Gatlinburg is burning

Three dead.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2016/11/29/30-gatlinburg-structures-fire-tema/94584554/

 

Just heard that this is the worst fire in Tennessee in 100 years. THousands left homeless and hundreds of business destroyed. Total damages are approaching 18 thousand dollars

THe fire was caused by humans. I dont see where this is being considered a terrorist act. But we need desperately to jump to that conclusion

 

And that's just in souvenir airbrushed T-shirts with black bears on them.

 

Little Log Wedding Chapel: Intact

 

When is the Hollywood Telethon?

 

Sure that figure isn't off a little?

 

He's mocking the people affected.

 

Sen Bob Corker (R-Tn) voted against the Hurricaine Sandy relief package in 2013, no relief money was going to Tennessee. In 2010, he voted in favor in flood aid to Tennessee.

I hope they can get back on their feet without the rest of the country bailing them out. Red State welfare queens

 

It's really a shame that all of that money for Sandy-related damage to Alaskan fisheries got held up in the partisan bickering over the additional relief being considered.

 

As a middle-class kid, it was one of our most frequently-visited vacation destinations (Disney) being the other one. As a teenager, it was great to walk past downtown Gatlinburg's seedy "attractions" and tourist shops while trying to pick up girls. It was kitschy, ridiculous, over the top, but always fun. My wife and I went during Independence Day weekend, saw the town's crazy midnight parade and fireworks display and were trapped in traffic for 2 1/2 hours trying to get out of there.

Gatlinburg was the neutral ground of the SEC, with rival fans wearing their colors everywhere. Destin is similar as well.

I can't imagine the terror felt by those evacuating on those windy roads at night. With only two routes out of town, this was a disaster just waiting to happen. On another trip to Gatlinburg (we live about 8 hours away), we were nearly struck by a giant limb that fell off a massive oak during the worst thunderstorm I've seen in a long while. It blocked the main road through the park until the Park Service was able to cut it into pieces and move it out of the way.

I hate that so many people lost their homes and their businesses, but what's worse is three people died in what looked like the fires of perdition. I always loved hiking in the park, visiting Cades Cove and sprinting to the top of Clingman's Dome. Hopefully, those folks will be able to rebuild and the park will return to its former, green glory.

 

Roads are windy?