Tab Combs @DrTCombs@transportation.social
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Transportation resilience expert. Studying, teaching, learning, tooting about 🚶♀️🚲 🚌 & 🛣️, with occasional outbursts about dogs, kids, & gardening. Searchable on tootfinder. Opinions my own.
Not anti-car, just anti-carbrain. A person, not a data point.
Support local communities affected by Hurricane Helene in Western NC: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RR5HML5ni83NdVodRGp2NZvyDJ_HtiAgw3J-IlMtPuA/edit?usp=sharing
Joined Nov 2022
Just please make sure you are separating the causes of the disaster playing out in #WNC from the people whose lives have been upended by it.
Have the hard conversations. Have them now. Demand accountability from our leaders. Demand change.
Be loud. Cause a ruckus on behalf of those who can't.
But also make sure the people who are focused on saving lives, finding loved ones, distributing food, water, and medicine, getting people to safety are able to do their work without distraction.
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There are clear links among politics, climate change, & disasters. Conversations about them need to be happening--now, and everyday.
I am **not** engaging in those conversations at the moment, as I'm focused on connecting people who need help with people who have help to give.
I know how badly these conversations are needed, and I'm glad they are happening.
#Helene
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Disaster Preparedness Lessons (so far) from observing the disaster in Western North Carolina the last few days:
1. Stay on top of emergency water supply. Lack of drinking water is the biggest issue (and continues to be an issue) in Western North Carolina, people without anything to drink after a flood. This would be an issue in California after a major earthquake, too.
2. Write down the phone numbers for out of the area contacts and put them with emergency supplies. A number of outbound messages were not delivered due to incorrect phone numbers and inability to remember/pull up phone numbers from phones/etc.
(continued) #DisasterPreparedness #disasters
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Here are maps and other resources that are updated:
- WNC Landslide Hazard Data Viewer (from @unc_asheville) https://unca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e9f79de934f24e40a71bab8db8050612
- Coastal Emergency Risk Assessment (from @uncchapelhill) https://cera.coastalrisk.live/
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Hello. Here are trusted .gov and journalism outlets on this platform, doing work in WNC:
NC:
- @ncdotcom: Department of Transportation
- @nc_governor: Governor's Office
Journalism outlets:
- @theassemblync: Statewide, investigative coverage
- @blueridgepublicradio: On Instagram, radio, liveblog
- @wataugaonline: News outlet for Watauga. Has great list of school closures: https://wataugaonline.com/closingscancellations/
- @avlwatchdog: investigative journalism in Asheville
I've set up an autoresponder on my email to help draw attention to the situation unfolding in #WNC. Feel free to modify/copy. #Helene
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I am currently focused on helping address the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western NC. Anything unrelated to response and recovery efforts will be delayed. I appreciate your understanding.
To learn more about the impacts of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and how you can help, please follow Blue Ridge Public Radio: https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene*
One of the best sources of news about what's going on (and how to give and get help) in #NC is #BlueRidgePublic Radio #BPR
https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene
#Helene #WNC
It's painfully obvious how little information is getting out about the catastrophic impacts of #Helene on the southern Appalachians. Please help spread the word. The entire area is devastated. Death tolls in the hundreds and climbing. Tens of thousands of people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.
The impacts will be generational. Share and help, please.
ICYMI #Helene #volunteering #NCTriangle
Day One Relief is looking for people to help sort and pack donations to be shipped to #WesternNC
Sign up sheet: https://forms.gle/qVXXMMDxhwWcKpZs6
#Asheville area: Google doc listing resources (food, water, gas, internet, pharmacies) and their locations:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/154hYrmMKWNKWIwcTkUP8GhcAn4z4LXnFr2AKMgv3Qik/edit?usp=drivesdk
#ConcordNC area --
Operation Air Drop is collecting donations to fly to places in need across #WNC
#Asheville
Summit Coffee in the River Arts District is gone, but are giving 100% of their online sales this week to their (now unemployed) staff. I went to college with the owner and can vouch for this
In the Morganton area. Christy is a longtime friend and trusted helper
#Helene #volunteering
If you are near the NC triangle, Day One Relief needs help sorting and packing donations. Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOylKgzPI3ezJCmhz7JYDFU-pMdPfrESnz2QM4h9NCXqEbZQ/viewform
Big list of ways to give and get help for folks affected by #Helene, vetted by @triblogblog
#NC Dept of Public Safety has a website with resources to help those affected by #Helene in #WNC
https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene
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NC Department of Public Safety
Rescue Operations Ongoing Following Helene, Needed Supplies Coming to Western NC by Air
Search and rescue operations remain underway in communities across Western North Carolina and supplies are being brought into the region by air following devastating impacts from Tropical Storm Helene. More than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters in North Carolina following Helene’s torrential rains.
If you have useful skills (can you safely use a chainsaw? Do you know how to fix roofs? Can you deliver babies?) and are in good health, there are organizations (like the one below) deploying volunteers to places in desperate need:
https://baptistsonmission.org/Mission-Projects/By-Mission-Type/Disaster-Relief/Hurricane-Helene?
PLEASE don't just head up there on your own. Odds are you'll just be in the way. Sign up with an established organization that knows how to get you where you're needed.
There have been very specific requests for gas-powered chainsaws, gas cans, unopened containers of mixed gas, and chainsaw PPE.
Other commonly needed items include:
Non-perishable food & baby formula
LifeStraws (or other super easy ways to purify water without power)
Heavy duty bags & totes
Heavy duty tarps
Generators
Coolers
Sports drinks & electrolytes
Bottled water
Bug spray
5 gallon buckets
Toilet paper
Batteries and USB power banks (preferably charged)
Heavy duty cleaning materials
- Pronouns
- She/Hers
- Sponsors
- https://ko-fi.com/drtcombs
Transportation resilience expert. Studying, teaching, learning, tooting about 🚶♀️🚲 🚌 & 🛣️, with occasional outbursts about dogs, kids, & gardening. Searchable on tootfinder. Opinions my own.
Not anti-car, just anti-carbrain. A person, not a data point.
Support local communities affected by Hurricane Helene in Western NC: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RR5HML5ni83NdVodRGp2NZvyDJ_HtiAgw3J-IlMtPuA/edit?usp=sharing
Joined Nov 2022
