NPR stations targeted for cuts by Trump have provided lifelines to listeners during disasters
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, the sound coming from open car windows as residents gathered on a street at the top of a ridge trying to get cell service last fall was Blue Ridge Public Radio. And as they stood in line for water or food, the latest news they'd heard on the station was a frequent topic of conversation.
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8 hours ago
- Yahoo
North Carolina town still without clean running water months after Helene
Months after devastating floods caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is still struggling. As tourists return to nearby towns, locals say their recovery has been slower. Janet Shamlian reports.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Resident frustration grows as Sarasota County explores new stormwater department
The Brief Commissioner Tom Knight of Sarasota County wants a stormwater department and manager who can help the system and residents. One couple off of Bell Avenue said they've been asking for ditch clearing for nearly a year as the street continues to flood. The Sarasota County administrator is expected to present what the department could look like next month. SARASOTA, Fla. - Residents off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County said ditches were covered with overgrown with weeds, trees and debris before last year's hurricane season, and it's only gotten worse. They nearly flooded last year, and they're not alone. As they continue to ask for help, Sarasota County commissioners are considering a new department to tackle storm water management. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Local perspective For 16 years, Sue and Mark Inman have lived off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County. "This is not a flood zone. This should not be happening," said Sue. The last year has been full of uncertainty for the couple. READ: St. Pete approves projects to make sewer system more resilient "I shouldn't have to worry about my house flooding if the county would do their job that I'm begging for help," she said. The Inman's saw water creeping up with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During Tropical Storm Debby, water came right up to their house and poured inside their bathroom. "The water had come to a point where it just was coming in. We had to vacuum so we had two vacuums going, and we vacuumed the water all night," said Mark. Sue said before Debby hit, she had been calling for help in clearing ditches in their neighborhood. MORE: Lake Bonny residents brace for new hurricane season after Milton's devastating flooding "It's a huge problem," she said. "We have, there's ditches right down the street from us here that have trees and bushes growing out of the ditches. It's obvious nothing has been done." Sue and Mark said they've contacted Sarasota County not just once, but more than a dozen times, and the only action she's seen are these white flags saying proposed excavation that have gone up. "Every time I call they say it's in progress. Well I'm not seeing any progress and we need help," she said. Why you should care They're not alone. Countless other residents have expressed concerns to Sarasota County commissioners. "It is such an urgency for this community. It is important. I think public confidence has waned in us," said County Commissioner Tom Knight. READ: Tampa Bay residents learn DIY ways to keep floodwaters out this hurricane season Big picture view That's why Knight has proposed a new department to take on stormwater management. "It's a heavy lift on one division, especially after a hurricane, and we hear commentary that we are still digging out from last hurricane," he said. Knight wants an expert who knows the ins and outs of stormwater management and can help maintain the system and waterways like Midnight Pass and Phillippi Creek. "It's a freestanding position. I think this county has grown so rapidly that we want to make sure there is public confidence in what we are doing, and I think we've heard them loud and clear," said Knight. Sue said she has reached out to Knight, Governor Ron DeSantis and others, and with no response, she and her husband are preparing now for what they could face. MORE: St. Pete playwright writes kid's audiobook to help navigate hurricane stress during storm season "What they have working now is not working," said Sue. The other side In a statement to FOX 13, Sarasota County said they will expedite the request to clear storm drains off of Bell Avenue. Here's a statement from the county: "We are aware of the concerns on Bell Avenue, and we are actively working to excavate all ditches throughout the county. We have hired contractors to assist us in meeting this demand. One will be starting this week excavating ditches, with the second joining later this month that will be responsible for cleaning the pipes that connect ditches. The locates have been called in and the ticket for the infrastructure to be notated and marked to be excavated." What's next Next month, Sarasota County commissioners will hear from County Administrator Jonathon Lewis about options for creating a new stormwater division. Commissioners have said this should not duplicate services already offered. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon from concerned residents and from the June 3, 2025, Sarasota County Commission meeting. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Augusta tree companies continue tree removal more than 8 months since Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Storm cleanup continues around the CSRA more than eight months since Hurricane Helene hit our area. Local tree companies are staying busy cutting the last fallen trees and removing those that are at risk of falling. Driving through Augusta neighborhoods, you're still seeing trees in yards and root balls that have yet to be cut—and tree companies like Removify are taking notice. 'You know, 8 months later, and we still have uprooted stumps that have not been taken care of yet. Whether that be people not really caring about it at the moment, or not wanting to spend money on it. Whatever the case may be, every now and again we're still doing a portion of a job that came from the storm,' said owner Matthew Turner. Turner says tree cleanup and removal since September has been the biggest task for his company since he started 4 years ago. Business has slowed down, but the phone calls are still rolling in. 'Some days we just do 1 job depending on how big it is, and other days we'll do 4. There's only so many hours in the day, and a lot of the things we do are really technical and tedious,' Turner said. The same fallen trees they're cutting are still leaving their mark on homes around Augusta. Roofing companies like RCS Roofing are also staying busy as some homes are still covered in tarps. 'We're still doing about 2 a day. Of course, we try to take care of the people in emergency types of situations like tarps. Or, if they have a hole in their house or something like that, we have to get it covered,' said manager Scott Gunter. Helene has also left plenty of leaning trees that are at risk of falling. As the 2025 hurricane season is underway, experts want you to take note of those trees to protect your home. 'If you've got a half fallen tree that came from the storm, if it poses any threat as far as distance to the house, that'd be something that I would want to get taken out sooner than later. It's going to fall at some point, it's just a matter of when,' said Turner. 'If you take a look around, you see leaning trees everywhere—-and those are fragile,' Gunter said. 'If the wind comes, they're going to go. I saw tops fall off just in the last week, so it's something to be careful of.' When the hurricane hit, many homeowners took it upon themselves to work together cutting trees. While storm cleanup is in the home stretch, Turner recommends you to call experts like him instead to cut and remove fallen trees properly and safely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
