The Helene Aftermath

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The Helene Aftermath

Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation across the southeastern U.S., resulting in 52 reported deaths, catastrophic flooding, and millions left without power.

The AP reported:

Soon after it crossed over land, Helene weakened to a tropical storm and later a post-tropical cyclone. Forecasters said it continued to produce catastrophic flooding, and some areas received more than a foot of rain.

A mudslide in the Appalachian Mountains washed out part of an interstate highway at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line.

Another slide hit homes in North Carolina and occupants had to wait more than four hours to be rescued, said Ryan Cole, the emergency services assistant director in Buncombe County. His 911 center received more than 3,300 calls in eight hours Friday.

“This is something that we’re going to be dealing with for many days and weeks to come,” Cole said.

Accuweather reported the storm is now considered one of the largest to hit the Gulf of Mexico in a century. More than 32 inches of rain fell in parts of North Carolina, while Atlanta saw over 11 inches, shattering a 19th-century record. Rescue operations, including dramatic helicopter rescues at flooded hospitals, took place in Tennessee and other affected areas. The death toll includes firefighters, families, and elderly individuals, with emergency teams still conducting searches. At its peak, over 4 million customers lost power across multiple states, with over 2.5 million still affected. Helene’s impacts stretched from Florida's coast to the inland mountains of Tennessee, with billions of dollars in damages reported.

The Trump campaign announced yesterday they would be in Valdosta, Georgia today to distribute relief supplies and deliver remarks to the press. President Biden posted that he would also be visiting the area at some point.

Samaritan’s Purse has begun outreach in five states. On Facebook, organization President Franklin Graham said, “Samaritan’s Purse responds to help with storms and crises around the world every day, but now the storm has hit in our own backyard. Hurricane Helene slammed western North Carolina and the surrounding area, as well as Georgia and Florida. Homes have been flooded and some even washed away, trees are down, tens of thousands are still without power. We would be grateful for your prayers for all those affected by this storm.”

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