Hurricane Helene devastates the southeastern US
The category four hurricane brought with it record rainfall and flooding, leaving many residents without power and running water.
On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, marking the start of its deadly run through Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. By September 29, the storm had become the second-deadliest mainland US hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Compared to a 1,800 death toll, Hurricane Helene claimed the lives of 230 people across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. More than half of the death toll was in North Carolina, leaving entire communities to be uprooted and devastated by the storm’s impacts. The economic impact of the storm, including property and infrastructure damage, is estimated to be as high as C$200 billion—marking it the costliest storm in US history.
A category four hurricane, Helene measured nearly 650 kilometres across and initially travelled at wind speeds of around 225 kilometres per hour before reducing to nearly 50 kilometres per hour as it travelled northward.
The hurricane brought rainfall, storm surges, powerful winds, and flooding to the southeastern US, which swept away coastal communities, fell trees, and wiped away power lines. The hurricane damaged key infrastructure, leaving approximately four million people without power and tens of thousands without running water.
In Florida’s Big Bend region, Helene brought a storm surge which peaked at 15 feet—marking it the region’s highest recorded surge.
In Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia, Helene caused record rainfall, which caused rivers to overflow, resulting in significant flooding, washing out roads and downing power lines. North Carolina saw the technical closure of all roads in its western region due to flooding, damage, and debris.
In North Carolina, search-and-rescue teams rescued, evacuated and assisted a total of 6,586 people. More than 1,600 responders were deployed, with local and state authorities receiving support from 2,700 members of the North Carolina National Guard and US military.
On October 2, President Joe Biden started a tour of the affected states, including Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. In a public statement published on the White House website, President Biden assured readers that the US stands with those affected, “We’re not leaving until you’re back on your feet completely.”
President Biden also promised that the federal government would cover 100 per cent of debris removal costs for six months.
At the same time, Vice-President Kamala Harris toured Georgia, where she was briefed by local officials and stated that the government would be there “for the long haul.”
As of October 9, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to Helene exceeds C$344 million and has reached 375,000 households. So far, FEMA has distributed over 17 million meals, nearly 14 million litres of water, and 210 generators to affected communities. Hurricane victims can also apply for federal assistance through FEMA, which can include funds for necessities and repair-related costs.
Helene’s rapid development and intensity are considered to be proof of climate change’s impact on hurricane power, according to climate scientists, as research shows that the Gulf of Mexico has warmed at twice the rate of the oceans. Such heat in the region enabled Helene’s hasty growth and resulted in the hurricane storing up to 151 trillion litres of rain, which was eventually dumped over the US mainland.
Even with the worst of Hurricane Helene in the rear-view mirror, the southeastern US faces a potentially more fearsome foe in Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida on October 9 and has fluctuated between Categories three, four and five.
As of October 10, 10 deaths have been reported and over 3.3 million Florida residents lack power. Officials have warned that 11 million people are at risk of flash floods after certain regions received once-in-a-millennia amounts.
Before Milton’s landfall on October 8, Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor warned residents, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”
News Editor (Volume 51); Associate News Editor (Volume 50) — Samuel is a second-year student at UTM studying Politics and English. He previously worked with The Medium as an Associate News Editor and currently serves as the publication’s News Editor. Samuel is passionate about employing the power of writing to enhance our student community and hopes to help nurture a bright future for The Medium this year. In his spare time, Samuel can be found working out, creating music on the piano and drums, or exploring nature.