Helene's Destruction Sweeps Across Southeast: Latest Developments
Helene, a former Category 4 hurricane that brushed along the shores of Mexico to the Gulf Coast on Tuesday night, delivered intense destruction across the southeastern United States as she made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida. Sweeping drownings swept across the storm through widespread damage, heavy flooding, and massive power outages through at least 49 confirmed deaths in multiple states. Communities are left in ruins, and search parties are racing against time to rescue as many people as possible as the storm rages unabated. This minute-by-minute update chronicles Helene's journey and efforts so far undertaken to fight off one of the worst storms that has ever been documented.
Deaths by State Across Five States
At least five states - South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia - have suffered death in Helene's rampage through the Southeast. To date, the death toll stands at 19 in South Carolina, where it will likely be the highest. Among the dead are two firefighters who died in Saluda County. In Georgia, 15 deaths have been reported; and among the dead are two in Alamo who died when a tornado swept through.
Florida, where the storm initially came ashore, has had eight deaths reported. Some of these deaths have occurred in Pinellas County as people drowned in rising floodwaters. Six deaths also have been reported in North Carolina, including a 4-year-old girl who died in a car wreck on a rain-slicked road. Virginia has had one death which is caused by a storm-related tree fall and building collapse in Craig County.
The damage that Helene caused has left many a community in a state of shock due to the extent of destruction left behind. Residents of the affected states are left to struggle with grief and uncertainty as communities come together to assess damages brought about by the passage of Helene.
Tennessee Set to Experience Imminent Dam Failure
A flash flood emergency has been declared in eastern Tennessee for Cocke, Greene, and Hamblen counties as the situation becomes critical and potentially life-threatening. According to reports from the National Weather Service, the Nolichucky River Dam is bound to fail within a short time. The failure of this dam would mean a possible catastrophic flooding of most affected areas with a potential loss of many lives.
The situation is still quite unstable, and water levels in rivers across North Carolina and Tennessee's Blue Ridge Mountains are rising rapidly. Although the heaviest rainfall from Helene appears to have passed, additional rainfall could be expected over the weekend and stress the situation further. River levels take a long time to recede, and officials are on high alert, monitoring the dam for any condition that might amount to disaster.
This is precisely what the dam situation is - a potential failure from which much can be learned - and yet it's only now that the storm is beginning to dissipate that one begins to appreciate this threat present in Helene.
More Rainfall Predicted Over the Weekend
Although it's lifting out of here, more rain is expected in the Southeast through the next few days. The heaviest rain is probably behind us, but 1 inch could still fall in western North Carolina, with Asheville, as well as in eastern Tennessee, in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. And parts of Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania could see up to 2 inches by Monday.
Though these are moderate volumes by themselves, they are enough to cause red flags in already waterlogged zones from the first rounds of Helene. The National Weather Service has warned that any significant additional rain would mean too much runoff, and increased flooding in and across the bordering vulnerable areas. Communities are, therefore, put on high alert as the potential for flash floods remains high.
Rescue Operations and Federal Assistance Continuing Now
Rescue efforts are under way throughout the Southeast, with nearly 4,000 National Guardsmen involved in operation in 21 counties across Florida to aid in the relief efforts. North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama activated their National Guard troops to help assist with rescue and relief operations.
In addition to the state and local responders, there has also been a concentrated response from the federal level with resources mobilized for recovery work. To date, Vice President Kamala Harris said more than 1,500 personnel from the federal level have been deployed to assist communities affected by Helene. Teams of federal authorities, among others, join local authorities in rescue missions, clearing debris, and restoring key services.
The scale of the rescue operations is huge. Yet much of the region remains inaccessible due to flooded roads and downed power lines. Emergency responders are using boats, helicopters, and high-water vehicles to reach stranded residents. In some places, residents have been trapped in their houses for days, waiting for rescue teams to arrive.
North Carolina Severe Flooding
The hardest-hit states include North Carolina, a place where Governor Roy Cooper described Helene as "one of the worst storms in modern history" for the state. Western parts of North Carolina have been battered as heavy rains swept over the mountainous regions while strong winds and life-threatening flash flooding brought the area to a grinding halt.
In Busick town, as much as 29.58 inches of rain fell in 48 hours, and in Asheville, a curfew was enforced throughout the city to protect lives threatened by weather conditions. In addition, more than 100 people were evacuated from flood waters statewide and thousands more left in the dark due to power outages.
Additionally, flooding has triggered several landslide incidents that have made rescue missions complicated and road access out of the question. Thousands of roads are impassable after the storm, and the officials have been working non-stop in a bid to have safe routes restored.
Power Outages Reach Millions
Helene knocked out power for millions of residents across the Southeast. As of Saturday morning, more than 3.3 million customers were without electricity in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio. Power restoration is under way, but because of the sheer number of the outages, many residents are likely to be without electricity for several days.
Utility companies are working day and night to repair the damaged lines and restore power service. However, widespread damage to infrastructure, coupled with hazardous conditions on the ground, has complicated the task. In some places, fallen trees and floodwaters made it impossible for crews to reach some affected areas to make repairs.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene Still a Threat
Although Helene has entered the post-tropical cyclone stage, the storm is extremely dangerous still. Reports from the National Hurricane Center indicate that Helene's well-organized center of circulation became disorganized, but heavy rainfall and gusty winds are occurring still. With 35 million people affected, wind advisories are in place for parts of the Ohio and Tennessee Valley.
FEMA officials said that even as the storm weakens, floodwaters remain a serious hazard. To stay out of that water, says Keith Turi of FEMA. The waters could be hiding dangerous debris or unstable ground. "There are a lot of dangers in those floodwaters, things you can see and sometimes things you can't see," Turi said.
Florida and Georgia Communities Left in Ruins
The destruction wrought in Florida and Georgia by Helene is almost unbelievable. Cedar Key, Florida, is so devastated that it is not safe for residents or volunteers to return. The town had no sewage and no power, roads were blocked by downed wires and debris. "It's a multifaceted mess," Mayor Sue Colson said of the situation. "It's going to take a while to clean up.".
Almost completely ravaged is Keaton Beach, a very small community within Florida. Many homes in the area were totally destroyed by storm surges, and as for the residents, they had no clue where else they might run to for safety. One such resident was Eric Church. This man stood in the wreckage that once was his house and uttered to no one in particular that he could not believe all this were happening to him. "Man, I just lost my house. I have nowhere else to go," Church said.
Georgia is no exception to this, where at least 115 structures were heavily damaged in the city of Valdosta. Governor Brian Kemp reported that multiple people were trapped inside their home and that people had to be rescued.
Helene that destroyed her entire southeastern section poses great damage in terms of so many loss of lives, massive destruction, and secondary disasters, flooding, and power outages. The storm brought communities in several states to their knees; the whole process of recovery would take weeks to months, full knowledge of destruction only now dawning on rescue teams. Helene will undoubtedly go down as one of the most destructive storms to ever hit the region, leaving a lasting mark on the lives of those affected.