Folks are furious as Buncombe County, NC issues parking notices on flood victims’ cars
Shawn Hendrix and his family moved to Greenville, South Carolina in late 2022 after winning half a million bucks in a MrBeast contest. His MrBeast moment was no small feat: As a random subscriber, he survived 100 days in a tiny plotted circle…in a field…in the middle of nowhere. The video has 337 million views. When Hurricane Helene’s wrath hit the area last September, he immediately went into volunteer mode, using social media to help victims access rescue and recovery resources. He’s been critical of FEMA’s response to the disaster. This week, Hendrix is furious at Buncombe County for adding insult to injury.
Buncombe County puts orange notices on flood-damaged cars
Hendrix shows his followers an apocalyptic scene. It looks like a recording from just after the hurricane flooded Western North Carolina. He’s walking next to a road in an area full of incredible amounts of debris. We’re talking about a whole building shell, mangled cars, and all else. It’s a ripped-apart mud bank brimming with near-overwhelming Helene aftermath.
But nope: Hendrix filmed just this week, four months after the disaster. On January 25, someone from Buncombe County stuck a notice on a totaled sedan’s window. “We have determined that this car is abandoned on a public right of way…” Hendrix reads aloud.
Hendrix pans out to show viewers the vehicle’s condition. To some, it’s near-laughable to think the notice could possibly be valid. The car’s missing its windshield. A plank of wood seems to have speared it head-on. The right fender’s all mangled. The front bumper hangs off. It clearly landed somewhere random after the storm swept it up and filled it with floodwater.
The comments start out sharing in the outrage…until someone pops in to explain.
Local Sheriff’s Office confirms the notices
A concerned viewer called the county sheriff. According to their explanation on Hendrix’s page, the county needs to clear the vehicles to reestablish a more normal traffic flow and ensure a safe environment.
It makes sense: At some point, something must be done with flood-damaged cars strewn and stranded around the county.
Apparently, officials posted the notices to provide owners an opportunity to involve their insurance company, tow the vehicle, or otherwise “deal with it” before the county takes the matter into its own hands. This possibly involves impounding the vehicle.
Flood victims with totaled cars can file a comprehensive insurance claim…if they have it. Owners that don’t have full coverage, unfortunately, will be left to deal with the car themselves.
FEMA does consider requests for financial assistance to drivers left with a damaged or destroyed car after a natural disaster. Residents of Buncombe County can apply by locating their county listing on disasterassistance.gov.
