Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, has led to catastrophic flooding and significant damage across the southeastern United States, particularly in North Carolina. Weaverville Mayor Patrick Fitzsimmons reported extensive destruction, including power outages and flooding of the town's water plant. At least 116 people have died nationwide due to the storm, with at least 35 fatalities in Buncombe County, NC. Over two million residents are without power, and rescue teams are actively deployed to assist affected areas.
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, has resulted in at least 88 fatalities across the southeastern US, with severe impacts in North Carolina, where one-third of the deaths occurred. Over two million residents remain without electricity as recovery efforts continue and areas remain flooded. President Biden has approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina, and Vice President Harris plans to visit affected areas. Rescue operations are ongoing with county officials promising food and water supplies. Free meals are being provided in multiple states by World Central Kitchen.
Members of an elite task force from Massachusetts are in North Carolina assisting with rescue missions after Hurricane Helene soaked the region with torrential rain, causing unprecedented flooding and landslides . Beverly-based Massachusetts Task Force 1, which is comprised of firefighters, technical rescue technicians, medical professionals, canine handlers, engineers, and civilians from all six New England states, shared photos of crew members navigating a swollen river. MA-TF1, one of FEMAs 28 urban search-and-rescue teams, has been on the ground in North Carolina since Thursday evening. Hurricane Helene unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina, dousing some communities with over two feet of rain. In the mountain city of Asheville, 30 people were reportedly killed and the death toll across the Southeast was nearing 100 .
Hurricane Helene ( hehl-EEN) was a large, deadly, catastrophic, and fast-moving tropical cyclone that was the strongest on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida. The eighth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Helene developed gradually from a mid-September disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea within a broad area of low pressure known as the Central American gyre. By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula, receiving the name Helene from the National Hurricane Center. Favorable conditions led to the cyclone's gradual intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and eventually rapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed the Gulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of Perry, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Helene would weaken as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to a post-tropical cyclone over Tennessee on September 27. The storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29.In advance of Helene's expected landfall, the governors of Florida and Georgia declared states of emergency due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Helene also caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland. As of September 30, a total of 120 deaths have been attributed to Helene with an additional 1,073 people missing.
Over 40 trillion gallons of rain fell in the Southeast U.S. from Hurricane Helene and a preceding storm, causing catastrophic flooding and over 100 fatalities. This volume is enough to fill the Dallas Cowboys Stadium 51,000 times or cover North Carolina in 3.5 feet of water. The rainfall's extent and quantity are remarkable, with experts noting it's unprecedented in size and impact, especially affecting Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Florida. Measurements suggest even more rainfall may have occurred in Virginia, complicating the assessment of damage.
More than 200 people were reported rescued from floodwaters in North Carolina following Helenes torrential rains with more expected in the coming days. ASHEVILLE, N.C. Drone video captured above the historic Biltmore Village in western North Carolina shows the impact of more than a foot of rainfall on the community around Asheville during Hurricane Helene . A record crest of the nearby Swannanoa River sent floodwaters racing through the village, destroying the first floors of many buildings and trapping residents who did not evacuate.
The brutal onslaught of Hurricane Helene has left the small mountain town of Swannanoa, North Carolina , in ruins - with locals describing the community as 'entirely erased'. As the death toll in Buncombe County alone climbs to a staggering 30, survivors are left grappling with scenes of utter devastation and a desperate lack of basic necessities. The once-picturesque town now lies in ruins. Cars are perched in tree limbs along the flooded Swannanoa River. Homes have been torn from foundations, thrown upside-down or split in half.
Dramatic surveillance footage from Pinellas County shows a Tesla catching fire in a flooded garage due to Hurricane Helene's storm surge. The fire quickly engulfed the vehicle as officials warned electric vehicle owners of the risks associated with saltwater flooding. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, caused significant destruction in multiple southeastern states including Florida and North Carolina, leading to at least 93 fatalities. Authorities are urging precautions for EV owners and announcing recovery efforts including shelters and support from the American Red Cross and President Biden.
Hurricane Helene was the most intense tropical cyclone of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season. The eighth tropical storm and fourth hurricane of the year, Helene was formed from a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles . Moving steadily westward, the storm slowly intensified, attaining hurricane strength on September 26. As conditions became increasingly favorable for tropical cyclone development, Helene began to rapidly intensify. Nearing the United States East Coast, the hurricane quickly attained Category 4 intensity on September 26, before it subsequently reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 930 mbar (930 hPa; 27 inHg). The intense hurricane came within 10 mi (16 km) of Cape Fear, North Carolina before recurving out to sea. Accelerating Helene gradually weakened, and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it passed over Newfoundland on September 29. Helene's extratropical remnants traversed eastwards across the Atlantic Ocean before dissipating near Great Britain on October 4.Despite not making landfall on North Carolina, its close proximity to land caused extensive damage across the US East Coast. Strong winds resulted in widespread power outages, cutting telecommunications along the coast. A weather station in Wilmington, North Carolina reported a wind gust of 135 mph (217 km/h), setting a new record for fastest wind gust reported there. Though mostly concentrated in North Carolina, rainfall was widespread, reaching as far north as Maine. In the United States, damages reached $11.2 million and there was one indirect death. After impacting the US, Helene produced strong winds and heavy rain across much of Atlantic Canada. In Cape Breton Island on Nova Scotia, the storm was considered the worst in at least 21 years. Power outages cut most communications from the island to the mainland, and property damage in Sydney, Nova Scotia totaled to C$100,000. At Helene's landfall in Newfoundland, strong gusts peaking at 82 mph (132 km/h) in Naval Station Argentia were reported, and loss of power severed communications. Damage across there totaled to at least C$100,000. Total damages associated with Helene in the United States and Canada amounted to $11.4 million, making Helene the costliest storm of the season.
In Asheville, NC, evacuees sheltering at A-B Tech recount harrowing experiences from Hurricane Helene, which flooded neighborhoods, destroyed homes, and left many without power. With 149 people seeking refuge at the college, volunteers and local businesses provided essential aid. In Lansing, massive flooding devastated the community, leading to extensive damage and rescue efforts hampered by washed-out roads. Amid the destruction, local residents showcased resilience, sharing food and support while facing an uncertain future.
By Sharyn Alfonsi September 29, 2024 / 7:30 PM EDT / CBS News On Thursday night, Hurricane Helene and its 140 mile an hour winds made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region. It was deadly. The full extent of the damage won't be known for weeks and residents know rebuilding after the storm is likely to be as daunting as the storm itself. It's been two years since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida and an estimated 50 thousand homeowners are still locked in battles with their insurance companies. Tonight, you will hear from insurance insiders who say after years of diligently paying premiums, homeowners are being misled by their insurance carriers.
In the aftermath of a devastating storm, communities are grappling with significant loss and destruction. At least 95 fatalities have been reported across six states, with North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia most affected. Over 2 million customers are without power, and hundreds of roads are closed, complicating supply deliveries. President Biden plans to visit the affected areas and has approved disaster relief funds as local residents and emergency services work to rebuild and assist those in need.
Betsy Packard, a former University of Kentucky staff member, suggested Hurricane Helene's devastation was God's punishment for supporters of Donald Trump. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, resulted in over 116 deaths and widespread destruction across several states. While Packard's comments provoked outrage and calls for her termination, the University disavowed her statements, emphasizing their values and support for affected communities. Relief efforts are ongoing, with President Biden pledging federal assistance to the impacted areas, particularly North Carolina, which suffered severe flooding.
The List of Florida hurricanes encompasses approximately 500 tropical or subtropical cyclones that affected the state of Florida. More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state, and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a known storm impacting the state. Collectively, cyclones that hit the region have resulted in over 10,000 deaths, most of which occurred prior to the start of hurricane hunter flights in 1943. Additionally, the cumulative impact from the storms has totalled over US$300 billion in damage (2018 dollars), primarily from Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian in the 1992, 2017, and 2022 seasons respectively. The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Florida was Idalia in 2023.
Donald Trump is visiting Valdosta, Georgia, to assess storm damage and distribute relief supplies after Hurricane Helene caused significant devastation, leaving at least 100 dead and nearly three million without power. In contrast, Kamala Harris is returning to Washington for briefings on the hurricane response, emphasizing federal support for affected communities. President Joe Biden has also expressed intentions to visit the impacted areas this week, provided it does not hinder recovery efforts.
The name Helene or Helena has been used for eleven tropical cyclones worldwide: eight in the Atlantic Ocean, one in the South-West Indian Ocean, and two in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Helene caused over 2 feet of rain in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, disrupting the critical supply of high-purity quartz essential for semiconductor and solar panel production. This town, with a population of 2,194, is the only U.S. source of this vital raw material; the destruction of roads and infrastructure has implications for global supply chains, as the quality of quartz from Spruce Pine is unmatched compared to sources in Russia and Brazil. The purity of quartz is crucial for manufacturing silicon wafers used in electronics.
Laura Loomer criticized Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for attending an Alabama football game with former President Trump while Georgia suffered from Hurricane Helene, resulting in at least 11 deaths. Loomer accused Greene of negligence and prioritizing a social event over her duties during a crisis. Greene had shared her excitement about being at the game, prompting backlash and comparisons to Ted Cruz’s controversial trip to Cancun during a similar disaster. Critics noted Greene's absence amidst the storm's assault on her home state.
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