More than 60 people have lost their lives due to Storm Helene which devastated the southeastern United States. The storm initially made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing powerful winds of 140 miles per hour, before moving north and causing widespread destruction.ยน
As rescue efforts continue, communities are struggling to cope with the aftermath. Millions of residents across 10 states, from Florida to Indiana, were left without electricity, with over 2.6 million customers still in the dark as of Sunday morning. The storm’s impact was felt across five states, with the highest number of fatalities reported in South Carolina (24), followed by Georgia (17), Florida (11), North Carolina (10), and Virginia (1).
*Storm Damage and Response*
The National Weather Service warned of possible long-duration power outages, while the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) deployed over 800 personnel to assist in the relief efforts. President Joe Biden described the devastation as “overwhelming” and was briefed by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the tragic loss of life across the region.
*Affected Communities*
Residents in affected areas are working tirelessly to repair and clean up their communities. In Cedar Key, Florida, several pastel-colored wooden homes were destroyed by record storm surges and ferocious winds. Gabe Doty, a Cedar Key official, expressed his heartbreak, saying, “We’ve not really been able to catch a break” after two other hurricanes in the past year.
*Ongoing Relief Efforts*
As the recovery process continues, workers are racing against time to restore power and essential services. FEMA’s Criswell visited Florida to survey damage and will visit Georgia and North Carolina in the coming days. The National Hurricane Center has warned of two more named storm systems, Joyce and Hurricane Isaac, expected to impact the region next week.
