Hurricane Helene Causes Widespread Destruction and Fatalities in the Southeastern U.S.

Rescue teams across the southeastern United States and southern Appalachia scrambled to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which left more than a million people without power on Saturday due to ongoing flood threats. Moody's Analytics projected the hurricane could cause $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage as it was downgraded to a tropical storm by late Friday.

According to the Associated Press, at least 52 fatalities were reported across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The victims included three firefighters, a mother with her 1-month-old twins, and an 89-year-old woman who was killed when a tree struck her house.

The White House acknowledged emergency declaration requests from state governors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance. Approximately 1,500 federal disaster response personnel were deployed to the affected regions.

The situation in Florida remained precarious, with beaches near Tampa closed as rescue and recovery efforts persisted. NPR’s Stephanie Colombini interviewed residents like Andrew Swan, who had ignored evacuation orders. Swan recounted surviving the night alone, with floodwaters rising to chest level, forcing him to sleep on his kitchen counter.

In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented winds of up to 140 mph, marking the strongest land winds recorded in coastal North Carolina since the advent of modern meteorological records in the 19th century. Experts expressed concern over potential debris flows. “To me, the biggest concerns around here are debris flows, which are very wet, very fast moving and can travel long distances,” said Brad Johnson, who specializes in landslides and erosion at Davidson College.

Johnson noted that debris flows can reach over a mile, carrying rocks, trees, and other hazards. The storm set a new rainfall record in Atlanta, with 11.12 inches recorded by Friday, breaking the previous record of 9.59 inches set in 1886. Wilmington also experienced significant weather events, with over 8 inches of rain causing severe damage to coastal properties and farms.