Hurricane Helene has claimed more than 215 lives across the Southeast, making it the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. North Carolina has borne the brunt of the devastation, with nearly 60 fatalities reported in Buncombe County alone. Officials warn that the death toll could rise as rescue and recovery teams continue to search isolated areas.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, hundreds of thousands remain without power across the Southeast, with North Carolina particularly hard-hit. Power crews are working around the clock to restore electricity, but the scale of the destruction has made progress slow. Blue Ridge Energy officials say their grid has been severely damaged, leaving parts of the state without power for days. “It’s going to take some time to bring the lights back on,” says Scott Dula of Blue Ridge Energy, who emphasizes that safety and patience are critical as crews tackle the unprecedented damage.
Biden Sends Troops to North Carolina to Aid in Recovery
President Joe Biden has announced that he is sending 1,000 active-duty troops to North Carolina to assist with recovery efforts. The deployment aims to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard, which has been stretched thin in the face of Helene’s widespread destruction. The troops will deliver essential supplies, including food and water, to communities cut off by flooding and debris.
President Biden is visiting the region today and will hold a briefing at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. In a statement earlier, Biden emphasized that the federal government will do everything necessary to help the state rebuild. “The people of North Carolina are resilient, but we will make sure they have the support they need,” the president said.
Widespread Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
Energy providers throughout North Carolina are grappling with massive infrastructure damage. Blue Ridge Energy, which serves a large portion of the North Carolina mountains, reports that many of their power lines and substations have been destroyed. Scott Dula, a Blue Ridge official, described the situation as the worst he’s seen in his lifetime. “This is beyond anything we’ve ever dealt with. The grid is decimated, and it will take time to bring it back online,” Dula explained, while urging residents to be patient with recovery crews working under dangerous conditions.
In neighboring South Carolina, energy crews are also struggling to restore power to more than 200,000 people. Many residents are relying on generators for power, but fuel shortages in some areas have further complicated recovery efforts.
Hurricane Helene’s Toll on the Southeast
Hurricane Helene’s impact extends beyond North Carolina. In South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, severe flooding has left many communities isolated, with roads impassable and communications systems down. Emergency responders are using boats and helicopters to reach the hardest-hit areas, where residents are stranded without access to food, clean water, or medical care.
Officials have yet to calculate the full extent of the damage, but preliminary estimates suggest billions of dollars in property destruction. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency, and federal aid is beginning to pour into the region. Still, local authorities say recovery will take weeks, if not months, in many areas.
Tropical Threats on the Horizon
While the Southeast continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, forecasters are keeping a close eye on another potential threat forming in the Gulf of Mexico. A low-pressure system is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) giving it a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm. Regardless of development, the system is expected to bring heavy rain to Florida later this weekend.
Additionally, Category 4 Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie are being monitored in the Atlantic, though neither system is currently expected to make landfall. However, Hurricane Kirk is causing dangerous rip currents along the east coast, with Florida’s central coastline under a high-risk warning. The National Weather Service has urged swimmers to stay out of the water after a man in his 80s was caught in a rip current off Daytona Beach Shores and drowned.
Preparation for the Next Storm
In South Florida, where heavy rains are expected from the Gulf system, cities are ramping up storm preparations. Hollywood, FL, has activated its storm protocol, offering free sandbags at various distribution points and clearing debris from storm drains. Officials are warning residents to avoid flooded streets and follow the “turn around, don’t drown” mantra to avoid getting trapped in rising waters.
As the Southeast grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the region remains on high alert for potential new storm threats in the coming days.
