Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across the Southeast, leaving a trail of destruction after making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as the strongest hurricane on record. The storm, which hit on Thursday, has claimed at least 95 lives and left millions of residents in the dark across six states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Widespread Fatalities and Missing Persons
North Carolina has been hit the hardest, with at least 36 deaths confirmed by state and county officials. South Carolina has reported 25 fatalities, including two firefighters in Saluda County. Georgia has suffered 17 deaths, two of which were caused by a tornado in Alamo. Florida has seen 11 deaths, with many victims drowning in Pinellas County, while Virginia and Tennessee have reported two and four fatalities, respectively.
In North Carolina, over 600 missing persons reports have been filed as communication outages have left families unable to reach loved ones. Buncombe County, one of the hardest-hit areas, continues to struggle with road closures and power outages, leaving residents isolated and without essential resources.
Flooding and Infrastructure Damage
Flooding has turned neighborhoods into lakes and left hundreds stranded in their homes. In North Carolina and South Carolina, over 450 roads remain closed, impeding rescue operations and the delivery of vital supplies like water and food. Asheville resident Stevie Hollander described the devastation, saying, “We need water, power, food, gas. Anything.” Residents in areas like Weaverville, North Carolina, are facing critical shortages of water and power.
Federal Emergency Response
The federal government has declared public health emergencies in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, deploying 200 personnel to assess damage to hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities. President Joe Biden has approved federal disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama, unlocking emergency funds and resources for the affected states. Biden is expected to visit impacted communities later this week.
Former President Donald Trump also sent his condolences to the victims, acknowledging the unprecedented destruction caused by Helene. The storm is the strongest to hit Florida’s Big Bend region in recorded history, leaving “complete obliteration” along the coastline, according to Governor Ron DeSantis.
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For additional updates on recovery efforts and the impact of Hurricane Helene, visit CNN.
Although the storm has weakened, rainfall continues in some areas, exacerbating flood risks and hindering rescue and recovery operations.