The situation in western North Carolina that we reported on Saturday morning is only now coming into focus. The rains from the remnants of Hurricane Helene were devastating. Cities like Swannanoa and Black Mountain are almost completely destroyed. Asheville is cut off because all highways leading into the city are not only flooded, but broken and washed out in several places. The French Broad River is 21 feet above flood stage and has reportedly not yet peaked. Boone also suffered serious damage.

Basically everything is ruined or washed away. Housing, electricity, water, internet, cell service – everything is gone and it may take a very long time to get it back (Starlink could help restore communications, but of course even that depends on power supply and repairing the lines take longer without functioning roads).

There is no way to know yet how many people have died, but the reports are grim.

Here’s the other downside: People in Western North Carolina have very little food. The weather begins to change and they have very little shelter left, let alone warm (or even clean) clothing and bedding.

They can’t really get out, help can’t really come in yet and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Stories abound and Katrina comparisons have arisen. ETSU football coach Tre Lamb is here to talk about somehow getting to Charleston to play The Citadel on Saturday. Listen to this – it’s amazing they even tried – it’s been a harrowing journey. To get back to Johnson City, Lamb said they will have to drive through North Carolina and Virginia and then transfer, which will be a very, very long bus ride.

WNC can’t count on the Cajun Navy or boats getting in, partly because of the geography and partly because the roads are just so broken. Unfortunately, they won’t get close enough to do much. This is probably hard for them to accept since they have done such an excellent job in other disasters around the country.

The damage reports continue. Haywood City is devastated. The county recorded a flood level of 25.82 on the Pigeon River. Hendersonville is under water, and so is Cullowhee.

Mudslides, sinkholes and tornadoes also occurred in the area. It just seems endless and, as some people have said, very biblical in proportions.

This video comes from Tennessee and is absolutely horrifying. One of the dangers of flooding that most people don’t realize is debris, and by debris we don’t mean the big stuff, although that is certainly dangerous. The small parts are just as dangerous, if not more so, as they can get into your eyes and then you won’t be able to see. And then the big things and the currents will have their way.

The immediate problems will be finding shelter and food for the displaced. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has issues with Helene himself, has kindly sent planes to North Carolina to help with relief. You don’t have to like him or agree with his politics to be grateful, because the help is desperately needed.

We ask again: If you can afford to help, if you can help in any way locally, perhaps in your church, synagogue or mosque, then please do so. In the western part of our state there are cold and hungry people who are becoming more and more desperate. There are children who have lost their mothers and fathers and parents who have lost their children. There are bodies that need to be recovered and prepared for burial. We live in a time of political and social division, but it is time to put all that aside and act like Americans.

It’s time to help in any way you can.