We Believed the Reports About Western NC - THEY WERE WRONG!

[@ThomasBranson-yv5ub]

I am a search and rescue chief and was doing a camping trip when the storm hit. It tore up all my gear and hit me hard. I did not know how bad it was until I got down to the Blue Ridge parkway. That was when I knew that God was with me during this time. The only thing I have that was not damaged is my K. J. Bible. Be safe out there and always let others know where you are heading and where you are at.

[@wildbearings]

Well said my friend. We spent over a week out with search and rescue and then search and Recovery in the Swannanoa area. All we're trying to communicate is is that there are some areas unaffected and we need to try to keep the western North Carolina economy going

[@ThomasBranson-yv5ub]

@@wildbearings amen, I agree

[@noosphericaltarzan]

I am so sorry. Where were you camped? I live in Fletcher in Henderson county. I was born and raised in Florida. I am fifty years old. I never witnessed anything like this. I cannot imagine what you went through.

[@ThomasBranson-yv5ub]

@@noosphericaltarzan I was up close to the N. C. Virginia line. That was the worst storm I ever experienced. Cannot wait to try it again.

[@noosphericaltarzan]

@@ThomasBranson-yv5ub I was born and raised in Florida. Will turn 51 in Jan. Went through this just outside of Asheville. I never experienced anything like it. I don't want to do this again. Maybe if it wasn't my home and if I don't have to see fatalities again. Like.. I don't think the people who should know better are really grasping how unusual this actually was. The amount of water that fell out of the sky, the wind speeds here in Asheville turning trees into flying rockets. Creeks turned into tidal waves, apparently. I live down here in Fletcher so I only saw the rivers flood. I just still don't quite understand what this was. Why are some places untouched and then other places destroyed? I don't mean the floods, but just wind damage in general.

[@donnamays24]

Waynesville and Maggie Valley wants the tourists..some damage in river side locations occurred but downtown is open and good..this time of year is the busiest season for these mountain towns…please come out and support these businesses…they need it now more than ever!…and yes I am a local!

[@wildbearings]

That was exactly what we were trying to communicate. Research the areas that are unaffected and go there and support the local economies. Avoid a second disaster

[@jr-xs9tf]

@@donnamays24 Clyde and Canton definitely got it worse than Waynesville and MV, but the main roads and service roads through them seem good.

[@charleysmusic6596]

Maggie Valley is my favorite place on God's green earth. ❤🙏❤

[@MikeStrickland-h4p]

We just returned from Black Mountain Friday and yes, the damage is severe! But, if other places are open and running, people should try to go and help the economy any way they can. Go to the opened part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore in Asheville,and the other towns that are open. This video does not imply that you should just forget the destruction, the lost lives, the horrific circumstances. This video is saying if people stop coming to NC, then this will be even more impactful long term economically! The state needs the tourist money to help the places and people affected. Gail

[@appalachianpatriot1796]

Disaster tourism is happening. I saw several people on bridges from out of state taking pictures of the damage to the point it held up traffic. People are coming to help still and definitely are adding to the local economy but that’s on the Tn side of the mountain. The NC side is definitely harder to access but I can imagine that will improve. The weird part is how you can see zero damage in so many places but make one turn and it’s complete destruction.

[@carolinalady7763]

NCDOT said to consider WNC closed. And so did the governor. Its not just the media.

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

tourists will go to affected areas and hinder our efforts open to local community only right!

[@liann3881]

That’s what we hear/read here in Michigan.

[@wildbearings]

That message has been lifted. There are certainly areas that need to be avoided and people need to research the areas they can go to and support the economy. That's all we're trying to communicate. Avoid the second disaster

[@wildbearings]

​@@NeverEndingFolkloretours should stay out of the heavily affected areas. That's why they should research where to go and support the local economies in the areas least affected.

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

@@wildbearings it will be the second if not careful with signs, cops, direction's, 100 people taking pics in Swannanoa not yet local only

[@durgan5668]

Was thinking of this exact thing. Some are trashing tourists, but let's be honest, that money is the lifeblood of some businesses in the area.

[@frankmartin8471]

People trash tourists but not the dollars they spend.

[@wildbearings]

That's exactly what we were trying to communicate.

[@Dudemieser]

Noone is trashing tourists. It's not a responsible move to invite people into a horrible situation like this. People who do come will have to do a boatload of research to find the little pockets of areas that were spared. I have been operating a excavator in the areas and I'm still finding human remains accidentally. I am sure today won't be any different

[@noosphericaltarzan]

It's not the tourists, or even the people coming to document the damage. We need people here documenting this to expose the government and media. What people don't want are randos coming into neighborhoods and photographing/filming victims without permission in the worst times of their lives as if they are a spectacle to be exploited. The people coming here to actually help and document what happened to counter the propaganda are by and large not doing this.

[@Dudemieser]

​@@noosphericaltarzanthat is absolutely right

[@hans747]

I live about 20 minutes outside of Asheville, and I think this is an important video. People need to do their research before visiting here. Right now, many roads are out, the streams have changed. Some of them are contaminated. Whatever hotels are open, are full of people who have damaged/lost homes and are living on FEMA hotel vouchers. But many of the towns are still good. I'd say right now, it's OK go to the farthest western part of WNC, from Sylva onward. But DON'T come to the damaged area to be a disaster tourist. You will just be getting in the way.

[@wildbearings]

That's exactly what we're implying. Go to the unaffected areas and support those local economies. Let's try to avoid the second disaster

[@maryannedaugherty8722]

​@wildbearings My daughter and I were looking for ways to help. Did our research. We will be spending Christmas at a B&B in Franklin, NC to support local businesses. Reservations made. So excited!

[@g.r.murphy8633]

Glad to see the update. Thanks Sam!

[@ashleyruppe6477]

If not so bad. Try to drive to some of those fly fishing spots. No roads. Any community with a river or even a small creek was demolished. I live here in western North Carolina. I was fortunate in comparison to some. We are three plus weeks out and a lot of community's still don't have power or a way to town. I have volunteered and you have no idea.

[@wildbearings]

Actually we do have an idea. We've spent more than a week with search and Recovery teams. The affected areas are terrible all were saying is that there are some areas that still are worthy of visiting. All in all trying to prevent an economic disaster by lack of visitors to the unaffected areas

[@janolopez7436]

Thanks for the positive update and nice Land Rover discovery

[@jasonmyers8278]

I live here. Noway I am getting the rivers around here for a long time. Mud is toxic. It has not rained in over a month since the storm. So now all that mud is now dust blowing through the air. Alot of roads have been destroyed. Now we get gravel roads. So much dust in the air now people are getting respatory illnesses.

[@fancythat5136]

We’re in Rutherford county and live above the Broad River. They had to let water out of Lake Lure which took a lot of debris and sewage. . After no rain for a month the water looks GREEN and nasty..many of our neighbors are on a well that sits on the river. I wouldn’t drink that water. They had it tested and were told it was OK???

[@jimmesser2025]

Can you imagine being a trout guide and saying yes we will go fish and watch the residents trying to gather there belongings and try to recover what is left of their homes

[@goodwaterhikes]

I was in touch with the Black Bear Resort in Hampton, Northeast Tennessee and they are open. 😎👍

[@rickhenry9003]

I hope with your fishing enthusiasm, when you fish the areas you are adding some financial support to this beautiful and devastated region. Many lives, homes, and livelihoods have been lost and this shouldn’t be forgotten or minimized

[@sandraryan2256]

Our Mountains will need alot of help

[@wildbearings]

In no way do we want to minimize the devastation and disruption and loss of all the locals. We just want to make sure it doesn't get worse with an economic disaster

[@rickhenry9003]

@@wildbearings Agree, and thank you. Directing folks to "safe" areas where the needed economic benefit of visitors won't become a burden to the economic need for ongoing recovery. This will be a long recovery. I am happy to be able to help individual friends and neighbors financially, as long as it takes.

[@kellypawspa]

Everything is now badly contaminated. I've heard reports of search and 4 out of 10 rescue dogs being dead by the next morning. The rest of them sickened terribly after tracking through the sludge. Please be really careful out there. ❤

[@deepattison9329]

I live in Brevard and lived near the Davidson River for many years. The damage is spotty and the contamination of the waterways will take a while to be resolved. If you planned a trip to WNC this fall I recommend that you contact the location for advice. There are areas in NC that no longer exist. There areas which did receive considerable damage so be forewarned. We still have road damage which make travel difficult or impossible at times.

[@wildbearings]

Agreed. The main thing is for people to research where they're going and contact locals to find out what their options are. There are plenty of places to hike fish and sightsee that were not damaged.

[@pamwirz7921]

Agree I ve spent the past weeks helping areas north of me. I live robbinsville NC. I hit ncdot road closure. Pretty reliable and you can search internet and check with areas you're going to.

[@sliver01]

A neighbor of mine and myself went through Spruce Pine, Bakersville, and up Roan Mountain. Stopped at one point at the Valley of Roan, many of the businesses were open wanting visitors. Stopped at an apple orchard store selling North Carolina apples was open, even ate at Mountain Holler restaurant - great place! Yes there was damage along the way, at point - a two way road was only one lane. But, it was up and running. These towns need us and others, help them.

[@flytyingzonedavehise]

Nice work, Sam.

[@CooperJones777]

I think it stems from the state of American education these days. I mean yes, the reports were out there about how "bad it was" but geography knowledge among those under.... say, fifty years old maybe, is sorely lacking. So, yes we can blame media for lying or exaggerating the breadth and severity of the damage in places that were hardly touched, but the real issue is someone hearing that Asheville got destroyed and thinking they can't go to Brevard or Waynesville or Bryson City, or that Newport, TN was under water so they need to cancel plans to visit Townsend or Gatlinburg. If people were more intelligent and had a little more education on geography, ecology, weather and any number of other things, the media's "extreme sells" content wouldn't be nearly as much of an issue. That said, thanks for making this video. Maybe someone who thinks Asheville got leveled will see it and wonder what else they've been told that "just ain't so."

[@wildbearings]

Well said. We're just trying to avoid a second disaster that would be economic in nature. It was a terrible disaster no doubt. We just want to try to help by keeping people coming to the areas that were undamaged

[@jim-l8x]

I was born and raised and still live in Asheville and for some reason this video really ticks me off, I know people who have lost everything but don't let that interfere with your vacation.

[@laurelcordell7287]

Right? I can't understand this either. Most of the rivers are contaminated!

[@davidgough3512]

tourist dollars and feedback for immediate neighboring zones now will speed the economic return for harder hit areas sooner than later

[@ReeseFlynn8mmun]

Me too, it's mainly for safety, tourists fall off the water falls and get lost in good days, I saw this one woman complaining her vacation home bridge was destroyed that she just built,some people don't have a home at all. smh we need tourists but damn don't act like it's inconvenience you!!!

[@bekind4018]

I think his intention is good. He is worried about long term economics. If there is a job loss then it may force citizens to consider relocating.

[@coachwendy5618]

My concern is the damage done to the fish from the chemicals that were washed into the rivers. How long will it take for the water to be safe?

[@roberthoover5157]

I saw the same thing when I delivered some relief supplies to Waynesville about 2 weeks ago. From Asheville west it was difficult, if not impossible, to tell a hurricane came through ... thank God. I as well know there is serious damage in some areas, but again, like you said, most of the state was spared any significant damages.

[@carolinalady7763]

You must not have gone through Canton or Clyde.

[@roberthoover5157]

Thru Candler and Canton on 40. Damages appeared minimal though I personally did not drive over any major streams or rivers on my trip.

[@carolinalady7763]

​@@roberthoover5157Canton, Clyde, Cruso, Crabtree, Thickety... multiple areas of Haywood county (West of Asheville) are literally washed away. One dairy farm is completely gone and others are damaged so severely it will take years to recover. I live in Canton. It is devastated. People are living in tents all over Haywood county.

[@pttpforever]

@@roberthoover5157 Mr. Hoover, anyone who lives in Haywood Co. and reads your comment knows that you never went through either of those towns. Of course you couldn't see much of the damage from there. You only passed by the exits on your way. You can't get much up I-40 past the Waynesville exit because it is closed, so severely damaged it'll take at least a year to repair.

[@AmericaShallBeSaved777]

Driving through Cashiers midafternoon last Friday and it looked every bit like tourist season. Same in Highlands. Went hiking near Deep Creek past Whittier two weeks ago - everything was fine out there - almost no damage.

[@wildbearings]

That was the whole point of the video. People need to research where they can go and there are plenty of places to go during this season. In no way did we intend to minimize the impression that the hurricane was not awful and a lot of people suffered great losses. They absolutely did. That's the reason we've spent over a week up there with search and Recovery efforts.

[@suemanghelli2835]

Aren't you worried the waters are toxic? Or were you not downriver from the flooded areas?

[@wildbearings]

Many of the watersheds come off of the Parkway and don't have any type of development above where toxins can enter. There's still lots of fishing hiking and sightseeing that is safe

[@tracykimber729]

Man speaks truth!

[@jrainey44]

How did a fish manage to hold their position in a flooded river?

[@wildbearings]

Many don't. But a lot of the Headwater streams coming off of the Parkway in higher elevations were not as damaged.

[@Sbreslin59-js2zz]

I never thought that all of WNC has been laid to waste. Used to have a cabin 4,700 ft up in cashiers and I know everything that anywhere close to high up is fine besides for some down trees. It’s the lower lying river valleys that got destroyed.

[@wildbearings]

That's exactly what we were trying to communicate. Just research where you're going and I think you'll find most of the areas are fine. There is Devastation but it's not everywhere. Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much and we have done our best to help

[@reapthewhirlwind4166]

The money may just have to be dried up for a while.

[@WSseaghost110]

Sorry I have a hard time thinking of visiting an area for touristy reasons while people are suffering close by. Rather focus on helping people as much as possible in other ways.

[@bob-rogers]

But if everyone takes that approach there will be a lot of people who lose their jobs when the businesses they work for close, even though the towns where they are located are just fine. Cherokee's website says in all caps CHEROKEE IS OPEN AND HERE TO WELCOME YOU. They're helping to provide relief to nearby communities that are in need, but they require tax revenue to continue to do that. A number of WNC towns have taken out billboards to advertise that they want tourists. There are definitely places that need to not have tourists right now too.

[@LevyMorris-r1t]

How can the news media tell how we even live. I watched Fox news last night, they were talking about how many of them even drove a car/truck. They live in a different world and have no idea.

[@arthurgibbons7401]

You need to check out the area you want to visit before going and make sure you make reservations ahead of time! Make sure your road trip routes are open to traffic before heading out!

[@kevenpinder7025]

What eludes me is why I26 between Asheville and Tennessee is still closed. I know the 2 spans of I26 outside Erwin are gone, but the Herbert Love Bridge could be used as a bypass. It seems intact and is only a few hundred feet away. Are there rock/mud slides at the upper elevations? I can get to Asheville using 81-77-40, which is only a modest inconvenience, (and a handy excuse to visit the Henry River village).

[@roberto1238]

Zero rockslides north of Sams Gap on I-26. You have to exit at Wolf Laurel in NC but you immediately get back on at the same exit if in a passenger vehicle. It is to prevent semis from taking the detour through residential neighborhoods in Erwin. The short section on I-26 in Erwin that is closed but is easy to navigate with well posted detour signs.

[@kevenpinder7025]

@@roberto1238 Many thanks!

[@katherinechatham9032]

How bad was Caine river area hit? I was there when Hugo came through. I know there was a fishing club house that was located there. Would love to know if it survived the storm. Praying for those who lost all in the western mountains.

[@brotherlittlefoot2216]

I live here in WNC. If you come,just don't expect to be able to drive the Parkway or many other scenic roads,and bring or buy your own drinking water. Oh yeah,and donate to local churches who are the best at distributing needs to the communities.

[@pattymccallen]

I am truly grateful for the indomitable spirit of the North Carolinians I am seriously concerned about the “contamination” of the waters and dirt! Tell us the status of that…. My heart is totally empathetic with your needs both actually and FINANCIALLY…

[@NMTrue]

share and push this video.....good info....thanks!

[@jee7668]

I've been sharing info on rivers I've fished since the storm came through with my local fly shops as well. The Nantahala is largely unaffected, and is fishing great right now! I fished the Pigeon all up and down from Burnett Siding Baptist Church and that river seems largely unaffected, although that area took a LOT of flood damage. I fished the Catawba a bit... there is a tributary bringing tons of sediment into the river right at Greenlee Park (which was more or less completely destroyed by the storm)... there is fishable water upriver from Greenlee, however. I have not made it over to Curtis Creek quite yet - they have roads blocked off for now. I assume that area took a lot of damage. That's all I've been able to get to since the storm, but just know folks, there ARE great fishing opportunities in WNC right now! Call your local fly shop and set up a trip, or just ask em for some info on where to go right now :)

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

bit 2 soon due to no ability to keep tourists in unaffected areas they will hinder black mountain and other places if the come now open local no tourism adds!

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

exactly right

[@_JimS]

Anyone here abut anything from Big Laurel Creek/Shelton Laurel Creek along 208 near Hot Springs from the 25 bridge to 212?

[@tonkshred]

Come on up to burnsville. Get som dirt on your brand new pressed clothes. Jump n the south toe good luck.

[@Dari-b5g]

Sorry we know that most people who visit spend less then $500.00. Ask any person who serive you your food and beer how they can afford to just pay thier

[@maryannknox7158]

DANGEROUS

[@maryannknox7158]

The water is HIGHLY DANGEROUS and TOXIC

[@LeLilley1]

How about the east Tennessee rivers and streams . . .

[@travismaxwell9805]

People can come and take a look for yourselves. We did not want outsiders coming just for a look, but everyone can come on now and see. On my road, everything is back to normal except for a short section of road that is gravel at a bridge and someone needs to come get their BMW out of the trees. There is a 5 series that our farming community does not need. For some, they lost everything, so be quiet and respectful if you talk to anyone.

[@ericecklund676]

The Police checkpoints on the WNC roads are asking drivers if they are a resident of the community that they're trying to drive into. If they're not, then they get to turn around and go back the way from which they came. This is one East Tennessean who will not be driving to WNC anytime soon. The businesses in Far Eastern Tennessee and WNC are just going to have to get used to the idea that the tourists won't be coming back for several more years.

[@Dudemieser]

It's going to be a brutally hard decision to make. Im not happy to disagree with you. The very real economic issue is going to be the 2nd part of this disaster. It's sad to say that the area desperately needs the financial boost that foriegn countries are getting. And the citizens need the help that is being given to anything walking across the border. Some areas are in fact desperately needing visitors However an adjacent county is a war zone. Here in the East Tennessee mountains we have a gigantic problem with traffic due to the 2 only interstates coming from the west being closed until 2025 at the earliest. Unfortunately Its going to be years before the affected western north Carolina is back to normal.

[@PisgahGravelProject]

Local resident whos been affected by the cane and who has been boots on the ground volunteering since day2. Heres my take. Yes, our small businesses need the money, badly. Their livelihoods and families depend on it. That is a fact. Visitors going into the 'open' areas isnt a problem whatsoever. Herein where lies the problem......the visitors who come with good intentions, come visit, but then take a wrong turn into a damaged area either by mistake, or out of curiosity. For every regular tourist that wants to help the region by supporting small businesses while also understanding it is vital to let the volunteers and contractors work to get these peoples lives put back together, for every one of those types of tourists, there is a 'disaster tourist', whos there to simply take photos, run drones and make video content. Those are the people causing problems. Not the regular tourist. The problem we are having is differentiating between the two. Lets not blanket statement tourists. There are several subsets. Ill also note, people from out of the region need lessons on how to drive safely and efficiently in these mountains.

[@deborahelliott8460]

I don't get this video. Still telling us this is NOT THAT BAD? You are kidding me right? I lost 2 families, they don't have homes, warm clothing, lost everything and you are saying this is NOT the case? You make me as angry as FEMA.

[@wildbearings]

In no way did we intend to imply it was not bad. It was worse than terrible. We're just trying to prevent a second disaster that would be economic in nature with massive loss of jobs and livelihoods. There are areas that are still open for tourism

[@Fido-vm9zi]

Yes, some people have it worse than others. Much of the community is unscathed.

[@deborahelliott8460]

@@wildbearings In this I can agree. Forgive me for thinking wrongly of this.

[@beverlycurry4370]

Is the water safe

[@joeburwell1120]

I'm shocked at the comments about "how great" things are. Drive through Swannanoa. Well -- where you are able to. Go to Black Mountain. Come in from Knoxville, TN on I-40 (you can't). Rivers are now in different places. They are still looking for missing people. "Options are limited." I live near Weaverville. There's still debris all over. If you don't have a well, you don't have clean water. Dude -- you.... are... high.

[@terrysummers9424]

winter is comng

[@jeffmercer9655]

I don't think that's what he's saying of course check before you go but some places was barely affected at all y'all need that money I'm right across the mountain I was trapped on the other side of the bridge and all I can think of is what happened across that mountain where all this water was coming from the rivers will heal the fish will be just fine God is still with us

[@BillyBlaze7]

Its called risk of doing business

[@l73r62]

yea and Pisgah Forest is WEST of where most of the horrific damage was done. Bryson City yet again West of worst damage. Things are not ok here you might want to educate yourself on the geography of where the storm hit. It was the Eastern side of the storm that did the damage. We do not need people coming here to fish. Unbelievable that you would put this video out. You should be ashamed.

[@arthurgibbons7401]

If the Economy and jobs of the survivors crashes, then the recovery will be extended even more. Some of those businesses are aiding in recovery but if they lose their jobs and businesses then they won’t be able to help their workers and neighbors too.

[@maryannknox7158]

Lying

[@BeennHurr2330]

Goofball video