Mountains become refuge for Charleston, other coastal residents fleeing Hurricane Matthew

Jason Sandford October 5, 2016

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Thousands of South Carolina residents, many of them ordered to evacuate their coastal homes before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, are looking to take refuge in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Lane reversals are already in place on Interstate 26, which is a direct pipeline from the South Carolina coast up to Asheville and WNC. The lane reversals make it easier for evacuees from Charleston and other South Carolina coastal counties to get out of town before Hurricane Matthew hits.

The estimated number of evacuees is around 250,000. The hurricane is expected to arrive on the South Carolina coast on Saturday.

Some of those folks will likely end up in and around Asheville, which is just beginning to celebrate its annual fall leaf color show. The autumn leaf colors have been popping out at the highest elevations in the mountains over about the past week and will slowly work their way down.

Asheville-area hotels and AirBNB folks are starting to field calls from folks looking to ride out the storm for the weekend. This weekend will likely be a busy one in Asheville.

What are you hearing/seeing?

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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21 Comments

Peter Robbins October 7, 2016

Hendersonville isn’t taking any refugees who haven’t been vetted and don’t understand the culture.

Reply
1. Barry Summers October 7, 2016
  
  Especially from Myrtle Beach. Yuck. Have you seen how they eat? If we take them in, there’ll be ‘Crab Shacks’ sprouting up on every street corner.
  
  Run them through a severe two-year vetting process, and then maybe we’ll consider taking them in. If they can learn the language.
  
  Reply
  1. chris October 7, 2016
    
    But do they truly LOVE us? That’s the important question.
    
    Reply
    1. Barry Summers October 7, 2016
      
      To get three hots & a cot? They’ll say anything.
      
      For the record, we’re just kidding here, South Carolinians. Welcome to high ground. Stay safe.
      
      Reply
Peter Robbins October 6, 2016

I don’t suppose anyone thought to tell Matthew about HB2.

Reply
Tim Peck October 6, 2016

Governor McCrory issued a State of Emergency on Monday

People may think it’s silly to declare a State of Emergency when the storm hasn’t even hit. But the official declaration of a State of Emergency triggers statutory law that gives rise to sweeping executive powers to command and dispatch vast resources, and exercise extraordinary police powers to ensure order, public safety and well-being, and the continuity of services and supplies. It only makes sense to allow for preparations well in advance of an impending catastrophic natural disaster. Those executive powers are detailed below..
bit.ly/2dUVkYU

Reply
1. Barry Summers October 6, 2016
  
  Yes, Pat is just dreamy, isn’t he?
  
  Reply
  1. chris October 6, 2016
    
    Apparently he pays well, too.
    
    Reply
    1. Barry Summers October 6, 2016
      
      I don’t know if you can get paid a dime for copy & pasting word-for-word off of Chuck McGrady’s website.
      bit.ly/2dVT5Z8
      
      Reply
      1. Tim Peck October 26, 2016
        
        Here’s another good one from Chuck:
        
        The NC Economy: Then vs. Now (2011 to 2016)
        bit.ly/2eEVupY
        
        Reply
2. Tim Peck October 7, 2016
  
  This is too easy.
  
  Reply
  1. chris October 7, 2016
    
    What, cutting and pasting?
    
    Reply
    1. Tim Peck October 21, 2016
      
      No. Turning craven progressives into blabbering incoherent mush. Right, mush?
      
      Reply
      1. chris October 21, 2016
        
        bit.ly/2eOBfHB
        
        Reply
      2. Tim Peck October 26, 2016
        
        You like the dirty talk, don’t you?
        
        Reply
      3. chris October 26, 2016
        
        So Trump-like. The Apprentice has become the master.
        
        Sad.
        
        Reply
      4. Tim Peck November 22, 2016
        
        You progressives seem to hate it when your actions are imitated back to you. LOL. What a bunch of decrepit douchebags.
        
        Reply
      5. chris November 22, 2016
        
        Took you a month to come up with that rejoinder, did it?
        
        That’s quality stuff right there.
        
        Reply
      6. Tim Peck November 23, 2016
        
        Thanks, dear friend. I’ll keep it coming.
        
        Reply
3. luther blissett October 11, 2016
  
  “It only makes sense to allow for preparations well in advance of an impending catastrophic natural disaster.”
  
  Like diverting half a million from the Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund budget to the governor’s office to cover the lawyers defending Hate Bill 2. What foresight! What excellent preparation!
  
  Reply
  1. Barry Summers October 11, 2016
    
    Actually, that would fall under the category of “preparations in advance of an impending catastrophic man-made disaster”, ie, having a giant $500,000 band-aid ready for when you shoot yourself in the foot.
    
    Meanwhile, you liberals are just being too mean to Pat:
    
    “Wow, this is depressing.”
    Pat McCrory, on hearing opposition to HB2,
    Filthy lying rabid lefties smelling blood
    bit.ly/2dZUDgr
    
    Reply