Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact across the southeastern U.S. resulted in dozens of deaths and widespread destruction, leaving over 3 million customers without power and many at risk of floods. The storm moved through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, causing uprooted trees, splintered homes, and overflowing rivers. Emergency rescues were conducted, including the dramatic airlift of patients from a flooded hospital in Tennessee. The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, continued to pose flood threats in the Tennessee Valley. The death toll included firefighters, a woman and her twins, and an elderly woman.
Climate change contributed to Helene’s intensity, with flooding and record rainfall causing evacuations and infrastructure damage. Georgia received historic rainfall, while North Carolina faced flooding worse than in a century. The storm also hit the Big Bend region of Florida hard, leaving inhabitants like Susan Sauls Hartway displaced.
The destruction extended beyond Florida, impacting other states and even reaching Indiana with high winds. Power outages affected thousands, and many faced challenges such as fallen trees and flooding. As recovery efforts continued, President Joe Biden expressed support for survivors, and FEMA deployed resources to assist with rescue operations. The extent of damage highlighted the urgent need for climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
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