The recent Hurricane Helene caused great damage to the Southeast region of the United States, killing at least 48 people and causing billions of dollars in damage. The storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region late on September 26 with winds as strong as 225 km/h, at level 4, before sweeping through states such as Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. This storm not only destroyed homes but also left more than 3 million people without power and many areas were seriously flooded.
In North Carolina, especially in the West, landslides and flooding have isolated some areas, forcing authorities to close arterial roads such as I-40. This situation causes rescue services to work non-stop. One of the most notable rescues took place in Unicoi County, Tennessee, where patients and staff of a hospital isolated by flooding were airlifted to safety.
Helene has now weakened to a post-tropical storm, but continues to cause heavy rains and flash flooding in many areas, especially in the Appalachian Mountains. According to the US National Hurricane Center, flood warnings remain in place in many places, and authorities are concerned that the situation could persist for days to come.
This storm caused heavy damage to both people and property. Among the victims, there are heartbreaking stories like a woman and her one-month-old twins, or an 89-year-old woman who died when her house was hit by a falling tree. Deaths were recorded in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Some wealthy areas such as Davis Island in Tampa, home to celebrities such as athletes Derek Jeter and Tom Brady, were also severely damaged by the storm. Many people here were surprised by the level of destruction caused by the storm, as the water rose to unprecedented levels. Although no one died in the area, many houses, shops and apartments were severely flooded. One local resident, Faith Pilafas, shared: “We are used to hearing about big storms, but have never actually experienced such a strong impact.”
The landslide situation in the Appalachian Mountains made life even more difficult for people, when part of the interstate highway was swept away. In North Carolina, many homes were severely damaged and it took rescue teams hours to reach them to rescue people. The Buncombe County 911 Center received more than 3,300 calls in just eight hours on September 27, demonstrating the severity of the situation.
Meteorologists warn that flooding in North Carolina could be more severe than any flood in more than a century. To assist in the rescue work, the Connecticut National Guard sent a helicopter to help.
Helene is the 8th named storm in this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. Climate experts predict that this hurricane season will be above average due to record warm ocean temperatures, leading to the possibility of more powerful storms continuing to form. With the devastating consequences that Helene left behind, the Southeast region of the United States will certainly have to spend a lot of time and effort to overcome the consequences of this natural disaster.