Bread/Milk Alert. Storm of the century tonight!

[Lurk]

Better hope the don't have cascading failures.

Live updates: National Weather Service says TVA reports Nolichucky Dam failure

[buff2.0]

You're right, I haven't spent 20 years involved in building heavy infrastructure and shit. 

This is a cheap and shitty way of building an interstate.  Doesn't matter if it's been there since the 60's; what matters is that it's not there now and is going to be a pain in the ass to fix.

[BleedinRed]

We are heading up to East TN/West NC in three weeks to spend the week traveling the Blue Ridge while staying in Townsend, Asheville, Boone and visiting every possible place in between.  Love that area of the country and hate what those people are going through right now.  We have been through a couple of devastating floods here in Houston.  It sucks.  

[FNG]

Damn

https://x.com/chrishallwx/status/1839729181225066745?s=46&t=m_RTTyQoOXCKni9LyjoM3g

This is going to be a nightmare. I-40 from I-81 to Asheville is closed indefinitely.

The average daily traffic count for that stretch is as high as 58,000 vehicles and most of those are 18-wheelers. The only other interstate routes to go west from NC take you north through VA or south through SC.

[Lurk]

You're right, I haven't spent 20 years involved in building heavy infrastructure and shit. 

This is a cheap and shitty way of building an interstate.  Doesn't matter if it's been there since the 60's; what matters is that it's not there now and is going to be a pain in the ass to fix.

I wasn't questioning your expertise, just that when it was built they didn't have the whiz bang machinery to overcome building it through the mountains. That is a beautiful drive through there.

[buff2.0]

Earth dams are their own animal.  Once the sand boils begin on the downstream side it becomes a matter of time before the dam fails unless it's reinforced and a new filter system is installed.  With this kind of flooding the degradation could have begun well after the rain started.  Same story with the old concrete TVA structures.

I wouldn't bet my life on it but I'm guessing the Nolichucky holds up with pressure receding.  They have to be blowing alarms on those things early because of how fast and how many people could die if there is a failure.

[jdcatty]

https://x.com/golfcentral/status/1840038673531695128?



Augusta National got hit pretty hard.

[buff2.0]

I wasn't questioning your expertise, just that when it was built they didn't have the whiz bang machinery to overcome building it through the mountains. That is a beautiful drive through there.

I would have built an actual bridge, but it's not my money.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this flooding compares to a 100-year flood that they would have designed around today.  If not for aging parents close to home I'd be on the phone reintroducing myself to the contractors who are going to be bidding on some of the repairs.  Except for Heeter, I think they still hate my guts.

[FNG]

Downtown Boone, NC (App State) was waist deep yesterday and there are a few little towns between there and Asheville that just don't exist anymore.

[Lurk]

I would have built an actual bridge, but it's not my money.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this flooding compares to a 100-year flood that they would have designed around today.  If not for aging parents close to home I'd be on the phone reintroducing myself to the contractors who are going to be bidding on some of the repairs.  Except for Heeter, I think they still hate my guts.

Between it and all the other washouts from this, it will definitely be a workers market.

[Lurk]

This is going to be a nightmare. I-40 from I-81 to Asheville is closed indefinitely.

The average daily traffic count for that stretch is as high as 58,000 vehicles and most of those are 18-wheelers. The only other interstate routes to go west from NC take you north through VA or south through SC.

I said earlier it was a beautiful drive, you'll just have to patch the hole in the seat your butthole will pinch.

[The Reverend SnoopHogg]

Between it and all the other washouts from this, it will definitely be a workers market.

But, but...hit-a-line said construction workers gonna be laid offt!!!  You rassiss!!

[FNG]

I said earlier it was a beautiful drive, you'll just have to patch the hole in the seat your butthole will pinch.

Yeah, I've driven it waaay more times than I care to.

I hate those damn 18-wheelers. They haul ass going downhill and are ahead, behind, and to the side of your vehicle. I always feel like a rabbit trying to navigate an elephant stampede.

[The Reverend SnoopHogg]

Yeah, I've driven it waaay more times than I care to.

I hate those damn 18-wheelers. They haul ass going downhill and are ahead, behind, and to the side of your vehicle. I always feel like a rabbit trying to navigate an elephant stampede.

Are you ok over there?  Do you need a generator or anything?

[Thin Red Swine]

Downtown Boone, NC (App State) was waist deep yesterday and there are a few little towns between there and Asheville that just don't exist anymore.

Which ones specifically? Having spent a fair amount of time there, this hits home.

EDIT: I found this. Odd source for a link but it refers to what I feared. Blowing Rock is our favorite town around that area.

https://www.dukebasketballreport.com/2024/9/28/24256576/helene-western-north-carolina-flooding-asheville-boone-i-40-red-cross-devastation

[hit_that_line]

This is going to be a nightmare. I-40 from I-81 to Asheville is closed indefinitely.

The average daily traffic count for that stretch is as high as 58,000 vehicles and most of those are 18-wheelers. The only other interstate routes to go west from NC take you north through VA or south through SC.

If you recited that traffic number from memory, that's impressive.

[hit_that_line]

But, but...hit-a-line said construction workers gonna be laid offt!!!  You rassiss!!

So, is the economy actually booming? There's up to a million construction workers that will be laid off if not.

[FNG]

Are you ok over there?  Do you need a generator or anything?

We're fine, thanks. Installed a whole home generator last year so we'll probably never have a power outage around here again.

[FNG]

Which ones specifically? Having spent a fair amount of time there, this hits home.

EDIT: I found this. Odd source for a link but it refers to what I feared. Blowing Rock is our favorite town around that area.

https://www.dukebasketballreport.com/2024/9/28/24256576/helene-western-north-carolina-flooding-asheville-boone-i-40-red-cross-devastation

I couldn't remember the names but there was quite a bit of footage of houses being floated away. Very sad.

[FNG]

If you recited that traffic number from memory, that's impressive.

I can't recite my own address from memory