Residents work to clean Watauga Lake despite lack of state, federal help

[@durgan5668]

That TEMA statement is worthy of contempt. Don't tell us, show us. You've GOT locals doing the work you should be doing, the least you could do is provide logistic support for that to continue.

[@joannamcpeak7531]

Thank you so much for your effort. Watauga lake is extremely beautiful and well worth it

[@guestuser4503]

Thank God for kind hearted people. Stay safe.

[@martyhanson1179]

If the state or federal govt. gets involved it will cost 20 million

[@boossersgarage3239]

Duh

[@timolexsey341]

I'm surprised that the company wasn't told to stop and given fines for not pulling permits and over stepping the boundaries of the government.

[@charlottecoolik9872]

God bless those guys helping 🙏🏽 ❤❤❤❤❤

[@sharonbowen4327]

This just goes to shows you we don’t need the government.

[@TeasLouise]

Have fun in your cave.

[@boossersgarage3239]

it does not, ur drunk

[@BobM.-to9ji]

Typical MAGA...... complain and whine about gov when they do not do enough and continue to complain when they do something. FDJT

[@u2mister17]

@@BobM.-to9ji

[@sharonbowen4327]

@@boossersgarage3239 Yep. You are a whinner after you get kicked put pf the bars..... Don't see you two doing anything to help..

[@snapon666]

to be fair I would think cleaning up the lake would be far down on the priorities list when roads and bridges are still out and people are still living in tents

[@allegorx58]

There are consequences for leaving the debris in the lake…including more flooding.

[@BobKarver]

I bet people like this can make 20,000$ go farther than TEMA ever could.

[@mikewatts3615]

This is great, thanks

[@ricktester2394]

Surprised the government isn't suing them for something..

[@johnyelton688]

Thank you

[@TheOmegaFleet]

It feels like bureaucracy only moves quickly when positive news makes headlines. When it’s a pain in the butt, it looks like everybody seems to drag their legs with cleanup.

[@suebee1436]

Yet our fearless leader still doling out money to everyone but these ppl

[@Laurie51097]

Emergency Management basically saying that they’re still thinking about it. 😡

[@davidvantassel401]

Well that's the problem, they'll spend 20 million dollars make in a plan to spend another $20 million dollars to execute it after they spend another 20 in research it's just outrageous we need to clean up the Clutter in our state and federal slash the regulation and save us trillions of dollars unnecessarily government entities

[@marcwguidry6198]

I don’t know why everyone thinks that the government will work on your time to clean up the aftermath of hurricanes, sometimes you have to clean it up yourself. We know all about that here in Louisiana

[@PunkN_JTM]

I tried to look for potential losses of life up the watauga river section and the Elk the 2nd week, i felt defeated before i even started. It was a task even getting a jonboat there..

[@katjones2781]

How did Lake Lure get cleaned up

[@philtittle4404]

TEMA "professionals" sits on their behind while regular people actually get something done.

[@Kevindramey]

FUNNY HOW THEY (TEMA, FEMA, AND THE FEDS) HAVE TO "FIGURE IT OUT" WHEN THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW AND CAN GET IT DONE IN A FRACTION OF THE TIME. DO WE REALLY NEED GOVERNMENT

[@charlii5917]

There is just sooo much everywhere that needs done

[@gordonplatter9162]

Trying to look at this from another way , Helena messed up so much and the federal government has done very little, on the local level they have alot to fix and have to figure out what is priority , in my mind, people roads are just that if main roads are out well this lake needs to be on the back burner, once roads are easily passable the bigger and more equipment can get in and out

[@oldskoold22]

Unless I'm incorrect with history... No, I'm not: The TVA began building the Watauga Dam on February 16, 1942. Construction was postponed on December 21, 1942 to divert funds to WWII-related efforts, then resumed again on July 22, 1946. The gates to Watauga Dam finally closed on December 31, 1948 -- and Watauga Lake was born. So, no private owners built the lake. Government did for flood control and recreation and eventually for the Appalachian trail to cross the dam. Glad some are maintaining the headwaters tho. Kudos. 1000 year events are hell! I was affected too and lost grandfathered structures on the New, as well as a camper that had 4.5 feet of water. Interestingly tho... Had their been flood control dams on the New up river, I would have been fine.

[@867diesel]

The government is worthless . As the old saying goes “ if you want something done you have to do it yourself “

[@barbrice721]

Thing is. If there are houses and cars in that lake. There are remains also. 😢.

[@phishENchimps]

get a good ol fashioned hillbilly log pull at the boat ramp.

[@Arrigo_Outdoor_Adventures]

I’m pretty sure it’s TVA responsibility to clean it up. It’s their lake…

[@zman4444]

lol you do NOT need government till you DO, pick and choose

[@user-ix4cr8gh5d]

Politicians are talking about what to do but yet Americans are actually doing the work 🤔 🙄. So they are getting paid to talk and others are doing it for free

[@ericstevens8131]

Hey WCYB, why don't y'all bother to say where you are? Like maybe in the title or description? You're not alone in this problem. Why do local news stations post things to youtube without bothering to identify where they are? I know it's easy to search your name, but it would be even easier if you just self identified. You do understand that youtube has a global reach, right? Sorry. It's a pet peeve of mine. I'm peeved right now.

[@coldspring624]

Funds have been shipped overseas by guess who?

[@charlottecoolik9872]

They might find my stepfathers sunk ski boat from.1994

[@bonniegettingthrumyday2866]

WHAT NO DISASTER PORK RELIEF?? SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

[@vernowen2083]

It's not about cleaning up the lake. Politics determines how political cronies can profit before the cleanup and I'm sure the bill would be well into 8 figures.

[@lucasgarza3500]

It all comes from us in part, Kleen it, So we can refill it.

[@jasongouge3875]

TEMA WHAT A JOKE!

[@mattcookeco]

You can thank Republicans for trying to attatch all sorts of garage to helene recovery funding, ultimately slowing the state and federal response

[@messagegoeshere741]

You mean food, clothes, shoes, blankets, generotors, RVs, heaters, etc? Trash huh. The gov has been real helpful with things like that havent they? Not.

[@Macmillan43]

Never count on government or god to help.

[@cjacob9875]

Govt reply, blah blah blah!!! Send rhis to President Trump and ask him to give These guys a contract & 100 more people and in @ two years it should be back to normal.

[@garycousino]

Hahahah! your delusional

[@jerry4256]

Trump's agenda is to cut back spending, so that idea will not work.

[@jasonfitzpatrick414]

Would it be possible to stretch a net across the lake and pull the debris to the shore? That might speed up the process vs. an Autumn completion time. Good job guys. Maybe TEMA can cough up some money for fuel.

[@jasongouge3875]

Push it to the dam. TVA will take care of it

[@ReneeMach-v6h]

Clean a lake pay that much money but your neigbors others are cold and hungry. Please its about priority and heart.

[@matthewgibbs6886]

you will get no help tax dollars are for other countries not ours

[@DAT240Z72]

Why should “The Government” ie your fellow citizens pay to clean up your lake??

[@JeremyJones-j2s]

Because we citizens have always paid TVA fees to fish / recreation or boat on it. Much more for a dock permit. TVA made 1.1 million from this lake alone last year just from the electricity generated from a 1954 investment. Can't hide $ but you can sure be all stingy about it...

[@mountainmyst9026]

As soon as your Red Governor asks for help he'll get it.....before Jan. 6th anyway.

[@sharonbowen4327]

Always an excuse

[@PunkN_JTM]

He reallocated Covid Money... And no one saw a dime.. he sent Trash National Giard equipment that is not even able to work properly, our taxes was wasted on garbage and Folks still hadnt gotten any proper aid in this region... Bill Lee needs to resign... He is not doing his job ...

[@Gatorsaquaticweedremoval]

Gators Aquatic weed removal llc has a little boat made for this.

[@regeniawilliams2965]

Stop paying they're asses!!!When we've been there before the hurricane u still had to clean up trash.U would see elders out there picking it up also.What do the park rangers an staff get paid for,to ride around an get in everybody's business?

[@ScottHarrison-dz6tz]

Texas and Louisiana...we pray 🙏 for your patronage

[@jimnorthland2903]

That barge needs sponsons right away. It would be awful to hear that the excavator is also in the lake.

[@SDune]

Call trump.

[@TeasLouise]

Musk & Trump just killed emergency disaster funding. The funding bill, H.R. 10445, contained provisions for allocating roughly $100 billion to relief efforts to aid Americans recovering from natural disasters, some $30 billion in aid to farmers, etc Republicans voted no on disaster funding the weeks before Helene. That was needed to re-stock money that was running low because of Hurricane Beryl in June and multiple tornado outbreaks in the spring. Then Mike Johnson refused Bidens request for Congress to break from fall vacation and vote for supplemental disaster relief after Helene. FEMA is basically out of funds. Now our military; first line of Federal defense in case of disaster, won't get paid. Many people are still homeless in Hurricane areas and despite the immense amount of work that's been done on limited funding it still looks like a war zone. Small businesses and farmers in particular are suffering, and $30B from this bill was a direct, small farm earmark. That's besides the $100B. If you have a minute, call your congressman. www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/musk-trump-government-funding-deal-shutdown-1235211000/

[@daviddiehl-gy2sq]

Or Elon Musk.

[@mamasmurf7830]

The narcissists that plan to cut EVERY social safety net? 😂 Wake up, yall. They care even less about any of us than the regular politicians do. It’s not a left/right thing. It’s a rich/poor thing.

[@samuelfink4799]

How much would he have to do to equal what Brandon has done?

[@TeasLouise]

@@samuelfink4799 Completely nonsensical reply. Going to guess you are a bot.