It's been twelve days since the southern Appalachian region was devastated by a hurricane made more powerful by human-induced climate change. Over 200 lives confirmed lost, 1000s more remain missing. The region has years of recovery ahead of it.
Twelve days. And still no official acknowledgment that #Helene even happened from either of the national city and regional planning organizations in the US.
Thousands of families without homes. Not damaged homes, *gone* homes. Swept down the river homes.
Tens of thousands of cars -- opportunity lifelines in these mountains -- flooded, totaled, buried in the mud.
Jobs gone. Businesses gone. Water and sewer systems gone. Roads gone.
Entire means of production gone.
#Planners, this is our bag. This is what we've trained for, what we tell people we're best at. WHERE ARE WE????
@Streetsweeper Oh, I don't think planners from outside the region have any business swooping in to take over (though no doubt many will try). But we do, as a field, need to at least acknowledge what happened and our role in it.
@DrTCombs I don't advocate outside planners either but I recognize the distrust of the locals in the actions of the local planners. I see the rugged individualism of those who have been in the area for decades playing a part.