note from a SpaceX engineer helping on the ground in North Carolina

[00:19:42] [SPEAKER_00]: FEMA is not merely failing to adequately help people in trouble

[00:19:46] [SPEAKER_00]: But is actively blocking citizens who try to help and then here is the quote from his

[00:19:53] [SPEAKER_00]: Employee who is on the ground unless Elon Musk is lying or the person on the ground is lying or

[00:20:01] [SPEAKER_00]: There well, I mean it's he's got a quote here. So I'm assuming he just copied it and put it into his tweet

[00:20:07] [SPEAKER_00]: but

[00:20:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe there's a transcription error, but here is what he says

[00:20:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Hey Elon update here on site of Asheville and see

[00:20:18] [SPEAKER_00]: We have powered up two large operating bases for choppers to deliver goods into hands

[00:20:23] [SPEAKER_00]: We have deployed 300 plus star links and outpour is it has saved many lives

[00:20:31] [SPEAKER_00]: The big issue is FEMA is

[00:20:34] [SPEAKER_00]: actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own

[00:20:41] [SPEAKER_00]: It's very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping

[00:20:46] [SPEAKER_00]: We are blocked now on the shipments of new star links coming in until we get an escort from the fire department

[00:20:53] [SPEAKER_00]: But that may not be enough

[00:20:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Let me go over and get buddy on the program. Hello, buddy

[00:21:04] [SPEAKER_05]: Hey, how are you man? I love your show. Thanks, sir. I appreciate it

[00:21:09] [SPEAKER_05]: So I'm down here in Charlotte, but I have I'm from North Carolina all my family and friends are up in the mountains

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_05]: Spend my whole life up there. Are they doing alright? I talked. Yeah

[00:21:19] [SPEAKER_05]: Well, I have cousins still missing

[00:21:22] [SPEAKER_05]: But my nephew's family was able to get out last weekend

[00:21:26] [SPEAKER_05]: The problem is I checked with him to see if he's going back

[00:21:29] [SPEAKER_05]: I said I'll go back and help you this weekend and he said that, you know

[00:21:33] [SPEAKER_05]: Most of his stuff is still standing the problem

[00:21:36] [SPEAKER_05]: He's having is he's having to go back and forth because of looters in Asheville

[00:21:41] [SPEAKER_00]: We're in do you know where in the in is he in Asheville proper?

[00:21:47] [SPEAKER_05]: He's he's right outside of Asheville proper. He's in one of the major neighborhoods. Okay, but um

[00:21:53] [SPEAKER_05]: But I'm gonna tell you these aren't locals

[00:21:56] [SPEAKER_05]: Because I tell you local

[00:21:58] [SPEAKER_05]: Appalachian people are not stealing from their neighbors. These are people that either have come in or been brought in and

[00:22:05] [SPEAKER_05]: You know

[00:22:06] [SPEAKER_05]: It's whoever doesn't have anything left stand whoever has anything that's left standing

[00:22:11] [SPEAKER_05]: These people are coming in and trying to strip it from them and you know people need to need to know protect your property

[00:22:19] [SPEAKER_05]: I'm telling you that the Appalachian people that I don't know the rest of the country or the government realizes

[00:22:25] [SPEAKER_05]: These are the the immigrants that came here

[00:22:27] [SPEAKER_05]: That forged lives for themselves in the mountains to stay away from everybody else and they will fight for their land and their

[00:22:35] [SPEAKER_05]: Property and you know, I'm just saying protect your families protect your properties

[00:22:41] [SPEAKER_05]: Do not let these people come in and take things from you. No, yeah, I have seen scattered reports

[00:22:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I've seen scattered reports of looting and that occurs

[00:22:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Unfortunately in every one of these types of disasters. There's always that's why they put the curfews

[00:22:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's why they put the curfews in place is to keep people off the streets

[00:22:59] [SPEAKER_00]: And so if they see anybody they can then go and try to

[00:23:03] [SPEAKER_00]: You know talk to them and find out what they're doing and stop them from looting and that sort of thing

[00:23:08] [SPEAKER_00]: But if part of the problem also is that you've got a very large portion of the housing

[00:23:16] [SPEAKER_00]: In in the mountains is owned by people as a second home. It's not their primary residence

[00:23:23] [SPEAKER_00]: It's like the number one location for secondary homes in the state

[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_00]: And so you have a lot of people from out of town that have houses there that are filled with stuff

[00:23:33] [SPEAKER_00]: And they don't live there. So there are a lot of there are a lot of opportunities

[00:23:39] [SPEAKER_05]: You see that and this was this is his primary home

[00:23:41] [SPEAKER_05]: His main goal was get his families to safety

[00:23:44] [SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, and now he's having to go back and forth to protect his property and it's ridiculous

[00:23:49] [SPEAKER_05]: And it's so disheartening you know, I'm a neighbor shark Ian

[00:23:53] [SPEAKER_05]: I've grown up here all my life a backpacking camp all over the mountains

[00:23:56] [SPEAKER_05]: I have people that I grew up with here

[00:23:59] [SPEAKER_05]: That have have just badgered me about saying hey

[00:24:03] [SPEAKER_05]: We need to take care of our people before we send more money overseas and they have just berated and badgered me

[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_05]: And it's like these are their family and friends too. You know, it goes way beyond Republican and Democrat

[00:24:15] [SPEAKER_05]: This is this is turning into anti-American. I mean you don't I don't care if you're Republican and Democrat

[00:24:22] [SPEAKER_05]: You're my friend and you're my family. You're my neighbor

[00:24:25] [SPEAKER_05]: We're here to help and there's so many people that are that are so

[00:24:31] [SPEAKER_05]: Stuck on the whole hating orange man thing that they are not willing to lift a finger because you know what?

[00:24:39] [SPEAKER_05]: You know, that's that's not part of our agenda and it's like this is our country

[00:24:43] [SPEAKER_05]: It's all of our country and we need to take care of each other. I agree

[00:24:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I actually I got very angry at a caller earlier this week

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Except he was going the opposite direction. He was he was sort of

[00:24:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Giddy at how you know, Asheville

[00:25:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Filled with all of the leftists, you know that oh, yeah

[00:25:05] [SPEAKER_00]: How now they're gonna have to rely on fossil fuels to save them and all this other stuff

[00:25:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And it's like I don't like that

[00:25:11] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know but you're like you have to be so warped on politics

[00:25:16] [SPEAKER_00]: To to go to that kind of a place so soon

[00:25:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Like there's going to be we have the rest of our lives to go through the politics of the response

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But right now the response has to be what is the first order and the first order is saving lives giving water giving food

[00:25:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Giving shelter and and medicine. That's the first order

[00:25:40] [SPEAKER_05]: Yes, and you know what? I don't care how many Democrats or liberals are up in Asheville

[00:25:45] [SPEAKER_05]: But you know what they're not all and their people and they're Americans right and you know

[00:25:51] [SPEAKER_05]: Pete thank you so much for your program. Thank you my call. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest

[00:25:55] [SPEAKER_05]: I'm going up there this weekend with him to help protect his property

[00:26:00] [SPEAKER_05]: And I just died anybody that has

[00:26:04] [SPEAKER_05]: Property and belongings that are still there protect your property. I got you buddy be safe man

[00:26:09] [SPEAKER_00]: So much our Pete. All right, buddy. See ya. Thank you

[00:26:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's that is one of the that is one of the the real challenges is that people come in to these disaster areas

[00:26:23] [SPEAKER_00]: But also people that live there locally people get desperate right? That's another aspect to this is that people are desperate

[00:26:29] [SPEAKER_00]: You haven't you haven't had any water?

[00:26:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I keep saying this is the rule of threes

[00:26:34] [SPEAKER_00]: three weeks without food three days without water you're dead and

[00:26:39] [SPEAKER_00]: People get desperate

[00:26:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Have you been a week without food? I never have been a week without food

[00:26:46] [SPEAKER_00]: People get desperate. So I've heard stories of people getting robbed

[00:26:53] [SPEAKER_00]: That's why there's a curfew

[00:26:56] [SPEAKER_00]: This and that like it's one of those this is one of those times where you

[00:27:01] [SPEAKER_00]: You realize you see how close to

[00:27:06] [SPEAKER_00]: disorder

[00:27:08] [SPEAKER_00]: All of this really is

[00:27:11] [SPEAKER_00]: we live in this sort of shared fantasy of

[00:27:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Like we've got everything figured out everything's going good just go down to the store and get your stuff and

[00:27:23] [SPEAKER_00]: You need something you go get it and you get stuff delivered and for the most part. This is an ordered society

[00:27:32] [SPEAKER_00]: That's why they call it the thin blue line because like

[00:27:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Once that line is is obliterated. It's chaos

[00:27:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Absolute chaos. It's the breakdown of the society and so when you don't have law and order

[00:27:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Then you get people that take advantage

[00:27:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Because there are no repercussions they believe

[00:27:52] [SPEAKER_00]: So when I was a kid my grandpa died with Alzheimer's and before he died my mom and my dad and all of us really helped

[00:27:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Take care of them as he got progressively worse 40 years ago

[00:28:01] [SPEAKER_00]: There were no treatments and not much support for caregivers and family

[00:28:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Things are different today because of the work of so many people including the Alzheimer's Association of Western North Carolina

[00:28:11] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a great organization with awesome people. They've got huge hearts. I've been a supporter for like 25 years

[00:28:18] [SPEAKER_00]: This cause means a lot to me

[00:28:20] [SPEAKER_00]: I participate in the annual walk to end Alzheimer's and I am leading a Charlotte team this year

[00:28:26] [SPEAKER_00]: It's called Pete's pack you can sign up and join the team and walk with me

[00:28:29] [SPEAKER_00]: It's on October 19th at truest field in Uptown sign up at ALZ.org

[00:28:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Slash walk and then just look for my team Pete's pack and there's also a link in the podcast description here

[00:28:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Also, I'm gonna be emceeing the Gastonia walk on October 5th

[00:28:45] [SPEAKER_00]: So make a team and join us or make a donation to help me hit my goal

[00:28:48] [SPEAKER_00]: I would really appreciate it

[00:28:49] [SPEAKER_00]: There are a bunch of other walks around the Carolinas and you can go to ALZ.org for all of the dates and locations

[00:28:57] [SPEAKER_00]: We are closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer's and if you can help us get there

[00:29:03] [SPEAKER_00]: We would really appreciate it

[00:29:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Will you come walk with me for a different future for families for more time for treatments?

[00:29:09] [SPEAKER_00]: This is why I walk. Let me give a shout out to the Union County Sheriff's Office

[00:29:14] [SPEAKER_00]: They have deployed eight deputies a mobile command bus

[00:29:18] [SPEAKER_00]: several specialty vehicles and a drone operator to Buncombe County to assist with search and rescue missions and patrol duties

[00:29:26] [SPEAKER_00]: emergency communications

[00:29:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Telecommunicators have been assisting with answering 911 calls

[00:29:33] [SPEAKER_00]: From some of the impacted areas and helping to coordinate emergency response efforts

[00:29:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Again, this is a big problem on

[00:29:43] [SPEAKER_00]: The communications front

[00:29:46] [SPEAKER_00]: When you know you're trying to deploy

[00:29:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Police or fire or rescue or something to to an address

[00:29:53] [SPEAKER_00]: And they don't know where it is. They can't they don't know how to get there

[00:29:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Because there are very very few straight roads in the mountains

[00:30:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Very very few of them

[00:30:07] [SPEAKER_00]: a

[00:30:10] [SPEAKER_00]: crew of ten Union County water technicians are assisting with repairs to the water and wastewater infrastructure in the Asheville area

[00:30:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Union County water staff delivered a generator to the town of Clyde in Haywood County, which they are free to use

[00:30:28] [SPEAKER_00]: indefinitely

[00:30:31] [SPEAKER_00]: They've got a whole bunch of other personnel public health nurse

[00:30:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Environmental health specialists social service team members

[00:30:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Also, some county employees have requested and been approved to use paid time off to volunteer with community

[00:30:46] [SPEAKER_00]: organizations providing

[00:30:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Relief in the mountains also multiple fire departments in Union County have deployed firefighters to fill critical roles in search of rescue operations and

[00:30:57] [SPEAKER_00]: finally in the press release from the Union County government

[00:31:02] [SPEAKER_00]: For those looking to contribute to disaster reliefs. You can go to UC cares

[00:31:06] [SPEAKER_00]: The website UC cares

[00:31:09] [SPEAKER_00]: And they encourage residents to coordinate with official organizations to ensure donations aligned with the needs of the affected areas

[00:31:17] [SPEAKER_00]: This is also one of things like as the as the the supplies pour in

[00:31:25] [SPEAKER_00]: You you don't want to end up with like what we saw at Hurricane Maria

[00:31:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Puerto Rico right where you have an entire warehouse filled with supplies due to mismanagement, right? So

[00:31:38] [SPEAKER_00]: You want to you want to work with organizations that know what they're doing

[00:31:43] [SPEAKER_00]: So in other words like not FEMA. No, I can't I kid I kid FEMA

[00:31:50] [SPEAKER_00]: They put out if they put out a fact check

[00:31:53] [SPEAKER_00]: so

[00:31:54] [SPEAKER_00]: they took some time off from

[00:31:58] [SPEAKER_00]: You know assisting everybody that they've been assisting in order to correct the social media rumors that are out there

[00:32:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I have it. I printed it out

[00:32:07] [SPEAKER_00]: They and now I see they put out a tick-tock video which is a fantastic use of your resources. I

[00:32:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Know people watch tick-tock. I get it

[00:32:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Let me go over here and talk to Judy. Hey Judy welcome to the program

[00:32:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Hi, hey, how are you?

[00:32:26] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm good. Thank you. Good. You're all right. You're you and your family and friends accounted for well

[00:32:33] [SPEAKER_02]: As far as I know I have finally contacted two of my cousins

[00:32:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Who I had not heard from from a walk for a while

[00:32:42] [SPEAKER_02]: And night before last I finally got in touch with them. Good and I still have lots of people in Avery County

[00:32:51] [SPEAKER_02]: lots of relatives

[00:32:53] [SPEAKER_02]: distant relatives and

[00:32:56] [SPEAKER_02]: Especially my mother's house who that I sold that I was raised in

[00:33:02] [SPEAKER_02]: But I had a neighbor that had sent us film of

[00:33:06] [SPEAKER_02]: The tow of the big horse creek coming down our village now I was raised in Minneapolis

[00:33:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Which is on 19e and there's villages. There's cranberry. There's

[00:33:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Minneapolis there's of course Newland is the county seat

[00:33:25] [SPEAKER_02]: But all the way down 19 day it was

[00:33:29] [SPEAKER_02]: disaster plum tree is another one

[00:33:32] [SPEAKER_02]: but I

[00:33:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Kind of slept well last night seeing my mother's house still standing. It's made out of the

[00:33:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Mountain stone and I guess that's truly what saved it and

[00:33:48] [SPEAKER_02]: The church not far next door to it actually

[00:33:53] [SPEAKER_02]: has a little damage in the basement but it's made out of the stout the same mountain stone

[00:34:01] [SPEAKER_02]: But I left there after going to App State met my husband

[00:34:06] [SPEAKER_02]: We lived in Rochester, New York for 50 years

[00:34:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I moved back to be close to two of my children who are here and

[00:34:15] [SPEAKER_02]: My daughter has a summer homing bone and they left this morning going up to check on it to see if they could get up to it

[00:34:24] [SPEAKER_00]: So well, I'm glad your family and the people you've been able to contact. I'm glad that's positive news for you

[00:34:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And

[00:34:32] [SPEAKER_00]: God bless you, Judy. We appreciate the call. I appreciate the call stay safe and best for your your

[00:34:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Your kids on their travel up there to check on the property. All right, that'll do it for this episode

[00:34:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening

[00:34:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I could not do the show without your support and the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast

[00:34:50] [SPEAKER_00]: So if you'd like please support them too and tell them you heard it here

[00:34:53] [SPEAKER_00]: You can also become a patron at my patreon page or go to the p calendar show calm again

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening and don't break anything while I'm gone