Storm Helene Leaves Devastation and Death in Southeast U.S.
Storm Helene has wreaked havoc across six southeastern states, resulting in over 116 fatalities and extensive destruction particularly in western North Carolina. The mountainous region has seen homes, bridges and entire villages washed away with the tourist town of Asheville completely cut off.
Rescue teams are trying to reach isolated communities amidst challenging terrain and numerous road cut offs. North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper has emphasized the difficulties, stating, “The Mountains in North Carolina are beautiful but there is a lot of rugged terrain” and urged residents to stay off the roads to facilitate rescue efforts.
Initially, hurricane Helene became a tropical storm as it moved through the Carolinas causing majority of fatalities in North and South Carolina. North Carolina has recorded at least 46 deaths, while South Carolina has seen 27.
Over 119 rescues have so far been done with significant efforts in Buncombe County, where 30 lives have been lost and around 1,000 residents remain unaccounted for. Power outages have affected over 500,000 people in North Carolina and Georgia while over 750,000 in South Carolina have been impacted.
The American Red Cross has set up over 140 shelters for evacuees currently housing more than 2,000 individuals. Recovery costs are projected to range between $95 billion and $110 billion nationwide as Helene leaves a legacy of “historic proportions” in North Carolina. As remnants of the storm move into the mid-Atlantic, officials warn of potential new storms ahead of the hurricane season’s end on November 30.
