I lived just north of Asheville for 14 years and now, of all places I live in central Fla. for 8 years now, with Milton picking up speed and heading my way.
It worries me, but so does right wing politics, greed, violence, social media, AI, climate change and the ignorance and apathy of oh so many of our citizens.
I am just grateful I’m old and have no offspring to worry about. But I cry for the earth and only can hope once man is gone, the earth will heal and life will flourish once more and hopefully, without humans.
Sorry to be gloomy, I would just say living in reality is a difficult place to be, one that most can't see and run from if they get a glimpse. I've actually been known to be quite funny in a previous life, but the only humor I can conjure in this situation is quite dark. Not that I can compare myself to the brilliance of George Carlin, but I feel like him in some ways. His humor got quite serious towards the end, how I miss his brilliant observations.
I dropped out of the news cycle the last couple of days to focus on this article, guess I had better bone up on Milton. I hope it skips by you, Mary. And ditto on that list of worries.
I have an elderly aunt in Port Riley, about six miles in from the coast. So far, she has been spared the worst consequences of these storms. I hope that is the case for you.
I've been a realist almost forever, since my mid-teens, can't imagine being any other way. Writing this stuff brings me no pleasure, it's more of an obligation I feel. Thank you for commenting and being a person who's willing to look reality in the face.
Really enjoyed your analysis, and your previous post, too, about the disappearing Permian basin oil. Also, some gratitude for not taking the position that our broken political system means we should sit out the election. Letting Trump in will be checkmate.
I suspect Kamala is simply playing for votes in Pennsylvania. I learned a very long time ago not to take what a presidential candidate says on the stump seriously. Biden's actual policies have been the closest to FDR's since FDR, but that's not how he campaigned. If he had, he probably would have been clobbered, because Americans, even though they support the majority of the leftish policies he's enacted, don't seem to realize that they do, so they veer hard to the middle every election.
Trump is an anomaly in that regard, of course, as he has no policy other than deranged levels of grief politics.
Kamala spoke out against fracking when she first ran in 2020. She's also young enough to have kids she must be worried about. The door will at least be open to change. I hope so. If not, Trump will in prison and we can safely show her the door in the next primaries.
One minor footnote. The dock strike is over. They reportedly accepted a 61% (or so) pay increase. I would argue that Biden's comments were probably directed at the employers, rather than striking workers, especially given that the longshoreman's union credited Pete Buttigieg with helping push an agreement through that they could sign off on.
The strike is officially postponed until January, after the inauguration, so even if they hit snags tightening up the terms of the contract, it won't affect the election. Frankly, I'm breathing a sigh of relief, because Americans are much more concerned about the cost of their toilet paper than the general welfare of the country. Your readers and readers of similar substacks excepted of course.
So a strike could have done real damage to Kamala's candidacy.
Good observations and I am glad my work resonates with you. Even if we are in the minority of understanding what's going on, it helps not to be alone in this knowledge.
Kamala doesn't have children, but she does have nieces. Being not much older than I am and a reasonably good track record on the environment as California's AG, I'm hoping she understands the importance of halting the burning of FFs. I realize that's a massive task, but Helene and what's to come will break the economy and society. Radical change is needed now. We have no time for less. People actually believe EVs are helpful. That is not the case. We need vision, not just policy.
I understood Biden's problem when he passed IRA, a greatly watered down version of the Green New Deal, but even the Green New Deal fell short. It doesn't recognize FFs are bound to become economically unfeasible to extract. It promised a future of unfettered capitalism. Without FFs there are no wind turbines, solar arrays or batteries to smooth energy delivery. Whatever we manage to build now, we won't be able to maintain when oil is economically unviable to extract. At best, this is bridge technology to a low energy world. Needless to say, this inevitability is unacceptable politically or socially to those worried about the cost of their toilet paper.
I was aware the dock strike ended, and of course aware Biden was making the comment in regard to the potential impact on Helene's victims. However, the irony is the devastation of Helene would have not occurred without our mindless consumption of the world. When will leadership see and have the courage to tell the truth (if they see it)?
Even if Kamala wins and has vision and courage, she's going to need both houses to affect change. She will also need to expand the Supreme Court. We need miracles on many levels now. Should we get them, we're still in for a rough ride. I think we have exceeded too many tipping points, but I keep writing for whatever chance we have. Thank you for your comments, Charles.
Agreed on all points except the Kamala child thing. They're step children but she made it a point during the debate that they are as dear to her as if they were here :-). I should have been clearer.
As for when will leadership show courage? They have been out of time for awhile, so hopefully soon.
This is the only thing I'll disagree with you on Geoff. :) "We" are not at the "bottom." We are the foundation. The bedrock. Without us it all crumbles, billionaires and all.
Perhaps bottom wasn't the best choice of words. We are the foundation, but we are at the bottom in terms of power unless enough of us act unitedly. Being the bedrock, we could grind this whole machine to a stop with boycotts and strikes.
I mean, to be blunt, these individual and collective tragedies will totally bring the country down. Slowly but surely. Collapse is here and it's on my doorstep. It's not a matter of when, just "who is next?"
I'm lucky here. I had stocks of food but not nearly enough water. One of my clients brought me a generator that first night and that's been a lifesaver (and food saver) for keeping one refrigerator cold.
My inlaws are very disoriented and have become completely reliant, but we are managing. The local VFD has a big "pool" of flush water so it's just my morning routine to go down and fill up. It's amazing what you can adapt to. Keep in mind I'm 38 and pretty tough, a LOT of folks physically cannot do that but it seems to me that most of us are looking out where we can.
I'm helping in a community in Swannanoa (my college and younger 20s stomping grounds) and the donations are out of this world. We had to start telling folks to take their stuff to the major distribution down the road so they could get those items further out.
One whole side of Asheville (South) is basically operating as usual. Grocery, restaurants, etc good to go. I mean still shocked but open and with power and water. The other side of town is just... Decunated.
My experience with FEMA was easy peasy to get the $750 guaranteed when you're in a designated disaster zone. It's not enough for folks but I have been able to put that right back right where it's needed and that's great. I know there are so many conspiracy theories floating around, but like you said... You've never seen anything like this and neither has FEMA. If they are turning people around at checkpoints, it's because what lies beyond doesn't exist... And therefore doesnt need supplies. I do believe they are trying their best to help and that's my experience. The scope of this is just unimaginable.
Neighbors started taking care of each day of. There's NO giant govt agency that can do that. You have got to build networks and honestly... Start now with some emergency plans. Get contact info. Figure out where you will be able to hand out supplies efficiently. Start stocking some supplies NOW so it's ready to go and you're not in NC waiting for someone from Indiana to gather them and get them to you a week later.
Still out of words for my heart, but it's still beating and showing up.
Blunt words are appropriate for these times. There's no dancing around this situation. We can see the house of cards falling. It appears we have reached a new point of peril, predictable for a very long time, where these disasters have direct and permanent effects on our physical safety and the economy. I knew 2024 was going to be a pivotal year. Counting on Harris making it. No single human being can avoid the coming crash, but perhaps she will be able to get more done than Biden, with hopes of a Democratic led House and Senate and expansion of the not so supreme court.
The best we can hope for is slowing the descent. Mother nature determines our well-being, period. In addition to halting fossil fuel subsidies, taxing the crap out of the wealthy to keep us in our homes needs to happen. Bad as it is, we haven't seen homelessness, yet.
I'm glad to hear some of Asheville has survived and that neighbors are coming together. This emergency has created a prime opportunity to build community as you wisely see and make a coordinated plan using everyone's unique strengths. You're absolutely correct, no government agency can cover all of a community's needs. This is where the worldwide economy foisted on us shows its weakness in resiliency and supply change problems. Smaller, regional and local systems bring redundancy and therefore resilience. Building local resiliency will be a shit ton of work, and require adopting old, lost ways, but clearly the system we have is destined to break. The conspiracy theories floating around about FEMA are utter nonsense, the far right crap of incredibly awful people.
If I was your neighbor, I would come over and shovel some mud or fix something that got broken. For now, I write to fight, wondering how many in my local community understand what's going on. Helping others helps ourselves. Somehow, this country lost that connection in my lifetime. It's the only path forward with a future. Stay strong, but allow the tears to come when you need them. Today, I will be writing about Milton. I have an elderly aunt just 40 miles north of Tampa and six miles inland. She has no ability to flee. My thoughts are with everyone experiencing this terror and devastation.
Asheville resident of 22 years here. I don't have exactly the right words for what's happened. I know climate change is here; I guess I didn't think Asheville/WNC would be top of list for this magnitude of catastrophe.
My heart is broken for my mountains and my people. I will say that over the course of the last week, I've added about 30 numbers to my phone and have met so many amazing people showing up to help in whatever ways they are able.
Still without power (and there won't be water service for perhaps months) but we are figuring it out. My 83 yo in-laws live with us and that is the hardest part. That and retrieving non-potable water to flush with everyday! AND we are the lucky ones in this. I'm not being overly dramatic when I say we are lucky to be alive.
I don't have a point I guess. Just keep keeping on for now. For anyone who thinks "oh I'm safe from climate catastrophe"... Start your preps now. You're gonna need it!
Hi Katie. Words often fall short when trying to communicate the emotions and totality of such a shocking experience. That's when we need pictures, although they, too, fall short. People do pull together in these situations. We need government to pull together as well and recognize these individual and collective tragedies can take the whole nation down. Estimates are now $250 billion for this storm.
I've endured blizzards, power outages and frozen pipes (it's amazing how many 5 gallon pails of snow it takes to flush the toilet once) and saw considerable heartbreaking damage from Hurricane Irma years ago, but nothing compared to what Helene brought. Wondering how your food situation is and what your experience with FEMA is so far.
You are indeed lucky to be alive. Now and then life reminds us of that. I've had a couple of close encounters. Glad you made it through and have a strong community. Hoping for the speediest possible recovery.
It's so valuable to read your responses. By my lights, although this sort of engagement, where we toss ideas around with each other, is what's wanted and needed, people mostly are just broadcasting.
It is rare for me to find someone who shares my fears for Mother Earth, our children’s future and also understands the maniacal driving forces behind it all, so well.
Wish that everyone would read your post, Geoffrey. Your ability to see through the bullshit is so refreshing.
Thank you, Walter. I have lived outside the madness, in large part because of my father's fine library of his generation and the previous one. I also observed how poorly he was treated as a person of conscience, integrity and fairness. It didn't always go well. I understood human nature from a very young age.
What seems obvious to us, others are oblivious to, blinded by 24/7 brainwashing, divide and conquer strategy and poor education.
Your last line… “If Harris wins, don’t be surprised by ensuing chaos and violence. There is a seething, exploited minority in this country ready to explode.”
The election won’t be over until the inauguration has taken place, and there may well be widespread violence continuing after that. No one watching the events in the US unfold from a distance can believe that the polls are close. How can there be ANY support for a convicted felon running for President? But the white nativists are on the march and will never accept a woman of colour as their leader, sad to say.
My own opinion is we passed the point of no return 30 to 40 years ago to have any kind of civil transition. The government should have started a Manhattan or Apollo type project then to address the problem. The government and the oil companies knew.
There has been nothing in the news about how many people are out of work, no home, still stranded, dead etc. It seems to me that the entire south eastern seaboard states have been destroyed and FEMA is already pleading poverty. How long will it take to recover? And another storm is already on the way.
Unfortunately, I agree we likely passed that point decades ago, One of the reasons I wrote The Greenland Ice Sheet is Already Gone. We did need a galvanized effort decades ago.
This storm has as you point out caused lasting economic damage, with a projected Cat 3 bearing down on Florida again. There will come a point when we are physically and financially unable to recover. Insurance is quickly becoming unaffordable or unavailable as well.
FEMA has $20bn in its coffers from the recent supplemental spending bill. That's supposed to hold them until November 5. If Senators want to hold their seats in these states, they will approve more funds. Even Scott, Rubio and Graham are clamoring.
However, at some point, as you say, we will be on or own. Halting weapons to Israel would be a good place to start adjusting the budget.
This is why I'm saying we need a petrocommunist movement. We cannot allow criminals to control the production and sale of fossil fuels any longer. No matter what, it will get worse before it gets better, but if we do want it to get better some day, we must seize the means of the production of energy.
I don't think the principles of communism are bad. I don't think the principles of socialism are bad, or democracy for that matter. It really comes down to behavior, to me, greed that ruins any political and social structure. At the core, we have a terrible behavioral problem.
If you mean seizing the production of energy to halt it as quickly as possible, I agree, but it's also like weaning an addict off a drug. Cold turkey would result in much violence and death. I'm a believer in Degrowth, a concept around since 1970. It's tragic that kind of thinking didn't take hold then, but for the most part the world is not run by enlightened people.
Grateful you keep this commentary going, Geoffrey. Especially the downstream health impacts. I am experiencing that unfold now in my own community and household. Watching devestation slam communities and nature, again, and again, and again, am struggling to rise about the clawing, suffocation of it all.
Margi, I'm so sorry to think of you in that situation. The trauma of loss and feeling of insecurity for your community cannot be summed up in numbers. It's inhuman.
As long as I have the ability to call out the insanity, injustice and stupidity of what is going down, I will do so.
By sheer luck, I have been protected so far from the direct effects of our planet becoming inhospitable. It gives me extra responsibility to call it out while I can.
I know it will all catch up to me and those living in illusion at some point.
We need to focus on the solutions to ecological and political problems. As long as the world continues to utilize fossil fuels, the ecological issues will not readily disappear. Granted most people don’t agree to change unless forced to do so—thus, I believe fracking was supported by the Biden White House to garner support for smoother transition toward cleaner alternatives. It is impossible to uproot people who are stuck in their own way of doing things.
Hi. I’ll keep it short. Everyone here in Switzerland has insurance, even for low risk events. Perhaps more importantly though is the debate on climate crisis causation. It’s, to lesser or greater degree, all of us. We consume, waste, travel etc all. In my modest opinion though each and every one of us can reduce our footprint today by simply adopting and perhaps advocating a vegan lifestyle. Thoughts?
I wasn't surprised by the one percent rate of flood insurance inland. This sort of flooding wouldn't have likely occurred before global warming, maybe one of those one in a hundred-year events. The low 21 percent rate in coastal areas is a reflection of "it won't happen to me" thinking that many are prone to. I have to wonder why it's not required in high risk areas. One thing for certain, an insurance crisis is developing here that will ripple through the economy.
I agree, all of us developing lower carbon footprint lifestyles and going vegan are good things to do, but there is much structurally wrong here to realize that fully. I would love to be without a car for instance, but it's an impossibility with my medical care which requires driving significant distances and little to no viable public transport, or even safe roads for cycling on local errands. There is also a love of huge vehicles here, I don't relate, too.
I don't know what advertising is like in Switzerland, but here the messages are to consume, implying that is happiness is 24/7.
Some years ago, the mayor of NYC tried to ban the sale of gigantic sugary drinks. The public backlash was crazy. Americans regarded that as an impingement on their rights, rather than an attempt to protect their health. You can't legislate brains. The state of education here is another significant subject.
Last thought, living as low a carbon lifestyle is a great choice, as much as we can manage it, but the "carbon footprint" idea was an invention of the oil industry, BP I think. Unless we leave every last bit of available coal, oil and gas in the ground, we make our already dire problem far worse. Individual choices are admirable, but aren't enough. Governments need to make a hard stand. Cutting off fossil fuel subsidies would be a good place to start.
Yeah it’s interesting. We live on a hill 2000‘ absl. Two years ago we had 3‘ of water flowing though the plot. Neighbour was even deeper. Flood caused by damaged rain water drain. Consumerism is pushed by gvt and all industries with resultant (national) debt and irreparable environmental damage. I can’t change politics but at least try to set a good example. I hope.
I understand. I live as small as I can. Most of my modest belongings are things I have restored or refurbished. I can't help be part of a systemized problem, but I can call it out and make good personal choices.
Oh my such gloom and I agree with all of it.
I lived just north of Asheville for 14 years and now, of all places I live in central Fla. for 8 years now, with Milton picking up speed and heading my way.
It worries me, but so does right wing politics, greed, violence, social media, AI, climate change and the ignorance and apathy of oh so many of our citizens.
I am just grateful I’m old and have no offspring to worry about. But I cry for the earth and only can hope once man is gone, the earth will heal and life will flourish once more and hopefully, without humans.
Sorry to be gloomy, I would just say living in reality is a difficult place to be, one that most can't see and run from if they get a glimpse. I've actually been known to be quite funny in a previous life, but the only humor I can conjure in this situation is quite dark. Not that I can compare myself to the brilliance of George Carlin, but I feel like him in some ways. His humor got quite serious towards the end, how I miss his brilliant observations.
I dropped out of the news cycle the last couple of days to focus on this article, guess I had better bone up on Milton. I hope it skips by you, Mary. And ditto on that list of worries.
Oh I’m all for reality😊
Yeah, I’m in central FL as well. Milton isn’t looking good. Especially for the Tampa/St Pete area that just took a pummeling.
I have an elderly aunt in Port Riley, about six miles in from the coast. So far, she has been spared the worst consequences of these storms. I hope that is the case for you.
Jack Lowe uses the term “reluctant realist”. I’m now using this to describe myself. 👍🏾
I've been a realist almost forever, since my mid-teens, can't imagine being any other way. Writing this stuff brings me no pleasure, it's more of an obligation I feel. Thank you for commenting and being a person who's willing to look reality in the face.
Really enjoyed your analysis, and your previous post, too, about the disappearing Permian basin oil. Also, some gratitude for not taking the position that our broken political system means we should sit out the election. Letting Trump in will be checkmate.
I suspect Kamala is simply playing for votes in Pennsylvania. I learned a very long time ago not to take what a presidential candidate says on the stump seriously. Biden's actual policies have been the closest to FDR's since FDR, but that's not how he campaigned. If he had, he probably would have been clobbered, because Americans, even though they support the majority of the leftish policies he's enacted, don't seem to realize that they do, so they veer hard to the middle every election.
Trump is an anomaly in that regard, of course, as he has no policy other than deranged levels of grief politics.
Kamala spoke out against fracking when she first ran in 2020. She's also young enough to have kids she must be worried about. The door will at least be open to change. I hope so. If not, Trump will in prison and we can safely show her the door in the next primaries.
One minor footnote. The dock strike is over. They reportedly accepted a 61% (or so) pay increase. I would argue that Biden's comments were probably directed at the employers, rather than striking workers, especially given that the longshoreman's union credited Pete Buttigieg with helping push an agreement through that they could sign off on.
The strike is officially postponed until January, after the inauguration, so even if they hit snags tightening up the terms of the contract, it won't affect the election. Frankly, I'm breathing a sigh of relief, because Americans are much more concerned about the cost of their toilet paper than the general welfare of the country. Your readers and readers of similar substacks excepted of course.
So a strike could have done real damage to Kamala's candidacy.
Good observations and I am glad my work resonates with you. Even if we are in the minority of understanding what's going on, it helps not to be alone in this knowledge.
Kamala doesn't have children, but she does have nieces. Being not much older than I am and a reasonably good track record on the environment as California's AG, I'm hoping she understands the importance of halting the burning of FFs. I realize that's a massive task, but Helene and what's to come will break the economy and society. Radical change is needed now. We have no time for less. People actually believe EVs are helpful. That is not the case. We need vision, not just policy.
I understood Biden's problem when he passed IRA, a greatly watered down version of the Green New Deal, but even the Green New Deal fell short. It doesn't recognize FFs are bound to become economically unfeasible to extract. It promised a future of unfettered capitalism. Without FFs there are no wind turbines, solar arrays or batteries to smooth energy delivery. Whatever we manage to build now, we won't be able to maintain when oil is economically unviable to extract. At best, this is bridge technology to a low energy world. Needless to say, this inevitability is unacceptable politically or socially to those worried about the cost of their toilet paper.
I was aware the dock strike ended, and of course aware Biden was making the comment in regard to the potential impact on Helene's victims. However, the irony is the devastation of Helene would have not occurred without our mindless consumption of the world. When will leadership see and have the courage to tell the truth (if they see it)?
Even if Kamala wins and has vision and courage, she's going to need both houses to affect change. She will also need to expand the Supreme Court. We need miracles on many levels now. Should we get them, we're still in for a rough ride. I think we have exceeded too many tipping points, but I keep writing for whatever chance we have. Thank you for your comments, Charles.
Agreed on all points except the Kamala child thing. They're step children but she made it a point during the debate that they are as dear to her as if they were here :-). I should have been clearer.
As for when will leadership show courage? They have been out of time for awhile, so hopefully soon.
You're right. I was thinking of her nieces at the convention. Courage to all of us. We at the bottom have to do our share as well.
You definitely are!
This is the only thing I'll disagree with you on Geoff. :) "We" are not at the "bottom." We are the foundation. The bedrock. Without us it all crumbles, billionaires and all.
Perhaps bottom wasn't the best choice of words. We are the foundation, but we are at the bottom in terms of power unless enough of us act unitedly. Being the bedrock, we could grind this whole machine to a stop with boycotts and strikes.
And the people at the "top" know it.
I mean, to be blunt, these individual and collective tragedies will totally bring the country down. Slowly but surely. Collapse is here and it's on my doorstep. It's not a matter of when, just "who is next?"
I'm lucky here. I had stocks of food but not nearly enough water. One of my clients brought me a generator that first night and that's been a lifesaver (and food saver) for keeping one refrigerator cold.
My inlaws are very disoriented and have become completely reliant, but we are managing. The local VFD has a big "pool" of flush water so it's just my morning routine to go down and fill up. It's amazing what you can adapt to. Keep in mind I'm 38 and pretty tough, a LOT of folks physically cannot do that but it seems to me that most of us are looking out where we can.
I'm helping in a community in Swannanoa (my college and younger 20s stomping grounds) and the donations are out of this world. We had to start telling folks to take their stuff to the major distribution down the road so they could get those items further out.
One whole side of Asheville (South) is basically operating as usual. Grocery, restaurants, etc good to go. I mean still shocked but open and with power and water. The other side of town is just... Decunated.
My experience with FEMA was easy peasy to get the $750 guaranteed when you're in a designated disaster zone. It's not enough for folks but I have been able to put that right back right where it's needed and that's great. I know there are so many conspiracy theories floating around, but like you said... You've never seen anything like this and neither has FEMA. If they are turning people around at checkpoints, it's because what lies beyond doesn't exist... And therefore doesnt need supplies. I do believe they are trying their best to help and that's my experience. The scope of this is just unimaginable.
Neighbors started taking care of each day of. There's NO giant govt agency that can do that. You have got to build networks and honestly... Start now with some emergency plans. Get contact info. Figure out where you will be able to hand out supplies efficiently. Start stocking some supplies NOW so it's ready to go and you're not in NC waiting for someone from Indiana to gather them and get them to you a week later.
Still out of words for my heart, but it's still beating and showing up.
Blunt words are appropriate for these times. There's no dancing around this situation. We can see the house of cards falling. It appears we have reached a new point of peril, predictable for a very long time, where these disasters have direct and permanent effects on our physical safety and the economy. I knew 2024 was going to be a pivotal year. Counting on Harris making it. No single human being can avoid the coming crash, but perhaps she will be able to get more done than Biden, with hopes of a Democratic led House and Senate and expansion of the not so supreme court.
The best we can hope for is slowing the descent. Mother nature determines our well-being, period. In addition to halting fossil fuel subsidies, taxing the crap out of the wealthy to keep us in our homes needs to happen. Bad as it is, we haven't seen homelessness, yet.
I'm glad to hear some of Asheville has survived and that neighbors are coming together. This emergency has created a prime opportunity to build community as you wisely see and make a coordinated plan using everyone's unique strengths. You're absolutely correct, no government agency can cover all of a community's needs. This is where the worldwide economy foisted on us shows its weakness in resiliency and supply change problems. Smaller, regional and local systems bring redundancy and therefore resilience. Building local resiliency will be a shit ton of work, and require adopting old, lost ways, but clearly the system we have is destined to break. The conspiracy theories floating around about FEMA are utter nonsense, the far right crap of incredibly awful people.
If I was your neighbor, I would come over and shovel some mud or fix something that got broken. For now, I write to fight, wondering how many in my local community understand what's going on. Helping others helps ourselves. Somehow, this country lost that connection in my lifetime. It's the only path forward with a future. Stay strong, but allow the tears to come when you need them. Today, I will be writing about Milton. I have an elderly aunt just 40 miles north of Tampa and six miles inland. She has no ability to flee. My thoughts are with everyone experiencing this terror and devastation.
Asheville resident of 22 years here. I don't have exactly the right words for what's happened. I know climate change is here; I guess I didn't think Asheville/WNC would be top of list for this magnitude of catastrophe.
My heart is broken for my mountains and my people. I will say that over the course of the last week, I've added about 30 numbers to my phone and have met so many amazing people showing up to help in whatever ways they are able.
Still without power (and there won't be water service for perhaps months) but we are figuring it out. My 83 yo in-laws live with us and that is the hardest part. That and retrieving non-potable water to flush with everyday! AND we are the lucky ones in this. I'm not being overly dramatic when I say we are lucky to be alive.
I don't have a point I guess. Just keep keeping on for now. For anyone who thinks "oh I'm safe from climate catastrophe"... Start your preps now. You're gonna need it!
Hi Katie. Words often fall short when trying to communicate the emotions and totality of such a shocking experience. That's when we need pictures, although they, too, fall short. People do pull together in these situations. We need government to pull together as well and recognize these individual and collective tragedies can take the whole nation down. Estimates are now $250 billion for this storm.
I've endured blizzards, power outages and frozen pipes (it's amazing how many 5 gallon pails of snow it takes to flush the toilet once) and saw considerable heartbreaking damage from Hurricane Irma years ago, but nothing compared to what Helene brought. Wondering how your food situation is and what your experience with FEMA is so far.
You are indeed lucky to be alive. Now and then life reminds us of that. I've had a couple of close encounters. Glad you made it through and have a strong community. Hoping for the speediest possible recovery.
It's so valuable to read your responses. By my lights, although this sort of engagement, where we toss ideas around with each other, is what's wanted and needed, people mostly are just broadcasting.
Yes, the engagement is encouraging. I'm glad for it. I don't want to write in a way that would ever discourage that.
It is rare for me to find someone who shares my fears for Mother Earth, our children’s future and also understands the maniacal driving forces behind it all, so well.
Wish that everyone would read your post, Geoffrey. Your ability to see through the bullshit is so refreshing.
Thank you, Walter. I have lived outside the madness, in large part because of my father's fine library of his generation and the previous one. I also observed how poorly he was treated as a person of conscience, integrity and fairness. It didn't always go well. I understood human nature from a very young age.
What seems obvious to us, others are oblivious to, blinded by 24/7 brainwashing, divide and conquer strategy and poor education.
Your last line… “If Harris wins, don’t be surprised by ensuing chaos and violence. There is a seething, exploited minority in this country ready to explode.”
The election won’t be over until the inauguration has taken place, and there may well be widespread violence continuing after that. No one watching the events in the US unfold from a distance can believe that the polls are close. How can there be ANY support for a convicted felon running for President? But the white nativists are on the march and will never accept a woman of colour as their leader, sad to say.
My own opinion is we passed the point of no return 30 to 40 years ago to have any kind of civil transition. The government should have started a Manhattan or Apollo type project then to address the problem. The government and the oil companies knew.
There has been nothing in the news about how many people are out of work, no home, still stranded, dead etc. It seems to me that the entire south eastern seaboard states have been destroyed and FEMA is already pleading poverty. How long will it take to recover? And another storm is already on the way.
From here on forward we're on our own.
Unfortunately, I agree we likely passed that point decades ago, One of the reasons I wrote The Greenland Ice Sheet is Already Gone. We did need a galvanized effort decades ago.
This storm has as you point out caused lasting economic damage, with a projected Cat 3 bearing down on Florida again. There will come a point when we are physically and financially unable to recover. Insurance is quickly becoming unaffordable or unavailable as well.
FEMA has $20bn in its coffers from the recent supplemental spending bill. That's supposed to hold them until November 5. If Senators want to hold their seats in these states, they will approve more funds. Even Scott, Rubio and Graham are clamoring.
However, at some point, as you say, we will be on or own. Halting weapons to Israel would be a good place to start adjusting the budget.
This is why I'm saying we need a petrocommunist movement. We cannot allow criminals to control the production and sale of fossil fuels any longer. No matter what, it will get worse before it gets better, but if we do want it to get better some day, we must seize the means of the production of energy.
I don't think the principles of communism are bad. I don't think the principles of socialism are bad, or democracy for that matter. It really comes down to behavior, to me, greed that ruins any political and social structure. At the core, we have a terrible behavioral problem.
If you mean seizing the production of energy to halt it as quickly as possible, I agree, but it's also like weaning an addict off a drug. Cold turkey would result in much violence and death. I'm a believer in Degrowth, a concept around since 1970. It's tragic that kind of thinking didn't take hold then, but for the most part the world is not run by enlightened people.
https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/degrowth-the-vision-we-must-demand
Grateful you keep this commentary going, Geoffrey. Especially the downstream health impacts. I am experiencing that unfold now in my own community and household. Watching devestation slam communities and nature, again, and again, and again, am struggling to rise about the clawing, suffocation of it all.
Margi, I'm so sorry to think of you in that situation. The trauma of loss and feeling of insecurity for your community cannot be summed up in numbers. It's inhuman.
As long as I have the ability to call out the insanity, injustice and stupidity of what is going down, I will do so.
By sheer luck, I have been protected so far from the direct effects of our planet becoming inhospitable. It gives me extra responsibility to call it out while I can.
I know it will all catch up to me and those living in illusion at some point.
Amen.
We need to focus on the solutions to ecological and political problems. As long as the world continues to utilize fossil fuels, the ecological issues will not readily disappear. Granted most people don’t agree to change unless forced to do so—thus, I believe fracking was supported by the Biden White House to garner support for smoother transition toward cleaner alternatives. It is impossible to uproot people who are stuck in their own way of doing things.
Hi. I’ll keep it short. Everyone here in Switzerland has insurance, even for low risk events. Perhaps more importantly though is the debate on climate crisis causation. It’s, to lesser or greater degree, all of us. We consume, waste, travel etc all. In my modest opinion though each and every one of us can reduce our footprint today by simply adopting and perhaps advocating a vegan lifestyle. Thoughts?
I wasn't surprised by the one percent rate of flood insurance inland. This sort of flooding wouldn't have likely occurred before global warming, maybe one of those one in a hundred-year events. The low 21 percent rate in coastal areas is a reflection of "it won't happen to me" thinking that many are prone to. I have to wonder why it's not required in high risk areas. One thing for certain, an insurance crisis is developing here that will ripple through the economy.
I agree, all of us developing lower carbon footprint lifestyles and going vegan are good things to do, but there is much structurally wrong here to realize that fully. I would love to be without a car for instance, but it's an impossibility with my medical care which requires driving significant distances and little to no viable public transport, or even safe roads for cycling on local errands. There is also a love of huge vehicles here, I don't relate, too.
I don't know what advertising is like in Switzerland, but here the messages are to consume, implying that is happiness is 24/7.
Some years ago, the mayor of NYC tried to ban the sale of gigantic sugary drinks. The public backlash was crazy. Americans regarded that as an impingement on their rights, rather than an attempt to protect their health. You can't legislate brains. The state of education here is another significant subject.
Last thought, living as low a carbon lifestyle is a great choice, as much as we can manage it, but the "carbon footprint" idea was an invention of the oil industry, BP I think. Unless we leave every last bit of available coal, oil and gas in the ground, we make our already dire problem far worse. Individual choices are admirable, but aren't enough. Governments need to make a hard stand. Cutting off fossil fuel subsidies would be a good place to start.
Yeah it’s interesting. We live on a hill 2000‘ absl. Two years ago we had 3‘ of water flowing though the plot. Neighbour was even deeper. Flood caused by damaged rain water drain. Consumerism is pushed by gvt and all industries with resultant (national) debt and irreparable environmental damage. I can’t change politics but at least try to set a good example. I hope.
I understand. I live as small as I can. Most of my modest belongings are things I have restored or refurbished. I can't help be part of a systemized problem, but I can call it out and make good personal choices.