Welcome to DKos Asheville
EST 2/13/2011
This space appears each weekend with links to news and opinion from Asheville and Western North Carolina, and the floor is open for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from this still beautiful part of the world.
“Daily Kos fights for a progressive America by empowering its community and allies with information and tools to directly impact the political process.”
On Tuesday, I will be celebrating twenty official years as a member of Daily Kos.
I lurked for about a year before being totally pulled in by the words, the camaraderie and a sense of something new and powerful, a fresh way to understand and act on the politics that had driven me since my youth. Here are some highlights from my time here so far.
In 2006, shortly after signing up, I fell in with a group of members who had just started a Front Page diary series called Election Diary Roundup. Over the course of six years of elections, the team republished down ticket posts with the goal of never missing a single one. Eventually we reformatted the project, and it is still active today under the name of Down Ticket Rescues. Have a click and check it out. If you want to help republish down ticket efforts yourself, please let me know.
My favorite times here were the years when our DKos Asheville crew held semi regular meetups in Asheville and beyond, including Roanoke and Mtn. Mitchell. We even got to host a big weekend event with DK staff and kos. They were all really nice gatherings of some really fine people having a really fine time. The T-shirt above is from our first meetup at The Bywater in Asheville. BTW, Helene took the entire building and yard down the river on September 29th.
In 2011, I stepped into this role of publishing a weekly roundup of local news and such, and not long after, started a similar weekly with a wider news footprint focusing on North Carolina politics, culture and more, including a series on waterfalls and another on lighthouses. Please stop by North Carolina Open Thread tomorrow and every Sunday. Regular post time is 1:00 PM.
Through all these twenty years, the people I’ve met have proven to be the site’s best feature. Kindness is sometimes not given its due in this world, but it lives in abundance here, even through heated exchanges. I learn things everyday, appreciate perspectives I had not considered, and find enjoyment and comfort just by being here. Twenty years and countless hours well spent. Thanks Daily Kos.
Now, onto the news! Start the new year with some laughs. After that, our brand new Governor just announced fresh Helene recovery measures through executive order, the Nature Center gives animal recovery updates, a report on the Cherokee Indian Tri-Council’s breakup, a cold weather CODE PURPLE announcement for the weekend, and helpful information on FEMA’s latest extension for assistance. As they said in the olden times, please jump the fold for more.
Editor’s note: The following story is part of Xpress’ annual Humor Issue. This is a satirical piece that is not meant to be taken seriously. Happy New Year.
Dear Tourists,
I know, I know — you told me to stop writing to you. You said, “Please respect my boundaries,” but a big part of me thinks you’re just playing hard to get. I know you. You’re a flirt. So here I am, penning yet another letter because … well, I miss you. Desperately.
Remember all those things I said before Hurricane Helene? Like, “If I have to dodge one more group of six wine-drunk ‘Bride Tribe’ bimbos in matching cowboy hats, I’m going to offer a walking tour straight off the nearest cliff.” Or that time I accidentally tweeted: “Why don’t y’all skip the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive yourselves right back to the cesspool of sick, twisted Floridian fatuity whence you came, you leathery-skinned douchebag monsters?” Well … I didn’t mean that.
I was joking. Sometimes my jokes don’t land. It happens.
The truth is, Asheville isn’t the same without you. And by that, I mean our economy is literally in the toilet. It turns out we need your obscenely obnoxious bachelorette parties, your leaf-peeping lunacy and your insatiable thirst for $9 cardamom oat milk lattes. Who else is going to buy $80 artisanal, locally made, epoxy resin buttplugs? Who’s going to pay $400 a night to stay in a converted school bus on someone’s 5-acre farm in West Asheville? Who’s going to wait 45 minutes for gluten-free avocado toast at a brunch spot we locals can’t afford?
This piece, and several other really funny ones, manages to laugh at our quirky little selves as we get on with our lives. It is featured in this week’s Mountain Express.
Under an executive order, North Carolina will be able to purchase up to 1,000 temporary housing units for victims of Hurricane Helene without going through a lengthy procurement process, newly-sworn-in Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday in Asheville.
The executive order, one of five issued Thursday, is Stein’s first official act as governor after being sworn in on Jan. 1. That same day, his office announced the visit to Asheville with Stein saying during his swearing-in ceremony that North Carolina must “act with urgency” in Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Stein’s first order addressed the need for more temporary housing in the area, and will temporarily waive procurement regulations for mobile housing units.
“When I have met with affected folks here in the mountains, the need for housing assistance and the repairing of private bridges and roads has come up in nearly every conversation. Western North Carolina, I want you to know that I hear you,” he said.
In response to questions from BPR on Thursday, the governor’s office said a third-party vendor will reach out directly to families who are eligible for temporary housing units. They must have applied for FEMA assistance and be approved, according to a spokesperson.
After every storm, nature blooms again; and just like nature, the WNC Nature Center will reopen in the future. Until then, the animals are being well taken care of by the Nature Center’s incredible team. Let’s learn how a few species adapted during the weeks following Tropical Storm Helene.
Wild animals need food, water, shelter and space to survive. Animals under human care, like those at the Nature Center, have the same needs, but they are provided by their incredible keepers. For weeks following Helene, the Nature Center, along with other community members, did not have potable water. So, similar to many individuals during that time, the Nature Center received a little help from a friend to meet the needs of a few animals.
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife nonprofit that coordinates wildlife rehabilitation efforts in WNC. Some of the animals at the Nature Center came to us from Appalachian Wild. After Helene, a few of the Nature Center’s amphibians and reptiles were selected to be housed at AppWild. The few animals that were moved were species who naturally are more sensitive to water quality.
Hellbenders are an example of a species that need good water quality to survive. Why is this important? Hellbenders have external gills during their larval stage, but around 2 years of age, their gills disappear and they breathe entirely through their skin. A frill, a loose fold of skin, runs from the base of their neck down to their tail on each side of their body to increase surface area. They need clean, oxygen rich water to survive. This makes them a bioindicator for their ecosystem. A bioindicator determines the overall health of an ecosystem. Without access to clean water, their population would not thrive.
One of the three legs of the tripod that is Tri-Council has decided to withdraw from participation. The Legislative Branch of the Cherokee Nation (Okla.) passed Res. No. 24-114 on Monday, Dec. 16 withdrawing their tribe from the Tri-Council which is an annual meeting of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (N.C.), the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (Okla.).
Res. No. 24-114 states in part, “Cherokee Nation has participated in Tri-Council, which was formed on the basis that it ‘united the Legislative Branches of government of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) in Oklahoma’…”
It continues, “In practice, Tri-Council does not achieve its legislative objectives but instead serves as a forum for the UKB to attack the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation and to falsely claim rights under Cherokee treaties, including but not limited to jurisdictional rights within the Cheroke Nation Reservation.”
The legislation went on to state, “…it is in the (Cherokee) Nation’s best interest to pursue collaboration with EBCI and/or UKB in forums and by means that are not divisive and which do not provide UKB with a platform for its attacks on Cherokee Nation tribal sovereignty.”
News release from the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition Steering Committee:
Purpose of Code Purple:
Is to provide a coordinated effort among Asheville and Buncombe County shelters and other organizations to provide emergency overflow shelter to people experiencing homelessness. During Code Purple, participating shelters will provide more beds with fewer requirements than their typical programming. Code Purple sites will also work with participants to refer them to ongoing shelter and housing options.
Families will be triaged on a case by case basis and may be offered hotel options if no other shelters are available. Both locations are wheelchair accessible. (CLICK STORY TITLE FOR DETAILS)
FEMA extends deadline for Helene assistance
Press release from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene survivors now have until Feb. 6, 2025, to apply for assistance with FEMA. Homeowners and renters in 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with uninsured losses from Tropical Storm Helene are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance.
There are several ways to apply:
- Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) To find the center location nearest you go to fema.gov/drc.
- Go online to disasterassistance.gov
- Download the FEMA App for mobile devices
- Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and midnight. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
By the Numbers
- $291 million approved to 142,000+ households and individuals beginning their recovery. That includes money to help rent a home or apartment as survivors begin their recovery.
- $307 million in Public Assistance funding approved to support community recovery.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is still accepting low-interest loan applications. To date more than $28.3 million in loans have been awarded.
- FEMA is providing multiple temporary housing options to meet North Carolinians’ individual needs. The first step to receiving housing assistance is applying with FEMA.
- More than 5,300 households are using Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotels and motels.
- 85 households have been placed in temporary housing units provided by FEMA Direct Temporary Housing Assistance.
- FEMA has contracted with 13 commercial parks to be able to place units and the agency is working with more than 20 other parks for potential contracting purposes.
- To date, more than 2.4 million cubic yards of debris has been removed from public rights of way by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors. Debris currently being removed includes: vegetative/woody debris, construction debris, white goods (appliances) and household hazardous waste.
Keep Your Recovery on Track this Holiday Season, Visit a Disaster Recovery Center.
- 12 DRCs have reopened following the holiday and are available to provide face to face assistance with your FEMA related questions and needs. The Caldwell County DRC remains closed but will reopen soon. Keep in mind DRCs will close at noon Dec. 31 and be closed Jan. 1 for New Year’s, all DRCs will resume work Jan. 2. Help is also available online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
FEMA and Nonprofit Organizations Working to Repair or Replace Private Roads or Bridges
FEMA may be able to help pay for a road or bridge on private property when it is the only route available to reach your primary home or it is the only access for emergency vehicles. The FIRST step in determining eligibility for this assistance is to apply with FEMA. Call the FEMA Helpline or visit a Disaster Recovery Center to update your application. Nonprofit organizations are also assisting residents. More information on their efforts can be found at Bridging Together ldrcarolinas.org/bridging-together
To date, FEMA has awarded more than $9.5 million for repair or replacement of roads and bridges to more than 3,500 families.
Crisis Counseling, Mental Health Resources Available for Helene Survivors
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Hope4NC Crisis Counseling Program provides immediate support and crisis counseling services for North Carolinians following Helene. Survivors experiencing stress, emotional fatigue, a mental health crisis or just need someone to talk to, can call the Hope4NC Helpline 24/7 at 855-587-3463. Services are provided at no cost and are available to anyone residing within the declared 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, regardless of their eligibility for FEMA financial assistance.
- Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline is available anytime to provide support. Survivors and responders feeling overwhelmed can call or text 800-985-5990 to receive free, confidential support in any language.
The Deadline to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is Extended to Feb. 6, 2025
- Survivors in 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina are able to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. To date, more than $6.6 million in federal unemployment benefits have been provided to survivors. For more information call the unemployment assistance hotline at 919-629-3857 (for Spanish call 919-276-5698). The hotline is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, and noon until 4 p.m. Sunday.
Read Your FEMA Letter Carefully
- If you applied for assistance, you will receive a letter explaining your application status. If you are not currently approved for assistance, you may need to send additional documentation to FEMA. You can easily upload documents to Disasterassistance.gov or submit them at a Disaster Recovery Center.
Qualifying Private Nonprofit Houses of Worship May be Eligible for FEMA Grants
- FEMA’s Public Assistance program may cover costs to repair or replace facilities damaged during the storm. Interested applicants should contact North Carolina Emergency Management at pahotline@ncdps.gov.
Appeal a Decision
- You can appeal any FEMA decision or award amount by sending additional documents, like estimates for repairs, receipts, bills, etc., that show you qualify and need more help. Each decision letter from FEMA explains why you are ineligible and the types of documents to help you appeal. For more details, please visit: https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/how-appeal-fema-decision-1. Video on How to Appeal.
Meet with a FEMA Mitigation Specialist in a Disaster Recovery Center
- FEMA mitigation specialists are in DRCs to help answer questions and give advice on techniques to repair and rebuild safer and stronger. They are meeting with people at DRCs in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties.
Help Still Available for Survivors in Need of Clean-up Assistance
After a disaster, cleaning up is a crucial first step toward a successful recovery. Help is still available for survivors in need of assistance cleaning up their Helene damaged homes.
Reach Global Crisis Response – Serving Henderson and Buncombe counties. To request crisis cleaning or rebuilding help contact the local intake number at 828-357-7251.
Operation Blessing – Offering crisis clean-up within 40 miles of Black Mountain, N.C. To request assistance, contact 757-254-3851.
Operation Anchor – Offering crisis clean-up, rebuilding, tree removal and driveway repairs in Yancey, Mitchell, and parts of Buncombe counties. To request assistance, call or text 800-730-2537 or use the online request form.
All Hands and Hearts – Providing disaster cleanup, mold remediation, and repairs. For assistance, call the local intake number at 828-712-7040.
NECHAMA Jewish Response to Disaster – Offering debris removal and crisis cleanup help. For assistance, email: max@nechama.org.
Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders – Providing disaster cleanup, mold remediation and rebuild help outside Black Mountain. For assistance, call the intake number at 337-909-5444 or email toni@disaster-rebuilders.org.
Ground Force Humanitarian Aid – Offering disaster cleanup, debris removal, plumbing, and repairs. Request assistance online at https://gfha.us/requesthelp
Rise Disaster Relief and Recovery – Providing chainsaw work, muck and gut, tree and debris removal in Mitchell County, Residents can call the office at 980-825-7473 to request assistance with any of the services they provide or apply online at https://riseteam.org/get-help/
Helpful Resources for Disaster Survivors
Thanks for being here for my 20th Annie! Wishing all a brave new year.
”Be safe out there” Lamont Cranston
