The death toll from Hurricane Helene has tragically reached 200, with emergency responders tirelessly searching for survivors after the storm ravaged the southeastern United States.
Over half of the fatalities occurred in North Carolina, where entire communities have been left in ruins by one of the deadliest storms to hit the mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
With hundreds still unaccounted for and nearly a million homes without power nearly a week after landfall, the situation remains dire.
As the catastrophe unfolds, President Joe Biden is in the region, having recently completed a two-day tour across Florida and Georgia.
Biden examined the destruction in Tallahassee, Florida, where Helene made landfall as a Category Four storm. Federal disaster assistance has been approved for impacted states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
In North Carolina, tens of thousands are without running water, with particularly severe effects felt in the mountainous region around Asheville.
Residents like Nicole Rojas from Vilas described their experiences as “surviving the apocalypse.”
A heartbreaking incident involved an elderly couple in South Carolina who perished in their home after a tree fell on it while they were asleep.
Road closures continue to hinder relief efforts, necessitating the innovative distribution of aid. Private citizens have stepped up, using mules and helicopters to deliver critical supplies.
The Mountain Mule Packer Ranch has deployed mules to transport essential supplies to remote communities, successfully navigating rough terrain that vehicles cannot access.
The team’s challenges include deep mud left in the aftermath of flooding, but they have delivered vital items like insulin, baby formula, and food.
In a move to ensure safety, North Carolina’s Department of Corrections relocated 800 inmates due to the storm’s impact on power and water supplies.
Family members of prisoners have expressed concern, noting they have not heard from their loved ones in over a week.
As of Thursday, over 933,000 customers across the southeastern U.S. remain without electricity.
In response to the crisis, over 6,700 Army and Air National Guard members from 16 states are actively aiding in recovery efforts, with 1,000 active-duty soldiers also deployed.
During the tour, President Biden announced that the federal government would cover 100% of emergency protective measures and debris removal costs in North Carolina for six months, with similar commitments for Georgia and Florida for the next 90 days.
As recovery efforts continue, additional rainfall is expected across the Gulf Coast and Florida, raising concerns about further complications in the response.
The Atlantic hurricane season extends through November, and officials warn that if another storm strikes, resources may be stretched thin.
The Biden administration has already dispatched over 8.8 million meals, 7.4 million liters of water, and other essential supplies to the impacted areas.
Currently, two storms are forming in the Atlantic Ocean; Hurricane Kirk, a Category Three storm, poses a danger to surf conditions in Florida and the Caribbean but is not expected to make landfall in the U.S., while Tropical Storm Leslie is not currently a threat.
