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The Southeastern United States is grappling with the aftermath of Helene, a record-breaking storm that has left at least 58 people dead and caused widespread destruction. The storm, which initially hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of 140 mph, has since weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. However, its impact continues to be felt across the region, with life-threatening floods and power outages affecting millions.
In North Carolina, officials said that over 200 people have been rescued from flood waters.
Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, late on Thursday (September 26), becoming the first known Category 4 storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend region since records began in 1851. The storm then moved across Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, causing extensive damage and loss of life. The death toll had reached 58 by Saturday afternoon, with officials expecting it to rise further as they continue search and rescue operations.
In North Carolina, the storm has been described as a "catastrophic natural disaster," with all rivers in the state at "major flood status." The state's Department of Transportation has advised that all roads in the western part of the state should be considered closed, with over 400 roads already closed due to flooding. PennLive reports that in Tennessee, around 100,000 residents were urged to seek higher ground as the Nolichucky Dam in Greene County was on the brink of failure.
The storm has also caused significant power outages, with utilities reporting 3.8 million power outages on Saturday morning. In Western North Carolina, cellular coverage was lost in a county of over 250,000 people, further complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
Nearly all flights into the Asheville Regional Airport have been canceled. Officials said that flights will be disrupted tomorrow because of communication issues that have also taken down the airport website. Travelers are advised to check with their airline before heading to the Asheville airport to make sure their flight is still scheduled to depart.
The storm caused extensive damage to Asheville's water system, and a boil order is in effect. The city's Water Resources Department is already starting the process of acquiring the needed equipment and personnel to repair the damage. The City of Asheville advises anyone who currently has water to fill bathtubs and other containers to prepare for loss of service.
President Joe Biden has approved emergency disaster relief aid for Tennessee. However, the full extent of the damage caused by Helene is yet to be determined. Early estimates by AccuWeather suggest that the storm could have caused between $95 and $110 billion in damage and economic loss, potentially making it one of the costliest storms in history.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell posted a lengthy thread on X detailing the damage caused by the storm and the issues that the region is facing as it tries to recover from the impact of Helene:
The Mountains have Turned into "Islands"
Western North Carolina, WNC for short, (and also bordering portions of NW SC & eastern TN) is effectively a series of tiny islands at this point, and I don't mean because of the flooding, but from a disaster perspective. After a major hurricane at the coast, relief and utility services can gradually work their way to the coast as roads open, but the barrier islands are cut off for days or weeks. The same will be true for parts of WNC.
NCDOT says 400 roads are closed. Every road/bridge that got washed out also took out water, gas and communications lines with it. This will take weeks to fix and will likely come with great human suffering the likes of which the area has never seen. Relief organizations won't be able to get into the areas where help is most needed due to so many roads being washed out.
The best bet for the next week will be helicopters and satellite internet, if people have the hardware. Even flying people/supplies into small airports won't be effective because so many roads are closed.
You can get the latest information about the impact of Helene by listening to News Radio 570 WWNC on iHeartRadio.