Living in a Geological Transformation ~ Before and After

[@onestarabove7027]

Thank you for not splashing your face all over the screen and talking incessantly. Thank you for showing the people the respect they deserve.

[@GeorgiaReese-l6s]

Only halfway through and I can't bear to look at any more through my tears. This is a spectacular historical and scientific reference. You did a a very admirable job and you need to submit this for preservation to NOAA, the Buncombe County archives and other organizations. Job well done. Much appreciation.

[@Huskiedrive361]

Your video is very moving and the choice of no narration appropriate. The destruction speaks for itself and the hauntingly beautiful music gives a sense respect for the loss of life. May God bless and keep safe all the survivors as they rebuild their lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[@Carolb66]

This disaster will live on in the memories of many generations to come. I hope its never repeated. Every day there is another video & you think you cant shed any more tears, & you can. 😢💔🙏🏻

[@loloholmes2793]

Don't be too sure. The flooding in 1916 was clearly forgotten about. Maybe in terms of disastrous, the 1916 flooding wasn't as "epic" as this flood, but you also didn't have the infrastructure or amount of people living in the area. Time waits for no one & people forget because that's how our brain deals with trauma. What we won't forget is the lack of response by the Federal Government.

[@enough1494]

Hugo, Katrina, Irma and Maria….forgotten. I worked all four and survived three!

[@pksmith1275]

Well done video. The music speaks for itself. It's like it has a voice of its own telling this tragic story.

[@davidmiller6010]

Well done. Before and after helps to drive home the impact. Words cannot describe the emotions this brings forth. Suffice to say, something seems to be in my eye.

[@MichaelHayes-uj9od]

It makes my eyes sweat too

[@designsinorbit]

@@davidmiller6010 Well I have to say, making these when I'm living in it has been brutal. Lots of sweaty eyes.

[@maryefromky]

i live in eastern KY, not far at all from the parts of east TN that got hit. i live in a holler just like these places, these are my people and i love Appalachia. this breaks my heart. and it terrifies me that something similar will happen here, and it'll rain too much one day and our mountain will start coming down on us. it scares me to death. the flood waters are one thing, that's bad enough, but the landslides, good god. my heart goes out to anyone affected by the storm. i hope y'all can find a way to keep going. living in these mountains, we need to understand just how bad it can get when it rains too much. i'm evacuating before it gets anywhere near 20 or 30 inches, just 5 or 6 inches in a day and i'm out. i'm falling back to somewhere in the foothills to wait it out. the landslides scare me so, so bad.

[@7owlfthr]

Those landslides swallowed up so much life!

[@kbc1883]

This is SUCH IMPORTANT WORK you are doing. Thank you for doing it and sharing it with the world. I cannot imagine what you are going through. Just my own experience in Raleigh seeing whole city blocks gone in a day due to "revitalization" construction got to me enough psychologically that I moved to the country. So I can only just begin to speculate on what you may be going through as you process the changes that you are capturing, living in, living through, the community and landscape that is forever altered as well as the futures of everyone in it. This vital role you are playing by documeting both the before and the after is critical now for people to understand the scope and impact and for the future that it not be forgotten. I am sure it also has additional practical applications that I haven't even conceived of. Bless you!

[@designsinorbit]

Thank you for recognizing how hard these have been to make. The first one took 15 days of ridiculous pain in my heart. And constantly questioning whether this was OK to share.

[@CDcooper3876]

As a former AT thru hiker this country has a special place in my heart. Seeing destruction done to this tears a hole in my heart . Being from New Orleans and seeing the destruction of Katrina as the only thing I can compare it to. For some reason this disaster cuts me even deeper than Katrina did . A place so beautiful and inhabited by some of the very best people this country has to offer seeing these wonderful people lose so much and so many lives lost along with the permanent damage to landscape itself

[@WayneKim-dv6id]

I live in Cocke County, Tn the French Broad River is 3/4 a mile north and the Pigeon River is 1 1/4 west of my home. Hwy 73 along the Pigeon was terrible and hwy 25/70 along the French Broad River many rvs and homes were just gone. My home is in a valley on the side of a foothill. Anyone still missing is gone, my community and people of Cocke County are the Americans I took a oath to support and defend. This is the America and America I love. America is still full of red blooded Americans helping other AMERICANS that lost everything.

[@TawannainTN]

I know you probably already know this but please be careful with those waters. Some are reporting high levels of contamination. Much Love from Kingsport. Appalachian and Americans must stand together to tell the truth and never let them forget Appalchia.

[@jmalone2758]

@@TawannainTN Also, if you have cuts or scrapes you can get infected also just by contact.

[@nessahoyt3119]

i STAND WITH AMERICANS

[@suemanghelli2835]

I agree with ​@cntrygrlTawanna. You can see the leftover silica in the silt. Medical responders are recommending locals take at least 4 soil & water samples 6" & 24" down - send 1 to your state lab and 3 to outside independent labs for comparison. Spread the word. May God bless you and keep you safe, brother. Thank you for your service, too!

[@WayneKim-dv6id]

@@TawannainTN Thanks and yes I noticed the other day the water had a brownish tint to it. I filter the water and still skeptical on the quality of it.

[@_Coffee4Closers]

I know all these back roads through the Tenn/NC mountains well along with the Toe, Cane, and Nolichucky Rivers from my kayaking and raft guiding days in the 80's and 90's.. seeing the bank erosion and geological changes on these rivers, is unreal, I can't even imagine what I am looking at.

[@Wildwoods1212]

Same. I know these rivers and roads so well and it’s hard to find familiar landmarks now.

[@chernobobi]

The day of the hurricane my best friend and I drove to Waynesville from UTK because our families are there. My car got stuck next to the Pigeon River in the community of Crabtree. This was after the water subsided at 11:30 at night. The sound of that water, that same water I have fished in, played in, swam with my friends and family in; had never been so frightening to me before hearing that water in the darkness of night. I could only see the end of where the water met land on the "right bank" or east/north side of the river in Crabtree. It had pulled away entire sections of road and buried everything in several feet of mud in its immediate vicinity. Anything within 200 feet of the water was completely destroyed. Trees, road, bridges, vehicles, boats, fences, powerlines, and crops.

[@fancythat5136]

We used to own a home in Clyde on the side of the hill on Jessica Lane just below Crabtree. Just wondering if it survived. We loved that community. Prayers for all and so saddened to see this.

[@eartha911]

I grew up in Waynesville and had a cabin near the boy scout camp Daniel Boone. I lived for 32 years on the ocean north of Boston, Ma and worried about hurricanes and noreasters. I always thought the mountains were safe, and moved recently to the Va mountains. Obviously we are all subject to superstorms.

[@7owlfthr]

​@@eartha911 Especially if you happen to be where certain groups have interest!

[@julieduke1550]

So Sorry! You can never know, Mother Nature is brutal!🙏I hope you can come back to some kind of normalcy, Bless you

[@jamesmarshalla9333]

This is so horrible, I can’t even begin to imagine what the people of this country could even can do to fix what is gone. It’ll take years to fix this disaster, but the amount of support we have given them is overwhelming. God bless you all North Carolina and Tennessee! This is the true America I grew up to 😔😢!

[@gcrauwels941]

Some of these places are unrecognizable.

[@judithmoyle9101]

If you are a part of this community- we are so very sad for your tragic loss of loved ones,pets, community, homes, possessions, and lifestyle! An irreparable loss! May you know comfort and healing 🙏🏻🌹

[@DeborahHilson]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@karentucker2696]

Our hearts are broken. We Love all of you and continue to pray that God will keep you Mountain Strong. ❤

[@freespeech3]

It is so crazy to see where the water level was. To imagine a ton of water raging through there. Prayers and thoughts for strong recovery. Prayers for those who lost family..

[@markcollins5451]

As hard as it is to watch, thank you for shooting this and posting it. We live here in Madison County and I have been spending most of my free time the last few months prior to the flood at and in these rivers. I was in the Noly swimming 3 days before with hammocks set up. The area where I camped, even the trees are gone. It’s still sinking in after 20 days.

[@nancysmith-baker1813]

Hello so sorry for your loss . But I wanted to warn you now , do not go into the rivers . Animals are dying . rescue Dogg's that have gone in .also people are getting sick from the mudd and dust . There is possibly radiation Along with all sorts of bio hazards in the water now . Find out through local gov how bad . They mite not tell you to cover their ass s if you know what I mean . Take care .

[@sandrathompson1826]

Prayers for families who lived in the states effected by the storm.

[@deirdre444]

The drone footage and the hauntingly sad music makes me think of the viewpoint of the departed as they rose up and out of their fatal circumstances. God bless them on their journey.

[@suebee1436]

Same😢

[@Beckyjeaned]

The transformation of the Chucky is amazing. I'm also stunned by the complete flattening of the trees in certain sections; and I thought I had it bad to loose 12 trees in this storm. Perspective from just the next county over the mtns. Just how high were those "gusts" to wipe out such a large area? Speechless.

[@designsinorbit]

106mph recorded on Mount Mitchell.

[@thearmourboy3254]

The amount of rock that was moved out of these mountains into the river beds is insane. Sadly I'm afraid there is more to come because I think parts of it just loosened up but probably won't come down until the next major rain fall.

[@patiencekosko7095]

@thearmourboy3254 destabalization of terrain

[@patiencekosko7095]

Where are you going with all THAT BABY FORMULA

[@_Coffee4Closers]

@@patiencekosko7095 Don't do drugs, mkay.

[@Sheriffryewhiskey]

Highly likely Y'all all be careful and prayers brothers and sisters

[@neilhunter5349]

We will feel an see this disaster for years to come , keep praying for all that we're affected

[@genelyda1102]

I believe you 😢😮in a lot of ways we can not see now 😮😢

[@macpduff2119]

For. generations to come. Indescribable tragedy to see such beauty destroyed.

[@Girlinthemtns8448]

You did a beautiful job here. Thank you. I live on hwy 80 in Mitchell County and often walk the woods down my back yard to the railroad tracks with my dog. Much damage down there now and the river is different. Our favorite swimming hole near the old diamond mica mine is now a wide beach with countless trees clogging up the old bridge. The water nearly reached the top of that bridge on that day. Thank you for this

[@jezalison3615]

I watched in disbelief at what I was watching.This destruction is of biblical purportions,the geology of this land has changed forever.As a drone pilot I commend your ability and may God be with this community.Truely amazing. Jez Alison from Telford east Tennessee.

[@LovinLnCottage]

Small correction: the geology has NOT changed, the GEOGRAPHY has changed forever. It is an important distinction. Continuing to live in this region will require coping with the geology and meteorology of this region. I am so very sorry for the loss of life, property, beauty and livelihood of all affected by Helene. My late husband and I celebrated our anniversary there in 2010. So many people have visited there over the decades and have fond memories of our time there. The country is grieving with you all and doing its best to support you through this terrible time in whatever way we can. ☮️💙🙏

[@douglassriverview8003]

I'm writing to you from Kingsport, Tennessee. We are the upper end of the former Clinchfield Railroad, now the CSX. We here along the best little railroad in the country, share your grief, your anguish and your pain. We are one with every community along the Clinchfield, from Spartanburg, to Marion, up the Loop tunnels at Altapass, into the forests at Spruce Pine, then up the North Toe to the Cane River, through the Nolichucky Gorge to Erwin, Johnson City and home to Kingsport, then through the tunnels and coalfields in Southwest Virginia, through the Breaks and to Elkhorn City. Our lives are your lives. We are your brothers and sisters along the railroad. We, like you, are tired of politicians' "thoughts and prayers." We want action to get our railroad back working again.. in rail traffic, there is progress as it has been for many years before most of us were born. We along the route stand with you. The Clinchfield rose like a sunbeam at sunrise at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries,, and it will rise like a phoenix from the trees and debris of this setback to be a driving force in the economy of the communities it goes through.

[@lizzb1065]

Can't believe someone else knows The Breaks exists! That's my hometown. A special little place... I would listen to those train whistles like a lullaby to fall asleep to as a little girl, long before we had cell phones or a TV in every room. Every town you mentioned was and still is such a beautiful place. We need to take better care of our Appalachian Mountains... The destruction in this video seems like it goes beyond nature fixing itself anytime soon... I hope the railways are fixed, too. If they turned them into a passenger ride just to view our beautiful mountains (kinda like the Blue Ridge Parkway but on a train instead!) I would absolutely spend money to enjoy that multiple times a year. It could help bring some much needed tourist income back to our small town areas. Best of luck, blessings to you and your family and to everyone affected by this awful tragedy Helene♡

[@margaretadekunle4017]

My heart goes to those impacted by this tragedy. May their souls rest in peace Amen 🙏. Speedy recovery to those affected. This film can actually be shown on big screens.

[@Twelve_Gauge369]

For everyone wondering I’m the kid on the dirt bike around the 10 minute mark

[@TnTAdventuresPhotography]

@@Twelve_Gauge369 I hope everything is good with your family.

[@Twelve_Gauge369]

@@TnTAdventuresPhotography We are all ok our only loss is our church that was on the river

[@kbc1883]

Oh, @Twelve_Gauge369, I am so sorry you and your community are going through this. That looks so very overwhelming... I imagine it is hard to even know where to start with clean up and repair. Do you have any power or running water yet? How are you getting your internet and other communications connections at this point? I saw you on that bike and just wondered what was going through your mind in that moment. Praying for you, your church, your community, and your future.

[@nicholast.minton1922]

Never saw you scrolled back and you still weren’t there!!!

[@ikeramsey9009]

@@nicholast.minton1922at 10:46

[@kendaledunlap9782]

Watching your home like this is heartbreaking. Knowing what it was and what we now have is just absolutely gut wrenching. It’s been a crazy experience.

[@laineywright2696]

Thank you for taking the time to share the devastation of this area with the public. Even the railroad tracks were effected and we all know what that means for goods with the big trucks being down in this area.

[@designsinorbit]

It's so strange not hearing train whistles anymore. Probably my favorite sound.

[@Greatdome99]

That's the mainline of the former Clinchfield Railroad, now part of CSX.

[@piquat1]

@@Greatdome99 CSX stated 8-12 months to get it back running. Looks like some of their right of ways are now rivers.

[@jeanhowarth1852]

Amen 💙 🙏

[@ApBarr345]

I was wondering if people thought just that while watching this. So sorry this happened and will keep praying for recovery and for the families of those that lost folks.

[@pineychristian]

The power of mother nature has no rival. Truly unbelievable!!

[@7owlfthr]

Especially when it is subverted by evil.

[@johnphillips2426]

@@7owlfthr stfu. Get out of the cult and have some respect for these ppl instead of spreading lies

[@judy-carolbell314]

Thank you for putting this video together so beautifully. The music is so very appropriate. Yet my heart cannot take if for the duration of the pictures. So I have watched about half of this one and another one without the sound.

[@solohoh]

Awesome, and heartbreaking -- the Appalachian Trail goes over this river near Erwin, TN --- I remember it well after 40 years.

[@R2D2C_3po]

Given the relatively short span of a human life, we tend to think of things like rivers and mountains as being permanent things, but they're not! Rivers can drastically change their course. Sometimes suddenly change course. Mountains can both rise and crumble. A volcano can give birth to a new mountain that didn't previously exist, even in the short span of a person's life. Mudslides can suddenly bring down an entire mountain as well.

[@bugoutadventures]

Still praying for these folks ❤ 🙏

[@MichaelHayes-uj9od]

I used to drive by the toe river in spruce pine a lot looks like it be years before I get back watching the people fly fishing was so relaxing

[@petgranny194]

Shocking footage. Excellent editing. Thanks for the links.

[@Catalina58601]

Even if you could run for higher ground this video shows that nobody was safe. Terrifying. I love that people can come together so beautifully in hard times. We all care about each other despite what the news tries to tell us. I wish you all a healing journey.

[@Ashestoashespetcrematory]

Very tastefully done. Drives home the devastation these folks are living thru

[@allenra530]

One thing that I am seeing is a LOT of down timber. Eastern hardwoods are valuable and a little bit of time spent identifying and cutting those trees to the best length for the sawmills could result in some immediate income for the area. Hauling the logs out could happen as highways are repaired. Meanwhile, the log decks could be built on accessible spots away from the roads, to await road and highway repairs.

[@VasiliTimonen]

Windthrown trees have lost value, because the timber has been shocked and contains flaws. This can be dangerous if it's used structurally. The best example I know was when England was hit by a hurricane in 1987. In subsequent years, you had bats breaking at cricket matches because the manufacturers had been using windthrown willow wood.

[@fortusvictus8297]

Most of the wood that will be processed will be chipped and hauled off. Most of it will lay as is for at least 10 years if our experience in Katrina is any measure. Even oaks and rare woods like Eucalyptus are just chipped up and hauled off.

[@VasiliTimonen]

@@fortusvictus8297 Makes sense. Some folks ask what the different experience is for a tree that is felled or blown over. The answer is, the felled tree wasn't under stress. A windblown tree had huge tensile force on the windward side of the trunk, matched by compressive force on the leeward side. When the tree falls, the forces are reversed violently when it hits the ground and before it comes to rest, and that causes the damage. Windblown timber works up splintery for floor, furniture, veneer etc., so it's only safe for chipping.

[@richardbarry04553]

They’re going to have all the firewood they need for many years to come around that area.

[@VasiliTimonen]

@@richardbarry04553 OK for your furnace, but windfall wood needs kilning or seasoning for a long time in a dry place before it's safe to use on an domestic open fire. The moisture gets into it through the flaws, and so it throws sparks and embers when burning.

[@TungB]

I've come back to this video a couple times since. That music is hauntingly beautiful, combined with the footage, it makes me sob every time.

[@ginabrown6293]

Sure looks like some tornado action on a few of those hill tops. Praying for the people! 🙏🇺🇸

[@Michael65429]

I believe those were severe straight line winds. I live one watershed west of the Cane River and the mountains on our side have the same kind of damage like you see from straight line winds. The mountains around the Toe/Cane watersheds are generally too large for tornadoes to form. I've been a river guide for over 40 years and I've experienced a lot of bad storms. But this one... I have never been so scared by a storm like this one. The tree tops around my house were going in circles from the wind. So, after this storm, I believe anything is possible... 😅😮😮😮

[@Turk_2023]

@@Michael65429 There were tornados in these areas too, most happened the night the hurricane hit florida.

[@villagaiac55]

But why are so many trees down? Were there tornadoes? Make little sense in the hills.. or was it landslides? I'm very curious about the amount of trees down.

[@jamesbrumgard9066]

@@villagaiac55The trees are down, firstly due to all the rain saturating the ground, weakening the grip their roots held. Then you have the action of the high winds from the remnants of the hurricane pushing many trees over. The other major factor was gravity, with saturated soil becoming semi liquid, and lastly now this soupy soil and even more water from the run-off that the soil couldn’t hold all coming down hill. As the water accumulated in these flows, you had increasing volume; hundreds and thousands of gallons, perhaps very likely millions of gallons of water pulling down trees and loosening rocks and boulders. This created an enormous slurry of debris that scoured out tiny creeks into river beds. Widened every water course and taking with it so much from so many. Utterly shocking and stunning beyond words.

[@Wildwoods1212]

@@villagaiac55thousands of trees down. I’m in weaverville. I read it was combo of tornadoes straight line winds and wind tunnels topping 100mph on mountain tops. It’s shocking to see in person.

[@stevenpalmore4299]

In 1969 when agnus hit appalachia ..it took months to put together a list of the missing ..to day there are several dozen still on that list that never were found .

[@cajun1957]

Their DNA are in those mountains!!!

[@22000beachmom]

Love these video's so informational, thousands of us away from our properties and have no idea if they are still there of if we can get to them. Would love to see the Kona area river and the old train station.

[@dianecameron804]

Prayers for the families. This will never be the same. Such beautiful people and country and now overnight complete devastation. I built a house in Parrottsville Tenn in Clear Creek. I sold it and was wondering if that place in Cocke County survived?? Miss the good neighbors.

[@mamalor13]

I have a question. What river (or body of water) does this water all flow to? All the rivers involved. Did it continue its destruction all the way to the sea or where or what stopped it? This is horrific and heartbreaking. And I've only seen this area once. Sadly, I was there during covid and though we camped at 5 different campgrounds in North Carolina, we never got to have a conversation with anyone who lived in North Carolina. Your state is among my top 5 favorite states of the 25 I got to visit on my RV adventure. It was beautiful. It will be again! Prayers for all involved in any way in this tragedy. From west Texas.

[@DimereseiniNRobbyRavouvouRavou]

5 river basins drain to the Gulf of Mexico another 4 to the Northern Atlantic Ocean 12 river basins remain within This is the Appalachians mountain ranges they have huge rivers tributaries you know the velocity of floodings just huge fastest it is a deluge floods happens once every century they say other floods smaller yet they were already floodings some of those rivers before hurricane Helene even landed so where did all those clouds come from right If you watched most of those people who actually lived there their youtube channels it was blue skies some places on Friday September 27th 2024 rain finished and yet the rivers waters rose and more ferocious still hurricane Helena hasn't even reached western North Carolina yet weird right

[@mamalor13]

@DimereseiniNRobbyRavouvouRavou It seems strange to me that no place else seems to be flooding downriver as most floods do. I'm in Texas where we have some rivers in North Central Texas that, when flooded, flood all the way out to the Gulf. I grew up hearing of great floods along the Mississippi and it's tributaries. which would flood all the way to the Gulf. Are these rivers in open country all the way out to sea after leaving the mountains? Why are we not hearing of this flood not moving all the way out? I have been watching GeoModels on YT explain what actually happened to the land that helped this flood be so big. I have also seen videos where the channels were already bank to bank and threatening bridges BEFORE Helene arrived. One I watched today was a guy hiking to the top of the many debris flows. I'm so appreciative for all these videos as they have helped me understand what happened.

[@DimereseiniNRobbyRavouvouRavou]

@mamalor13 sometimes they open floodgates most probably to release excessive waters in floods to sparsely populated zones where there no have CBDs and the damages financially won't be a lot right Here in Fiji islands also they do that in Navua River last time the old hospital flooded badly so they had to abandoned it and build a new one just few Years ago up in a hillside the last flood it did flood badly the olden abandoned Navua hospital because they opened floodgates in another river link to drain it there so they flooded that side where the floodgate keeper at his house an Indian Hindu man hardly floods that side so they told him to open the flood gates a bit and later he can sell that portion of land as freehold land few months ago actually went there to see it meself sitting inside the vehicle as it was on for sale but anyone who doesn't know has bought it maybe he or she won't build a house there but just some farming and to look after the floodgate like the previous family

[@DimereseiniNRobbyRavouvouRavou]

@mamalor13 sometimes the floodgates keepers they do that to flood it because it aint a densely populated zone and yep not really lots of LOSS in terms of finance It is a normal practice for years to do that to look after the flood levels directions and whatevers

[@johnbrown6901]

My heart is broken for this community. I lived in Burnsville and miss these wonderful people. I pray for their safety and ask that you remember them this winter. Dear Lord, watch over those who need you, I pray.

[@dennismacphaeddon2185]

Looks like I wrote too soon, looks like the railroad is going to need a whole lot of rebuilding?Rail is the best way to move heavy equipment and supplies for rebuilding but it will need a huge amount of repair.

[@designsinorbit]

They have started building it back.

[@eileennavarrete9459]

I had no clue how beautiful the Carolina's are. 😮 The person flying this camera. Anyway you might have before pictures? I live here in Missouri come summertime you'll stand a better chance finding us at the river. Mother Earth is a quick healer. And us humans are at our best when things are at our worst. Thank You for the aerial view.

[@moonbellybaby6238]

Can you please tell me what drone you used? I make military drones at Jabil❤

[@mysecond8581]

I've lived on the west side of Yancey county for just over 10 years now and "Geologic transformation" is exactly what I was thinking... How many more "Signs of the Times" will people get to see before it's game over for this part of God's plan..?

[@hughjanus5518]

I live in extreme Western NC, Close to Murphy on the NC GA border and about 5 miles from the TN border, and we were thankfully spared but watching these videos leave me with a sense of guiltwas the models said this was supposed to be us but the storm shifted east about 100 miles, the night before i was very worried of what may come and the next day brought just some slight winds. I honestly hope people will learn from this and stop building so close to the banks of these creeks. I routinely travel for work and the amount of roads right on the banks of these creeks and rivers is quite concerning.

[@TnTAdventuresPhotography]

@@hughjanus5518 I'm in Easley SC. We travel to Dillard Ga thru Clayton weekly. The hwy 76 bridge between Westminister SC and Clayton was washed away on the Chauga River. The eye went east of there a few miles.

[@teresahendley5659]

It will likely take before videos such as these to reestablish property lines as the geography has completely changed.

[@101mazz]

I have fished that stretch of river a hundred times. Walked past those houses and along that rail line. It's a complete shock to see whats happened here and all the other places around where I live.

[@liann3881]

All gives fresh meaning to “A River Runs Through It”. Helene documentaries can easily claim the river ran through it and demolished everything. I learned the truest meaning of “mudslide” with Helene. It goes way beyond the ‘mud sliding’. Some of the boulders are massive! All the forest debris. Whole trees. We need better verbiage for the future.

[@bonniescreativegiftideas6622]

Yes I agree with your whole comment. This is heartbreaking to see. I live not too far away in East Tennessee and I just cannot grasp what I am seeing. I am a Native of Miami FL and went through numerous hurricanes in my lifetime. Even Hurrican Andrew which did tremendous damage. But these beautiful and majestic mountains is a whole other ballgame!

[@drvogel1]

Debris Flow is more descriptive. Watch ‘TheGeoModels’ video about the Nolichucky River flooding-very informative.

[@christinegomes3030]

“Landslide” ?

[@debbiemcclelland3507]

Catastrophic collapse? Mudslide or landslide just doesn't convey how badly this area was hit.

[@hraven7799]

True! Its similar to a Lahar. That is what came to my mind when I saw what happened. It’s like a rolling blender. So very very heartbreaking and scary.

[@pcs1824]

One of the geologist with videos on what happened around Craigton called it "DEBRIS FLOWS" rather than landslide.

[@halcooper4585]

Thank you for sharing your talent very eye-opening video one of the better ones I’ve seen

[@moonbellybaby6238]

Incredible drone footage 😢🙏

[@SmallWonda]

Prayers - it is amazing though, what the people have done in those 20-days... I just wonder at the poor people totally cut off - can they use boats on the rivers - although not without risk... Thanks for making a record and sharing - the damage would be very hard to appreciate without drone footage.

[@Debra.Justice]

This video is well done, and the music is perfect. It’s difficult to see how my area has been affected. I have family near Chucky that were evacuated. Thankfully they didn’t lose everything. I live in Knoxville and while we had heavy rain and flooding, it wasn’t to this extent. After witnessing an event like this, it’s humbling to realize how powerful Mother Nature is and how there’s very little man can do to stop her. God bless my family and friends.

[@jonathanwhitson802]

The house at 218 was my grandfather Brisco Peterson now owned by his granson mark hughes.

[@mr.christopher79]

hello fellow hughes kin

[@lucmarchand617]

The clean up will take a while.the road rebuilt is right move use rock.Calgary alberta 2013 got floods peoples nc need inside mind this will take a while major upgrade need road and railroad need sheet piling.Cpkc railroad spend a lots upgrade base.this is tough and rough situation just take one days a time pure simple.thank you video😮

[@johnhart125]

A lot of wood to be harvested and udsed for rebuilding but will take yrs of sweat and tears. God help you all.

[@villagaiac55]

Nice footage- well done

[@GarryWills-cn8nn]

I'm writing to you and all of my mountain and country folks from here in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Alabama,Mt Cheaha to be exact,my heart goes out to all affected by this hurricane and all that was lost, I've been praying for you all and will continue praying! You folks are God fearing,hard working and loving folks that care about one another and no matter what life throws at us,we never lose our faith in God, family and country that he is always with us and will never forsake us, may God bless you all!

[@dennismacphaeddon2185]

Looks like the railroad road bed is in decent shape ?

[@midgardens8938]

We live here above Damascus VA and it looks just like this ... there are 1000 little mountain towns built along the rivers here ... the death toll will be in the thousands and thousands and it will take 10 years to rebuild what was lost ... if it can even be replaced ... so much of the charm these places hold comes from the way they were built ... in the old ways and those ways seem more lost by the day ... Hold fast to god and one another

[@rickfry6031]

It seems to be able to live where nature and people/civilization come together is going to take some re-thinking.

[@sonnyjimm23]

Just wondering if the original road was level with the train track height, or was it below the tracks more level with the river? Hard to tell from the before view.

[@designsinorbit]

Original road below the tracks.

[@pumpupjam9648]

The river is beautiful, how it curves around some bends. Just putting myself in the shoes of the forefather's who came through her after the Indians owned it. Maybe it wasn't this furious (due to Hurricane and landslides) but in it's own beauty. Sad now along this stretch to see it devour up homes, and one time dear neighbors and their lively hood.

[@liann3881]

I will ask, how did the train tracking stay intact? Yes, it was lifted off the rails, but the track stayed together.

[@bw4t]

It's continuous welded rail. The rail is bolted to the crossties. That allows railroad track to stay together even when it is washed off the trackbed.

[@hughjanus5518]

The rails are fused together.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

If Helene hadn't shifted to the East this would have been my yard. My wife and my lives were probably saved because of that shift. I was scared out of my mind. I'm so sorry for those that were affected by this brutal storm. R.I.P.

[@anitaaseltine6127]

Keep praying for everyone please 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@pegz.3959]

So incredible and so sad. 😢

[@billb7274]

just starting to view... oh man, very nice work of devastating conditions.

[@gibsonfan159]

Have you done a video on the stretch between red hill and green mountain?

[@designsinorbit]

@@gibsonfan159 I haven't been in that direction YET. But soon.

[@billmurphree344]

A transformation when viewed in human lifetimes, but has happened many times in geological context. Is a reminder to people to try to think in geological terms when deciding where to place themselves.

[@suebennett9804]

Was raised in this neighborhood,77 flood was bad but this was a lot worse don't even look like the same place

[@Fireonthemountaintop]

@ZeihanonGeopolitics This is the rail line that goes to the silica mines in Spruce Pine that you recently spoke about.

[@carlgothard9644]

The trees look like a tornado just kept circling... so sad! Ive still yet to talk to my cousin and his family. Praying he'll reach out to me soon. Or at least his son, wife, or brother..

[@dannysgirl1549]

I pray that they are able to find all of the people that have been lost to this disaster. The families need to know where their loved ones are so they can be laid to rest.

[@fl4us824]

GOD BLESS ALL WNC and NE TENN. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!!❤

[@allenhughes12]

At 8:20 you can make out my great grandfather Tipton's barn and house in the upper left corner.

[@cap2c484]

Geological transformation is the best way to describe this. It will be ongoing because with each heavy subsequent rain, all of the exposed soil from the tens of thousands of uprooted trees due to the wind and saturated soil will unleash tons of sediment, further transforming the geology of the region.

[@jeannemarieskarina9074]

Does anyone have a resource that says how many bridges were destroyed, how many miles of roads wiped out or unstable?

[@missf4681]

What an amazingly beautiful place

[@CjbrkBrooks]

Great video. Thank you.

[@douglasdeyton]

I grew up floating and fishing the Toe and Cane River and it is sad to see destruction. There are still many missing souls.

[@David-tb3oo]

Very nice video so heartbreaking to watch

[@wendibernhardt9190]

Total devastation that river water really got high. Amazing the power of mother nature. Prayers for all

[@OWK000]

I was wondering how they were going to make re-make roadways when the ground is just gone. Fill, rocks, etc. Heck these creeks and little rivers aren't that big and don't take up THAT much room. I am guessing the old road used to be at the same level at the railroad tracks. Truly shocking. Also half the trees have been knocked down on that one area of mountainside. HALF the trees. Gone.

[@garymisenheimer]

I sat in my truck in Busick NC and watched it rain 31 inches.

[@BigBirdy100]

Are the trees way up the side of the mountain that are fallen or brown, is this from flood waters or high winds? Both sides of the river are not like this.

[@designsinorbit]

Stripped of their green leaves by wind. Then some knocked down. They were all alive.

[@nielgregory108]

There were a number of suspected tornadoes. And that looks like one.

[@VolinDueno]

Who else also watched it four times?

[@chevypu4]

This is horrific, I own an older drone and started having issues with it a couple of years ago and just set it aside I think I will send it out for repair, this is a testament to the power of mother nature 😢

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

I survived Hurricane Michael's eyewall & the damage was terrible, but we did'nt get the water like here. Water is way worse than wind. Someone should try looking for gold in all the bedrock that's been uncovered.

[@kframe764]

Where is this?

[@BigBirdy100]

Everyone needs to know about the flood of 1916 which is very similar to this flood.

[@SeanNewhouse-mv9ez]

Some similiarities to areas in the pacific N.W ive lived at