More than 160 left dead in US south-east by Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene has had a catastrophic impact on the southeastern United States, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 160 lives. This storm has been one of the deadliest in recent history, and many individuals are still unaccounted for after the hurricane wreaked havoc across several states. The storm brought with it severe flooding, destruction of homes and communities, and widespread power outages. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with teams utilizing helicopters and even mules to deliver essential supplies to those in need. The federal government has indicated that the recovery and cleanup process could take years. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit North Carolina, one of the states hardest hit by the storm, while Vice-President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia, another state affected by Helene. Both states are crucial for the upcoming presidential election, and the storm has already become a significant political issue, especially after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Georgia earlier in the week. Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, marking it as the most powerful storm to strike Florida's Big Bend region. After impacting Florida, the storm continued its path through neighboring states, eventually weakening to a tropical storm. The extent of the rainfall was unprecedented, and the storm lingered longer than usual, exacerbating the flooding situation. The ground was already saturated from previous rainfall, which contributed to the severity of the flooding. According to reports from CBS News, 162 fatalities have been confirmed across six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. This death toll surpasses that of Hurricane Ian, which occurred in September 2022 and claimed at least 156 lives. In North Carolina, nearly half of the deaths attributed to Helene occurred, with the state experiencing six months' worth of rain in a very short period. The mountainous regions of North Carolina faced particularly heavy rainfall, leading to the destruction of homes and infrastructure. An emergency official from Buncombe County, which includes the city of Asheville, described the devastation as 'biblical. ' A volunteer involved in relief efforts shared a heartbreaking story about a woman who had previously lost everything in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This woman had relocated to Asheville, hoping for a fresh start, only to face devastation once again nearly two decades later. The volunteer recounted, 'Looks like she’s wiped out again. She has no drinking water. No gasoline. The food in her fridge has rotted. ' The extreme weather conditions have also led to the closure of mines in Spruce Pine, a small town known for being the largest source of high-purity quartz. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has stated that rebuilding efforts could take years. President Biden has authorized survivors to apply for federal assistance by declaring disasters in various states. On Monday, he acknowledged reports indicating that up to 600 individuals were still unaccounted for, expressing hope that they are alive but recognizing the challenges in reaching them due to disrupted cell phone coverage. As of Wednesday morning, over a million residents in the affected states remained without power, according to Poweroutage. us. Initial analyses suggest that human-induced climate change played a significant role in the excessive rainfall associated with the storm. Following Helene's landfall, record flood levels were recorded in at least seven locations across North Carolina and Tennessee. In certain areas of western North Carolina, long-standing records from the 'Great Flood' of July 1916 were shattered. The Atlantic hurricane season is ongoing and will continue until the end of November. The waters in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean are currently warmer than average, raising concerns that more powerful storms could develop in the coming weeks.