Okay, there are a lot of stories circulating around. First I didn't take them as credible then I started to change my mind because....
If there is smoke there is fire. The stories, videos, and personal testimonials are ALL describing relief efforts. So to be the devils advocate let's say that only 50% of the reports are accurate. That is way to high.
I have connections in Tennessee that are reporting similar with a slight twist. LEO's primarily county Sheriffs, are confiscating humanitarian supplies that are entering TN. The supplies are then being rerouted to central locations and being "inventoried" and redistributed. The TEMA agency (TN version of FEMA) is then expecting citizens to make their way to central locations to get supplies and then going home with them.
The challenge is, most humanitarian aide was being dropped of at churches in the hundreds of communities affected by Helene to distribute locally. Now instead of churches distributing aide locally, now the people who need it must go to a facility, often many miles from their town and then go home with the aide.
As a side note, I am working with a church group in Southern PA that is leaving here with supplies on Saturday. I have been asked to collaborate with their comms guy for the trip down/back and while on the ground there. I will keep
UP subscribers in the loop.
Stay tuned,