In response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, President Joe Biden has deployed an additional 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support aid efforts in the southeastern United States. The region experienced severe damage from the hurricane, prompting this urgent federal assistance.
These troops will bolster the existing force of 6,000 National Guard members and 4,800 federal aid workers already active across six impacted states.
The storm has claimed at least 175 lives, marking it as one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the U.S. in recent history. Rescue teams are facing challenges as many individuals remain unaccounted for, particularly in remote areas.
Efforts to deliver aid have included airdrops and the use of pack mules, with government officials indicating that recovery and cleanup could take years.
President Biden plans to visit North Carolina and South Carolina, both heavily impacted by the storm, while Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia, a critical swing state ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm—one of the most intense hurricanes to ever hit Florida’s Big Bend region—before downgrading as it swept through neighboring states.
Experts have noted the unusual scale and duration of the storm’s rainbands, compounded by already saturated ground from previous precipitation.
Reports indicate that nearly half of the fatalities linked to Helene occurred in North Carolina, which experienced rainfall equivalent to six months’ worth within a short timeframe. The state’s mountainous regions were particularly affected, leading to significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
Local emergency officials have described the situation as “biblical devastation,” with areas like Asheville facing substantial destruction.
The extreme weather events have also resulted in the temporary closure of mines in Spruce Pine, known for its high-purity quartz production.
In Tennessee, authorities are currently investigating a plastics factory where floodwaters swept away 11 workers. Search efforts have confirmed two deaths while four individuals remain missing.
The facility’s management stated precautions were taken as conditions worsened, yet reports from employees suggest that they were instructed to continue working until escape became impossible.
Volunteers are reporting harrowing accounts of individuals affected by the storm, emphasizing the dire need for assistance as they recover from this catastrophic event.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas remarked that rebuilding efforts will be an extensive process. The federal government has activated disaster declarations to assist survivors in accessing federal support.
With over a million people still without power, preliminary assessments suggest climate change significantly intensified the storm’s impact, contributing to unprecedented rainfall records in both North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Atlantic hurricane season remains active, with conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean indicating the potential for further severe weather in the months ahead.
