I hope this is ok to post here.
While we had some weather here in my area and lost power for 27 hours. It is nothing compared to those who live in western NC, far SW VA and eastern TN. Entire bridges and roadways have been washed away. Some of the little mountain towns are devastated and/or cutoff from the outside. For many there was no escape from the wall of water. Please pray for them.
They have been in my prayers! I just saw more on the news today, and it was frightening. Glad you are okay! Tornadoes are bad enough, I can’t imagine hurricanes.
Thank you! These are places Scott and I love to camp and visit. They are beautiful places with amazing people.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time in the Smokies, which I think is not far from some of those places 
We have heard Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg experienced some flooding. Another area we love to visit.
All these people are all in my prayers. I hope those still awaiting rescue will be quickly located and saved.
Thank you. They will need it.
Oh no, that’s so sad. Last time we were there was 2017 for our 25th wedding anniversary. That was the first time I had seen the after effects of the fires. We stayed in Townsend that year. We always love to hike the park.
I’ve helped in different situations. What these folks need is MONEY to help rebuild their lives.
No need to dis those of us who believe in prayer. But yes. Donations are needed.
You are right in stating they need money but how do we know it is not being misappropriated. Supplies are what is truly needed. The challenge is getting items to them.
Prayer is needed as well.
You are correct @Ziacat. Guess I’ve just seen to much reality.
Trust me, I’ve seen plenty of reality in my life too.
It was a surprisingly bad hurricane since the two days of pouring rain that preceded it made everything soggy and saturated the ground so that trees were easily toppled and waterways were already filled. Water tore down valleys with nowhere to go. The mountain communities were not expecting it to be that bad that fast.
It was a pretty bad Friday; I was awakened around 5:00 a.m. the trees whipping around my house. We were lucky that they all stayed upright but a few of our neighbors were not so lucky. Although the mountains took the worst of the damage, quite a few areas in South Carolina also got it pretty bad. My brother is in the Columbia area and he had severe winds that knocked over several trees and they have been without power and water since Friday with no ETA in sight. Seems like nobody in Columbia has power right now.
There are a lot of churches and local organizations that are gathering supplies and making runs up to the mountains, so communities are really rallying around this disaster and helping people out. Almost all the Charlotte area news stations have links to donate, and many of the churches also. 100% of what my church is collecting in donations will go directly to those in need. I found it a little ironic that beach communities are sending hurricane aid to the mountains; normally it’s the other way around. 
Prayer is definitely needed and free to give!
I totally forgot you live in South Carolina, I’m so glad you’re okay! I I can’t imagine what it must have been like. I’m sure none of the mountain towns expected this. Right now the quiet Midwest doesn’t sound so bad 
My brother was in Congress for years, and his opinion was in emergencies to give to Churches and local organizations first, because the Red Cross doesn’t get the needed help there as quickly; I’m not saying they don’t do good work, just that big organizations often move so slowly.
Did you lose power?
@Ziacat I actually live in North Carolina, but I’m right on the border of South Carolina, and I’m from there anyway, so always say I’m bi-Carolinian. 
My family is in SC.
I agree, I think the churches and small organizations are in a position to give more of their funds and time; less bureaucracy and administration costs to deal with. My church is also sending volunteers to deliver the supplies personally and bring equipment to help with the cleanup.
Ironically, my cousins from Flagstaff had traveled here that week to explore different areas in North Carolina and Virginia to retire. They got stuck right in the middle of it…horrible time to visit! 
Our power flickered on and off a few times, but stayed on; this is weird because we have old style raised power lines, whereas the other part of our neighborhood where the lines are buried lost power for a few days. The volume of water was so great that it washed away some of the infrastructure around the buried lines, or that was what I heard on the news.
Hurricanes are always nerve-wracking (well, for everyone of course!). Several hours of hiding out in your house worrying about what’s going on outside. In my case, I have the security of being built into a hillside, but I’m surrounded by tall trees and that’s a problem. We try to have our trees trimmed and maintained so that there’s less chance that one will fall.
I cannot fathom it at all, being that I’ve never lived near the coast. We do worry about tornadoes, but those are so isolated (although my sister lost her attached garage to one). So glad you are safe!
Thank you for providing further information. Praying for your friends and family to have power restoration soon.
Does your brother have power and water yet?
Now that the water has receded, it is much worse than anything the media is telling us. Many bodies have not been recovered yet. FEMA is hardly to be found, has no money and people who are willing to help are being prevented. It all sounds absurd! Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground helping and they have a donation site. Stories on Twitter are very sad!
