Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern United States this week, leaving a trail of devastation across six states and claiming at least 90 lives. The powerful storm slammed into the region, causing widespread flooding, downed power lines, and major disruptions to infrastructure. Hardest hit were North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, where millions remain without power and local officials expect the death toll to rise as search and recovery efforts continue. Roads have been washed out, and some towns remain submerged, complicating rescue operations.
The financial impact of the storm is also staggering. Preliminary estimates from insurers suggest that damages could range between $15 billion and over $100 billion. The hurricane’s force crippled essential services, with cellphone towers downed and water systems disrupted, leaving communities struggling to cope. In the aftermath, transportation routes critical for emergency response have been heavily damaged, further delaying aid efforts. The scope of the damage is still being assessed as officials work to restore basic services.
President Biden, who expressed sorrow over the devastation, is expected to visit the hardest-hit areas in the coming days. “It’s tragic,” he told reporters, describing the aftermath as “stunning.” Both presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, have also announced plans to tour the region, receiving briefings on the extent of the damage and the ongoing recovery efforts. Their visits highlight the storm’s political and humanitarian significance as the country confronts the aftermath of one of the deadliest hurricanes in recent years.
As of Sept. 29, the U.S. Energy Department reported that 2.7 million customers across the region were still without power, a significant drop from earlier in the week but still reflective of the widespread outages. South Carolina alone reported 25 deaths, while Georgia confirmed 17, Florida 11, and North Carolina, where Buncombe County was particularly hard hit, reported 30 fatalities. Helene made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sept. 26 before sweeping up the eastern seaboard, devastating entire communities in its path.
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