“Just returned from Western NC after assisting with CrowdSourceRescue in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The devastation across Asheville, Swannanoa, Brevard, Cedar Mountain, and Black Mountain was catastrophic. Here’s what we witnessed:
- No FEMA, Red Cross, or National Guard: We saw no federal presence until the last day we were there—just three National Guard trucks. Local communities were left to handle relief on their own.
- Deaths: Over 500 body bags had been used in Buncombe County alone, the emergency teams we spoke to said they were almost out completely. Nearly everyone we spoke to in Swannanoa knew someone who had died or watched people die. At one point we were checking a flooded trailer for survivors, when we opened the door eight bodies came pouring out with the water.
- Looting and Lawlessness: Illegal aliens were openly looting gas stations and other businesses with no police intervention, especially near a Mestizo trailer park in Swannanoa, which is next to a prison. At one point we watched them leave their trailer, walk across the road to loot a gas station, and return home as though nothing happened.
- Police: Law enforcement was guarding Ingles distribution center, a main grocery store chain in the area, while looting and crime went unchecked. It appeared they were using it as a headquarters while citizens were left to fend for themselves.
- Privately Owned Helicopters Told to Stand Down: Despite delivering crucial supplies and playing a critical role in saving lives, private helicopters were ordered to stop their missions, with no federal aircraft assisting or present.
- Community-led Efforts: We drove an off-road 4Runner loaded with $1,000s worth of non-perishable food, water, sanitary items, first aid supplies, solar panels, battery banks, a Starlink for communications, two-way radios, rifles, pistols, ammo, plate carriers, extra gas, chainsaws, shovels, camping gear, and freeze-dried food. Locals used ATVs and trucks to reach areas cut off by washed-out roads. The entirety of the rescue efforts we observed were being carried out by civilians.
- Infrastructure Destruction: The area looked like a post-apocalyptic war zone. Cars in trees, houses sitting in the middle of parking lots, roads and power lines destroyed as far as the eye can see, trailers and debris littering the surrounding fields. Bridges were destroyed, trapping residents for days and preventing either side from transporting supplies or wounded. Power crews from out-of-state worked tirelessly to restore electricity, but many areas were still without power when we left.
- Total Isolation: Some areas were so remote we had to backpack food and water in after driving as far as possible.
- Rich Lithium and Quartz Deposits: Worth noting that the region contains valuable lithium deposits and high-purity quartz mines, which have attracted major investment interest from the usual companies like Blackrock. Residents of these areas have been protesting expansion efforts by the companies controlling these mines for years now.
The news is massively downplaying the destruction and death these communities have suffered. In my opinion this disaster has shown how vulnerable these communities are and the shocking lack of federal support Americans receive when disasters like this occur. The people of Appalachia were left to fend for themselves, reinforcing the critical need for prepping and self-reliance.”
billions of dollars than they are with a large portion of our own country in ruins.
