Fogbow

As peak leaf season approaches in the mountains, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper told the Citizen Times that tourists are not wanted in Western North Carolina in the fallout of the historic, devastating floods have been confirmed to have taken 97 lives in the state and devastated the region's infrastructure.

Cooper said he only wants people who are dedicated to response efforts coming to the region.

"Whenever you come to Western North Carolina you get emergency notifications that we don't want you here unless you are directly helping with the response," Cooper told the Citizen Times Oct. 3 in .



Visit North Carolina, the state's official destination marketing organization, has continued to issue a travel advisory warning to all who intend to visit the region typically known for its strong tourism industry as the leaves turn in the fall. Currently, the message is: Do not travel to the region as cities and towns continue to battle power and water outages.

"State and local officials strongly advise all motorists avoid travel in Western North Carolina due to the continued challenges and risks from riverine flooding, landslides, slope failures, road closures and downed trees," the Visit North Carolina advisory, updated Oct. 3, read. "Power and cell phone service outages are also widespread as are shortages of water, food and gas."

Rolodex wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:47 pm I got a notice today that our management company has stopped all bookings for our STR. Our house is ok, but we're very nearby major disaster; our neighborhood is being used as staging for responders and their equipment. We've had one cancellation already - for this weekend, but the folks booked for 10/17 haven't cancelled (yet).

Winter is typically slow. I've been ruminating about offering a discounted interim availability for displaced locals. On one hand, I want to help the area and the people, but my business hat is concerned about longer-term tenants. Will 3 months really help? What if I can't get them out of there?

I did see a post saying maybe us long distance folks could buy gift certificates for local business but not go there to use them...let them go to folks who are there already.

Foggy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:52 pm Sadly, that autumn traffic that drives up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway looking at the glorious fall colors in the mountains - that Roy is warning not to arrive this year - is the basis for a lot of the economy for the mountain folk. The tourists they're having to turn away this year stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, hit the tourist traps, and spend money. But not this year. This year they're unwelcome.

Maybenaut wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 4:39 pm I think he’s right.

Foggy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:06 pm

Maybenaut wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 4:39 pm I think he’s right.

Oh, I'm not arguing. Of course they can't have the fall foliage tourists this year - even the Blue Ridge Parkway has almost no access, with more than 500 roads still out. Those hotels and restaurants are damaged, too also. I hope the tourists get the message and stay away (but some won't).

I was just pointing out, it's a double whammy for those people. First the storm ravages the region, and then the tourists with the money to rebuild it can't get there either. It will take a long time to rebuild the area.

Fact Check: Did Biden-Harris Migrant Spending Drain FEMA Hurricane Budget?

Slim Cognito wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:50 pm

Rolodex wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:47 pm I got a notice today that our management company has stopped all bookings for our STR. Our house is ok, but we're very nearby major disaster; our neighborhood is being used as staging for responders and their equipment. We've had one cancellation already - for this weekend, but the folks booked for 10/17 haven't cancelled (yet).

Winter is typically slow. I've been ruminating about offering a discounted interim availability for displaced locals. On one hand, I want to help the area and the people, but my business hat is concerned about longer-term tenants. Will 3 months really help? What if I can't get them out of there?

I did see a post saying maybe us long distance folks could buy gift certificates for local business but not go there to use them...let them go to folks who are there already.

I like it. Any ideas where to start?

Rolodex wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 3:47 pm I got a notice today that our management company has stopped all bookings for our STR. Our house is ok, but we're very nearby major disaster; our neighborhood is being used as staging for responders and their equipment. We've had one cancellation already - for this weekend, but the folks booked for 10/17 haven't cancelled (yet).

Winter is typically slow. I've been ruminating about offering a discounted interim availability for displaced locals. On one hand, I want to help the area and the people, but my business hat is concerned about longer-term tenants. Will 3 months really help? What if I can't get them out of there?

I did see a post saying maybe us long distance folks could buy gift certificates for local business but not go there to use them...let them go to folks who are there already.

Volkonski wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 12:55 pm Tropical Depression 14 has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Forecast has it becoming a hurricane and making landfall in western Florida next week.

These inland mountain communities are often safe from tropical storms. The cyclones that batter the U.S. southeastern coasts typically weaken as they come ashore. Many peter out before they reach a mountain town like Chimney Rock.

But this time, something different happened. Helene moved fast and carried its warm, moist air hundreds of miles inland into the Carolinas.

“It was a worst-case scenario for the type of tropical system that could deliver really extreme impacts that far inland,” said Gary Lackmann, professor of atmospheric sciences at N.C. State University.

Here’s what fueled Helene and caused so much devastation in the Appalachian Mountains.