Author: WeatherPreppers

In the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a warning to North Carolina taxpayers about scammers posing as charitable organizations to get personal and financial information from unsuspecting donors. Scammers commonly set up fake charities to take advantage of peoples’ generosity during natural disasters and other tragic events. “Many people want to assist survivors and their families by donating to charities,” said Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner. “Unfortunately, criminals frequently…

A Lee County Middle School teacher has been missing for weeks after her home in Avery County was swept away by Helene’s floodwaters. Kim Ashby was last seen in a red shirt and black pants floating down the river after the floodwaters carried away her home in Elk Park. Her husband was found alive days later, 2 miles away. He is recovering and refuses to leave the area until his wife is found. Kim’s daughter, Jessica Meidinger,…

Distribution of IV fluids to most hospitals nationwide were reduced 40-60% after the nation’s largest manufacturer was hit by Hurricane Helene. The Baxter North Cove facility in Marion, N.C., produced roughly 1.5 million bags a day. The location is responsible for about 60% of the country’s supply of IV fluids. Duke University Hospital’s Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jon Bae said there is a shortage of “a lot of the traditional IV fluids, normal saline, Lactated…

Several University of North Carolina member institutions are waiving application fees for students in counties that were affected by Hurricane Helene. The offer is valid for all applying students from 39 disaster-declared counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27 in an effort to reduce hardships for college-bound students. The move is part of College Application Week, a statewide initiative to encourage high school seniors to pursue higher education….

By Brian Murphy, WRAL News Durham, N.C. — The Durham Rays? It seems like a long shot, but Hurricane Milton’s destruction in Florida, particularly in the Tampa area, has, at least, allowed some to dream of a Major League Baseball team coming to the area. The roof Tropicana Field, the home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, was badly damaged during Hurricane Milton which hit Florida earlier this month, raising questions about its viability for the…