Hurricane Helene's devastating march across the Southeast has left a trail of destruction, claiming at least 64 lives and displacing countless residents.
According to CNBC, the powerful Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday, packing winds of 140 mph before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved inland. The storm's impact was felt across multiple states, with Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee experiencing severe flooding and widespread damage.
Florida's rural Big Bend area bore the brunt of Helene's initial assault. Janalea England, a resident of Steinhatchee, Florida, expressed shock at the extent of the damage, stating, "I've never seen so many people homeless as what I have right now." England's commercial fish market has been transformed into a donation site for storm-affected neighbors, many of whom lacked insurance coverage for their homes.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp surveyed the damage from the air, describing the scene as if "a bomb went off." The storm's destructive path continued through the Carolinas and Tennessee, causing rivers and creeks to overflow and straining dams.
Western North Carolina found itself isolated due to landslides and flooding, which forced the closure of major roadways, including Interstate 40. The situation was particularly dire in rural Unicoi County, East Tennessee, where dozens of patients and staff had to be airlifted from a hospital rooftop on Friday.
In Buncombe County, North Carolina, part of Asheville was submerged, prompting ongoing rescue efforts. Sheriff Quentin Miller admitted the severity of the situation caught them off guard, while resident Mario Moraga described the scene in the Biltmore Village neighborhood as "heartbreaking."
Helene unleashed unprecedented rainfall across the region, with some areas experiencing their worst flooding in a century. Spruce Pine, North Carolina, received over 2 feet of rain in just four days. Atlanta recorded 11.12 inches of rain over 48 hours, the highest two-day total since record-keeping began in 1878.
The economic toll of Hurricane Helene is expected to be substantial. Moody's Analytics estimates property damage between $15 billion and $26 billion, while AccuWeather's preliminary assessment of total damage and economic loss ranges from $95 billion to $110 billion.
President Joe Biden acknowledged the overwhelming devastation caused by Helene and pledged federal assistance. He approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina, making federal funding available to affected individuals.
Janalea England from Steinhatchee, Florida, commented on the growing occurrence of severe storms in the area. She noted that these events are making people more aware of the reality of disasters.
Climate scientists point to the role of climate change in exacerbating conditions that allow such storms to thrive. Warming ocean temperatures enable hurricanes to rapidly intensify, sometimes in a matter of hours, leading to more powerful and destructive cyclones.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-average hurricane season this year due to record warm ocean temperatures. Helene marks the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1.
Hurricane Helene's devastating impact across the Southeast has resulted in at least 64 deaths, widespread destruction, and billions in economic losses. The storm's unprecedented rainfall caused severe flooding and isolation in multiple states, prompting extensive rescue operations. As affected communities begin the arduous process of recovery, concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms in the face of climate change continue to grow.
