In the wind up all we got from hurricane Helene was rain. We had little breezy spells, but no strong wind. Between the rain from the front that moved through earlier this week and the rain from the hurricane we got over nine inches of rain. The rain was steady and slow over a long period of time so we didn’t experience any flooding right here around the house.
If you’ve watched the news or online outlets you’ve likely seen that other folks did not fair as well as we did and many have lost their lives.
Haywood County NC has been especially hard hit with flooding as has the surrounding counties. So much damage and destruction. My heart goes out to all the people who’ve suffered from Helene.
Over the years I’ve written about rain when there was too much and too little. Here’s a few comments from Blind Pig readers about heavy rain.
- Wanda in NoAla: Tipper, My daddy used to say ‘the bottom fell out’.
- Don Casada: “Fell a flood” was mentioned at our family reunion last Sunday. Around 1940, there was what Pearl Cable called a water spout in Coots Cove, on the east side of Pilkey Creek basin. It was a very localized pouring (Pearl didn’t recall it even raining at their house, less than a mile away) which completely decimated the area, washing away homes, Mae Posey’s mill, and the bridge below the mill. A dead cow was left hanging up in a tree more than ten feet off the ground. The swath it cut appears to have been close to 100 ft wide in places, leaving nothing other than rocks in its wake. This is on a feeder stream which a 60 year old feller wearing a backpack can normally jump across. In early September of 1951, there was a washout event over on the TN side where a wall of water came down the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River in Gatlinburg and carried cars downstream.
- Ken: I say it came a “young Noah” when it comes a downburst and starts flooding. Way back in the 30’s, before I was even thought about, my parents had a cloudburst and they escaped in the middle of the night with 3 of my older brothers. They lost everything.
- Ed Ammons: The first TV we ever had, had come from a TV shop in Franklin that had been flooded. The set worked just fine when we could “get a picture”. When it finally gave up, me and Harold opened it up to try to fix it and it still had mud inside.
- Dee Parks: A frog strangler and its raining cats and dogs. Gully washer. We had a Deluge. We have been having a lot of rain but we did have two sunny days here in south central PA. Now we are back to probable showers every day for what looks like 6 or 7 days. The poor town of Elicott City, Maryland had a torrent of rain gushing down its main street rising as high as the first floor of their buildings. Children, me included in days gone by, love to dance around in a summer rain and love to jump in mud puddles created from all that rain. And then there are those songs that stick in your head: Rainy Night in GA, Kentucky Rain, Raindrops Keep Falling on my head, I Love a Rainy Night (great sleeping), and one of my favorites – Singing in The Rain. Lately, though it seems like the Temptations must have been singing “I Wish It Would Rain.” Me, I’m ready for the sunshine.
- Bill Burnett: “A stump floater” & “A frog drowner” come to mind. A few days ago we had downpour, a neighbor’s garden end up in downtown Bryson City which is a mile away.
I’m praying for all those suffering from the storm.
Last night’s video: The Thread That Runs So True 21.
Tipper
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I haven’t commented on here in a while, but thought of you all during the weather. Glad to hear you came out alright….so many didn’t.
Safe in western Gulf coast Florida. Many others nearby were flooded out. The house I grew up in across the Bay and my grandmother’s house had water in them for the first time since they were built.
We just got cell service back on tmobile in Waynesville at 10:30 tonight. Hope papaw Tony made out ok. Me and my family were spared…thank the Lord. All around us people were flooded…below our house at Frog Level everything was flooded. Above AND below my parents house the creeks flooded pretty good. The water came within a few yards of my daughter and son in laws apartment in downtown Canton. Thank you Lord…We are very blessed. Alot of people around us lost alot if not everything. Some places around the county look fine and others torn all to pieces. Glad y’all are all ok over that way
Cassie-so glad you are okay. I’ve been praying for you and yours. So much destruction in Haywood County.
I’m not gonna lie. I was worried for you guys. I watch on i watch Celebrate Appalachia on Youtube.. I’m relieved to hear everyone is safe.
Hi, Tipper. I live in northwestern Ohio and was so relieved to learn that you and your family were spared from Helene. Those affected by the storm will be lifted in prayer now and in the days to come. May God continue to watch over and bless you.
Glad you weathered the storm. We had a lot of wind and some rain. I live in Clearwater but not near the beach where the storm surge flooded the area. We did lose power for about 15 hours but feel blessed . prayers for the folks who lost their loved ones or their homes.
Tipper, I’m so glad y’all didn’t get hit hard by the effects of the hurricane. We got a lot of rain and some high winds. The areas further southwest of us got a lot of power outages, flooding and a lot of trees down with damage to a lot of peoples homes. We did have a big tree limb to come down next to our house, but thankfully it didn’t hit it. Our power flickered, but thankfully never actually went out. I’m praying for all the areas that were hit hard and sadly lives lost. Keeping everyone in prayer for any after affects that may occur as a result of the hurricane.
Glad to hear that the good Lord above protected you and yours from the catastrophe that was Helene…I am in N.E. Georgia and he watched over us also…my prayers are going up for all of those effected…
Howdo Tipper and all. I live in Fries VA. Galax is just around the bend. The New River crested over 19 feet last night. Worse flood since 1940 or before. Our bridge in Fries is gone and so many bridges and roads are washed away. We have taken a hugh hit but God is good. There’s no power to be heard of. The power company is working hard to get juice to Galax. Our hats off to all the hard working folks out there that are trying to help us. The New River comes from NC. It flows north. Beautiful but deadly. Certainly a body of water to be respected. Prayers are going up for all the folks hard hit. We would appreciate prayers also. Thank you in advance.
Sandra-I will pray for your area!!
Fortunately we only had a good day long soaking rain finally ending our drought conditions. The grandchildren hopping in puddles was a delight. Unfortunately many around us lost power and will have none for a few days. God bless and keep safe those hardworking linemen. Our worst news is our friend in Florida lost everything. Her home was inundated with several feet of water. So happy, Tipper, to hear you and yours are all safe. Praying for all those suffering loss of property and especially those few dealing with loss of life.
Reading the paper this morning, New York Times, I thought of you all and am greatly relieved to read your blog and that you didn’t get hit too badly. Watching you on You Tube, and reading your blog each day, has opened a whole new world, and makes your family almost feel like kin. Blessings….
So glad to hear y’all are safe. ❤️
Lifting everyone in prayer. I’m glad y’all are safe, Tipper. We’re safe too and more blessed than many who were in the middle of that morass. As Appalachian people, we will survive and thrive once again.
So glad yall are okay! Here in Texas we have nothing but cooler weather. I myself have never experienced floods but have been in over 6 tornados. Praying for all those who’ve been impacted, had lives taken and worlds shattered. It’s so heart wrenching seeing natural disasters. I can only pray
I’m glad to hear you and your family are safe. Praying for those families who lost loved ones, their homes and businesses destroyed by flooding and tornadoes. We here at home were very lucky this time and very thankful.
Thanks for the update. Happy to hear you folks suffered no damage. Praying for those who did.
Thankful to hear you all got through this with no damage….or loss of power.
Prayers for everyone that has been affected by this storm, we definitely need the rain though, everyone be safe as you possibly can and bless everyone that are working to get everything back up and running, special thanks to them and all the first responders everywhere.
Thank God you are all safe, and prayers for so many who have lost homes, family members, and friends. Let us never fail to count our blessings, friends.
I thought about you and your family often yesterday. Here in south east Penna we just have dreary wet weather. Suppose to be our pattern until about Thurs. I was wondering how the Stamey Creek was, did it come over its banks? I’m sure your family felt good having each other within walking distance of each other. It was probably especially comforting for the new mommies having Mat, Austin and Paul there. Praying for everyone dealing with the aftermath. Stay safe, and it was good to see your blog this morning.
It’s good to see your blog post this morning Tipper. So glad ya’ll are okay, I had seen several comments on another channel about Appalachia that I watch , that Haywood County had been hit hard so was concerned about those in your area.
Prayers lifted up for those who have lost loved one and their homes.
We had high winds, heavy rains, flooding and some downed trees and loss of electric in my hometown and the rain will continue for a few more days.
So glad you and yours are ok Tipper. I keep all who were badly affected by hurricane Helene in my heart.
I’m glad to hear ya’ll are ok I was thinking of you when I heard of the NC flooding. We got heavier winds and harder rain than we expected, but other than lots of small branches down our road turned out fine. We went out when it calmed and found uprooted trees here in our township. My heart aches for all the dam bursts and communities that had such terrible flooding and loss of livelihoods.
Today is quiet, no rain and the sun just came out. We had rain for four days with the wind getting up pretty gusty at times. One person was killed when a tree fell on a building, they were in otherwise there were minor personal injuries. We had a lot of flooding but not in our area. Our basement stayed dry but our driveway toward the end near the road washed out. We are going to check into paving it next year which worked out well when we lived in Charlottesville.
I’m glad that you all stayed safe. Other than the electricity going off for a few hours we came out of this storm good. We thank God for his protection and protecting others in the storm.
Glad y’all fared well . . .
Blessings all around and knowing that God is in control it makes you think that losing a life and property is not the best think that could happen but who are we to say. When I make a joke and say ‘Jesus take the wheel’, I really do mean for Him to do just that. Praying still for Granny and you guys…Hugs to all
Glad to see that you are ok! I had seen on FB yesterday that a section of I40 between Knoxville, TN and Ashville, NC was washed out by the river. The flooding in that area was devastating! We had rain all day and high winds yesterday afternoon into the evening. It’s still raining here and is suppose to for the rest of the day. We need it, it’s been so dry. What remains of my garden will benefit from this.
I have friends in Mitchell county, NC and I still haven’t been able to get in touch with them. I’m still praying that no news is good news. They live in Bakersville, high on a hill in the country so I feel sure their house is ok but I don’t knuw about the town where they have a business and their families live there as well.
So happy to hear you and the family are safe.
Continued prayers for all those suffering in the aftermath of this devastating storm.
Prayers to all who have to go through hard time just to get their lives back into some kind of livable order. What a hassle. Whenever it rains I worry about my neighbors who live down closer to the Platte River in the flood plain. Even though the river is usually pretty calm it can get quite violent at times and flow out of its banks. However as far as for us, we also live on a goat bluff. I worry more about high winds than water.
I’m glad to hear that you and your family were spared any damage. ❤️
Tipper, I am so very glad that you didn’t have alot issues with the rain. Many of my family members live in the Asheville and Clyde area and we have not heard from them since early yesterday morning. Prayers for all. Many thanks to the linemen working to restore power.
glad you faired well but I am heart broken over the lost lives in other areas….so sad…praying for comfort for those who lost loved ones….here in Oklahoma nothing but a little bit of cloudy sort of cooler days, but the humidity is still too high for those of us who can not tolerate even slightly hot humid days…..I was hit by a tornado last year and it was no fun at all but I can not begin to imagine what people in the path of this hurricane went through and will continue to go through until things are somewhat normal for them again…..we call heavy rain a ‘toad strangler’…..if fair weather continues for a while in your area then you may still be harvesting and putting up stuff from the garden on into November 🙂
Please pray for the folks in North Cove, NC. Hurricane Helene has hit them real hard. This storm is reminiscent of the one in 1916 that destroyed over 50 homes in the valley. My father-in-law, Charles B. Connelly was born in North Cove in 1915.
We got rain but mostly gusty winds all day yesterday. I was waiting for a tree to blow over ‘cause they were bending so far. We got lots of tiny branches and sticks to pick up and one bigger limb fell in the woods. We needed the rain for sure, but I feel very bad for all the people that were flooded. I am praying for them.
over 40 people have died, and some people have nothing left, are you grateful, have you counted your blessings, do you care, God help God help
Happy to see your post this morning and so glad to hear your family is safe. We found the Knoxville area news last night when we started hearing about evacuation orders in Newport since we visit there so often. The area holds a special place in our hearts due to family ties.
Prayers for all of those who didn’t do so well and for those helping. Blessings to you and yours Tipper.
Palmetta pounder in the swamps of Florida.
Praying for everyone that has been hit by this storm. We have been in a drought and burn bans have covered much of our state so this rain has been a welcomed sight.
Our cousin was combining and his tractor caught the crop dust on fire because it’s so dry. Thankfully no one was hurt as the field hand saw it right away. They carry compressed water tanks on their machines. This was happening with several farmers. The rain has been a great blessing.
We had really high winds here and the power was out for several hours, but we cannot complain when so many have lost everything. May the Lord be near to them.
Debbie my neighbor caught his Scag zero turn mower on fire about a week ago and lost it and also set his yard on fire. All he figure is the blades caused a spark.
When I wrote my first comment, I should have said widespread destruction, it goes on for many miles in all four directions.
I think we got about 7 inches of rain that did not cause any problems for the ones in my area but did in other places. It was the wind and 70mph gusts that has done so much destruction around me, everywhere you look trees are blown over and the power lines and poles are broke. My power went out at 5am Friday morning and I have heard it could be a week before it is restored. I’m 70 years old and never saw as much destruction in my area, not even from tornadoes. Not only are our homes without power but the stores are too making it impossible to buy gas or food. I had all of my vehicles full and about 15 gals of gas in cans I keep full for my lawn mowers and a 1953 tractor that runs on gas. My nephew had one of his horses killed when a tree fell on the shed he had built for his horses.
I have a small generator that I am trying to alternate between a couple of refrigerators and freezers. I can cook on my Coleman gas stoves and thank God, I have city water and can still flush the toilet. You don’t understand that statement unless you have lived with well water!