Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 64 lives and caused widespread devastation across multiple states, including catastrophic flooding and power outages affecting over 2.8 million residents. The storm has prompted emergency responses and calls for federal assistance in the hardest-hit areas.
Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across multiple states, resulting in a tragic death toll of at least 64 individuals. The storm, classified as a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, marking the strongest landfall recorded in this area. The destruction brought forth by Helene includes catastrophic storm surges, severe wind damage, and widespread inland flooding, leading to the submergence of entire neighborhoods and the devastation of homes in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. As of the latest report, at least 17 fatalities have been confirmed in South Carolina, with tragedies also noted in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia. For example, in Georgia, Leon Davis, an assistant fire chief, lost his life when a tree fell on his vehicle while he was attending to a call. In addition, a mother and her infant twins also perished in their home due to a similar incident involving a fallen tree. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left over 2.8 million residents without power across ten states. South Carolina has been particularly hard hit, reporting approximately 942,012 power outages, closely followed by Georgia and North Carolina. In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced that ten lives had been claimed due to the hurricane, describing the devastation as unprecedented. He reported that emergency responders are tirelessly working to rescue affected citizens. Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her condolences to those impacted by the disaster and affirmed that the federal government is actively supporting relief efforts by sending essential supplies and resources to affected regions. The storm’s unprecedented impact continues to unfold as recovery efforts ramp up across the southeastern United States.
Hurricane Helene has had a profound and tragic impact across several states in the southeastern U.S. The hurricane, which made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm, has been associated with a significant loss of life and extensive damage due to its severe storm surge, wind speeds, and flooding. This article provides live updates on the status of the storm’s aftermath, including fatalities, power outages, and responses from state officials and federal authorities.
In conclusion, Hurricane Helene has caused catastrophic damage, claiming at least 64 lives and leaving millions without power across several states. The federal government and local authorities are actively working to support victims of the disaster through rescue operations and the provision of essential resources. As cleanup and recovery efforts progress, the horrifying extent of the storm’s impact continues to be revealed, underscoring the need for resilient infrastructure and effective emergency responses in the face of such natural disasters.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com