Hurricane Helene Leaves A Trail Of Devastation Across Southeastern United States
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On September 26, 2024, at 11:10 pm EST, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a dangerous Category 4 storm. With sustained winds of over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h), it was the most powerful hurricane to hit the region since record-keeping began in 1851. After causing widespread damage, Helene continued on to several states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Helene weakened to a tropical storm shortly after making landfall. But it still brought torrential rains and generated numerous tornadoes across all the areas in its path. The strong winds and floodwaters washed away hundreds of roads and destroyed countless buildings, homes, and vehicles. Millions of people lost power and cell service. As of October 2, 2024, officials have confirmed 170 storm-related deaths, making Helene one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the mainland US. With hundreds of people still missing, the numbers could rise substantially over the next few days.
The city of Asheville, in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and its surrounding areas were among the hardest hit. By the time Helene landed in Florida, Asheville had already received over 4 inches of rain from a separate storm system. The downpour continued through September 26. It worsened the following day when remnants of the hurricane arrived. The three-day period from September 25 to 27, 2024, was the region's wettest on record. Some areas saw three months worth of rain in just three days.
The subsequent flooding devastated the town of Chimney Rock, 25 miles southeast of Asheville. Roads and bridges were destroyed, and most buildings in the once-bustling downtown district were reduced to rubble.
"Our little community of about 125 people… every single business has been either destroyed or severely damaged. Many of them are damaged to the point where they'll have to be completely rebuilt,” the town's Mayor Peter O'Leary said. "It's devastating. The whole community of Chimney Rock is changed forever."
On October 2, 2024, President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of 1,000 soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical supplies to communities impacted by the hurricane. These troops will assist the over 4,800 federal personnel already providing aid. The president has also approved a major disaster declaration for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, allowing residents to apply for federal assistance. Additionally, he plans to ask Congress to approve an emergency funding package to support recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross and other non-profits are providing tens of thousands of people with temporary shelters and meals. The National Football League has pledged $8 million to help those in need. State governments, corporations, and businesses are contributing to the relief efforts with cash donations and essential supplies such as water and non-perishable foods. Hopefully, this collective assistance will help the affected communities recover quickly from the disaster.
#Stay Strong
Resources: Washingtonpost.com, foxnews.com, CNN.com, NPR.com, Wikipedia.org
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77 Comments
birdie2012about 2 monthsHopefully we stay strong! This is so devastating though...
