Anyone who has ever worked in long-term disaster recovery and response well knows what Day #6 and Day #7 bring to the psyche.  As the crisis in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina is now understood, the rescue and recovery work continue.

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While rescue workers still attempt to find access points into some of the most devastated towns and communities of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, Joe Biden was in Greenville, South Carolina today for a briefing [SEE HERE].  There remains a worrisome absence of overall federal action when overlaid to the scale of the problem.

Day #6 and 7 are generally fraught with anxiety and the sense of being overwhelmed when contrast against the tasks at hand. It is understandable that PTSD would begin to settle in the psyche of those in the hardest hit areas.  We have many friends in the region and send our deepest prayers of support and assistance to those in need.  You are not alone.

On Tuesday, I-40 was reopened east of Asheville, but I-40 at mile marker 3 in Haywood County will remain closed indefinitely.

Both I-40 East and West are closed from mile marker 432 in Tennessee east to mile marker 3 in North Carolina. I-40 West is closed starting at mile marker 3 in North Carolina west through mile marker 435 in Tennessee, according to TDOT.

While the major thoroughfare is closed for the foreseeable future, there are ways around it.

Interstate 81 offers a bypass to I-40. Those in the Northwest section of Western North Carolina, can look for a safe route to I-81 into Tennessee which connects with Interstate 77, providing an alternate route to other areas in North Carolina.

Those in the Southwest part of the state can still travel on part of Interstate 26, but sections of the road may be closed. People can also seek out safe routes to Interstate 85 and then head Northbound to the Charlotte area.

Those south of Hendersonville can take U.S. 74 ALT to U.S. 74 East toward Shelby and then connect with I-85 to Charlotte and other points North and East.

U.S. 64 to U.S. 74 ALT just north of Hendersonville is impassable at this time due to landslides. The road is also impassable between U.S. 74 ALT and Slick Rock Road according to NCDOT.  (link)

We have many Treepers in the identified severe impact zone.  If your communication situation has improved, please let us know your status.  Additionally, if there is any general information that people feel could be of benefit to those in the area, please use the comment section to provide your updates.

Prayers continue for everyone in the region.