Rescue efforts are ongoing as survivors are sought following the destructive tropical storm Helene that hit the southeast of the United States. The storm, which reportedly led to over 60 fatalities, resulted in enormous material damage, leaving millions without power and many homes destroyed.
Initiating as a category four hurricane, Helene stormed through the states of Georgia and the Carolinas after making landfall on Thursday, resulting in vast flood damage that extended throughout the weekend.
It falls to the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the US government to coordinate a cleanup and rescue operation involving 2200 personnel. This undertaking spans six states, all of which have declared a state of emergency.
According to the Associated Press, by Sunday, as many as 64 fatalities were reported across five states due to the storm’s ravages. Despite Helene’s strength diminishing from its top speed of 225 km/h, it is estimated that it will linger till Monday.
North Carolina suffered the worst loss, with a death toll of 25. This figure marks the state’s highest since Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The aftermath of the storm witnessed the most severe flooding the state has witnessed in a hundred years.
Federal aid has been activated for North Carolina and Florida via major disaster declarations by US President, Joe Biden. Emergency disaster declarations have also been made in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, ensuring federal aid will be directed to these states.
According to a social media post by North Carolina’s governor Roy Cooper, the state’s western area was severely affected. The post assured the public that efforts to rescue people, provide assistance, and start recovery are progressing speedily.
The South Carolina US National Weather Service office called the storm the most devastating event in its history, expressing their grief over the widespread destruction caused by flooding and winds brought by Helene.
Officials reported that many were left without homes or stranded in the region. The energy department reports that 2.7 million households had no power in the southeast, indicating a 40% decrease from Friday’s peak figure of 4.6 million households.
Moody’s estimates the storm damages could tally up to $34 billion (£24.5 billion), due to property damage and decreased economic productivity. AccuWeather, however, predicts more considerable losses ranging between $95 billion and $110 billion, positioning Helene as potentially one of the most disastrous storms in US history.
US senator Lindsey Graham disclosed to CNN on Sunday that the devastation extends from Hilton Head, South Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina, with areas west of this line severely impacted.
Deanne Criswell, the administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), revealed to Face the Nation on CBS that record-breaking storm surge levels were recorded in Florida’s Big Bend, with one county experiencing up to 15ft of storm surge. The aftermath of the storm also resulted in landslides and flooding in North Carolina, with ongoing search and rescue efforts continuing in the state.
Ken Graham, the director of the National Weather Service, described the situation as striking, with North Carolina, particularly its western region, experiencing a historic level of flooding. Rainfall in some parts of North Carolina reached nearly 31 inches, leading to major devastation.
Further potential distress was noted as areas of the state remain on flash flood alert due to possible dam failures. Although more thunderstorms were expected, they were not predicted to bring heavy rain, and dry conditions were expected statewide after Tuesday. The storm system could potentially cause further flooding in West Virginia as it progresses north.
Over 2,000 individuals sought shelter in the southeast, reported Jennifer Pipa, the American Red Cross’s vice-president of disaster response.
Criswell underscored that damage from hurricanes due to water has intensified with climate change, a deviation from the past where wind was mainly responsible. She also pointed out this storm’s specific progression was due to the warm Gulf waters, a consequence of climate change which results in more major category storms than before. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024