Chris Decker

Chief Creative Officer @Edge360Creative. Web Developer, Screen Printer, Entrepreneur, Change Instigator, Weather Geek, Firefighter. I love coffee and nature.

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

@GSocialMedia @inmotionhosting I hear you. I finally had enough and switched to Kinsta last year. Best move I've ever made.

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

@weatherchannel Winter storms don't have names...

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

Northern Lights from Falling Creek Rd, Lenoir County, NC - 11:54pm, 11/11/2025

[Clint Russell @LibertyLockPod]

It's just my Dad and I in the hospital tonight. I'm gonna tell you what this is like because no one ever told me and I wish they had. It could be hours or it could be days but he is dying. I read this short book called "Gone From My Sight" which lays out step by step every aspect of the dying process. It gave me great comfort.

This is natural. In some ways, it is as beautiful as childbirth. That's not what the book said. Just the overwhelming emotion I was left with.

He stopped eating almost entirely about a month ago and stopped speaking 4 days ago. I am very fortunate and grateful that he and I had a tear-filled conversation on the last day he will ever speak. It was so beautiful I don't even have words for it. He had withdrawn from me two months ago but that is exactly what dying people do. I just didn't know and I doubt he did either.

His eyelids remain slightly open and you can see him looking around as if in a dream state. To me, he is likely reliving fond memories and reconciling any items left undone. He moves when I speak to him but I believe it's just the familiar voice of a loved one that causes him to stir. He is not truly present. A few toes left on earth and the rest of him lifting away from me towards his next chapter.

He is not gone. He will not be gone. He will just be gone from my sight.

If anyone had told me that the week my Dad died would be one of the best of my life I would've thought they were crazy or sociopathic. But that's what this has been.

I've never felt closer to him. I have never felt closer to God. To hold his hand as he dies is life come full circle. He was the first to hold my hand and I will be the last to hold his.

I have done my duty as his Son and he did a great job as my father.

Don't get me wrong. It hurts. Terribly. But only because the bond runs so deep.

I love you Dad. It's OK for you to go.

[James Spann @spann]

DIFFICULT DAYS: I have received many messages like this one over the past 18 hours:

"Have I missed a post from you about the tragedy of Charlie Kirk being assassinated? You are a great person, is it because of the political implications?"

Long time readers here know I don't do politics; I have no interest other than casting my vote on election day. No political commentary here, I am a meteorologist, not a journalist.

On this page you will find weather information, great photos and videos sent to me by followers, and information directly from law enforcement agencies about traffic, missing persons, etc.

As a "public figure" with a large social media following, I can make a few observations...

*Society has decayed in the past 5 years. I have been doing this for 47 years, and the number of threats I have received has grown exponentially. And I am just a weather guy posting radar updates and sunset photos. I can't imagine being an elected official.

*We have a mental health crisis in this country.

*For many, there is a serious inability to think critically. They have turned into radical political extremists on either the left or right. Mindless lemmings full of hate and anger.

*Some see no value in a human life.

The political assassination yesterday was horrific. And a sign of the times. Perhaps a harbinger.

Years ago I lived in a time when you could disagree about politics, but still be great friends. Now, for many people, if you disagree with their political worldview, they want to hurt you. Verbally, and in some cases, physically.

Social media is a very rough place now; simply a reflection of society. I strongly recommend that you turn off your phone today and just take a long walk outside. Too much negativity online can drain your mental energy.

And, remember, mental health is like physical health—it takes regular care, and reaching out for support is a strength, not a weakness.

[Carolina Basketball @UNC_Basketball]

#CarolinaFamily

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

Stream is now dead. Camera appears to be out.

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

@ryanhallyall Looks like rotation just crossed south of Columbus near Waynesville on I-65. Got really dark and windy on this traffic camera, then it went black - https://t.co/fkf4XoxuGu

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

@ryanhallyall Looks like rotation just crossed south of Columbus near Waynesville on I-65. Got really dark and windy on this traffic camera, then it went black - https://t.co/fkf4XoxuGu

[Rep. Chris Humphrey @RepHumphrey]

Today, the #NCGA House overrode the Governor’s veto of SB 382 — providing a critical $252 million for Hurricane Helene recovery, bringing the total aid to $1.1 billion. Senate Bill 382, now law, prioritizes resilience, responsibility, and results for our state’s future. #ncpol

[Chris Decker @chrisdecker]

If Russia supplied Cuba with long-range missiles and authorized them to be fired into the US, would we tolerate that?

Then why do we expect Russia to tolerate it?

Provoking Russia and trying to drag us into a nuclear war is not a very "peaceful transfer of power."

[Cassie Clark @dogwoodblooms]

Alright, y’all. I understand that not everyone has the time to sit down and watch the NCGA Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery have a two hour inquiry with the COO of the NCORR.

So I did it for you. TWICE. And I took notes.

So what were the big reveals from today’s session? 👇🏼

👉🏼Rebuild NC has a $221 million deficit and still has not helped all of the victims of Matthew & Florence
👉🏼The NCGA were not notified extra funds were needed for housing in ENC following Matthew & Florence until October 2024
👉🏼There are 57 contractors who have completed jobs for Rebuild NC that have not been paid
👉🏼Families allege that the work completed by contractors funded by Rebuild NC was subpar. Complaints include floors falling in and doors coming off the hinges.
👉🏼There are currently no funds in Rebuild NC to direct to WNC.
👉🏼Pryor Gibson stated that bureaucratic issues make it harder to rebuild following a storm.
👉🏼When asked how the program got itself in debt, Laura Hogshead stated she was not watching the money closely enough.
👉🏼Rebuild NC may have as many as 7-8 accountants making more than 100k a year and they still couldn’t keep up with their budget.
👉🏼Rebuild NC is spending $2.1 million a month for the displaced families who are still waiting on their homes to be rebuilt in ENC. To date, the program has spent $76.5 million dollars on temporary housing. 270-280 families could be in new homes for the amount spent on hotels.
👉🏼Some families have spent more than six months in hotels. It wasn’t until 2024 that Rebuild NC began offering a stipend for rent that would get families out of hotels and into cheaper temporary housing options.
👉🏼Laura Hogshead admitted responsibility for Rebuild NC’s deficit.
👉🏼NC Rep. Brenden Jones asked Laura Hogshead to resign. She declined.
👉🏼10000 people applied for help from Rebuild NC, 4420 were withdrawn and 1600 found ineligible. The number of those not helped is higher than the number of homes Rebuild NC have completed.
👉🏼The application process for Rebuild NC was left open for YEARS. The decision to leave the process open came from higher ups than Laura Hogshead in the NC Governor’s office.
👉🏼Laura Hogshead said that efforts would be different in WNC depending on where local governments would “allow” rebuilding.
👉🏼It may be averaging NC Rebuild between 600 and 800 days to complete a modular home.
👉🏼Worst case scenario? NC Rebuild may need $264 million to finish building homes in ENC.
👉🏼$120 million is needed to keep NC Rebuild continuing the projects they are currently working on without needing to pause the program.

Relief efforts for Florence and Matthew haven’t even been completed.

How in the world are we supposed to trust that Helene recovery will go any better? 💔

[Starlink @Starlink]

For those impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, Starlink service is now free through the end of the year to help with response and recovery efforts → https://t.co/fUko3xSviJ

[Huggins🎗️ @Huggins2687]

From North Carolina Weather Authority:

Rescue workers are working to reach the most remote areas. Here are rescue workers trying to find people in Polk County. The roads have been completely wiped out, so the only way to some locations is to hike. Thank you, first responders, for your amazing work.
Photos: Saluda Fire and Rescue.

[Huggins🎗️ @Huggins2687]

NC Weather Authority:

The Green River Core Community in Polk County has been completely destroyed; with each passing hour, we discover how bad it is across Western NC. While some areas are getting a little better, many locations are completely destroyed and wiped off the map. It’ll be a long road to recover, and some places may never fully recover. We can’t forget all of our rural areas that have been hit so hard.

Photos and report via Stephanie Brooks

“Green River cove road is mostly destroyed. By destroyed I mean, broken into a million pieces, completely erased, and buried underneath feet of mud and sand. Both bridges are only passable via scrambling and home made ladder systems. 20 houses were destroyed in this same manner, countless buildings and several businesses as well.”

[Aaron Rigsby @AaronRigsbyOSC]

Dunno if these will post. But here is an aerial view of Chimney Rock. Devastation. Active Rescues ongoing. No service, but got some on a hill. #NCwx @accuweather

[Dylan Raines @RainesHQ]

Oh my goodness, this debris flow comes from nowhere and wipes a car and more away. The impacts of #HurricaneHelene across East Tennessee / West North Carolina on full display. This is devastating. #Helene #ncwx #tnwx

[jessica 🗳️🇺🇸 @two_plus_twins]

Oh my god. The live 🚁 footage of Chimney Rock / Lake Lure North Carolina is absolutely devastating 😱🤯

#LakeLure #ChimneyRock #NorthCarolina #Helene

[Carter Everett @CarterEverett13]

On Friendship Church Rd in Boone. Unreal amount of water tore this house apart

[Margo @MargoinWNC]

Downtown Waynesville
North Carolina

[Nicholas Ryan Gonino @nikoliasgoninus]

I don’t know who to credit for this video yet. Will share when I know. It is a local and the video was shared in my family’s group chat. Downtown Chimney Rock, North Carolina is completely gone 😔