Devastation Caused by Hurricane Helene: A Comprehensive Overview of Loss and Recovery Efforts
Hurricane Helene has caused immense damage across five southeastern states, resulting in at least 91 confirmed deaths and widespread power outages. The Biden-Harris administration has approved federal aid for recovery efforts as officials navigate unprecedented flooding and destruction. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell noted the significant challenges faced in rebuilding, attributing the severity of damages to climate change-induced warmer ocean temperatures.
Hurricane Helene has inflicted severe devastation across five southeastern states, with officials currently addressing the catastrophic aftermath following its landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane last week. Tragically, the death toll associated with the storm continues to climb. As of Sunday, officials confirmed 30 fatalities in Buncombe County, North Carolina, where Asheville experienced unprecedented flooding. This grim toll increases the overall number of storm-related deaths across six states to at least 91, according to reports from the Associated Press. Additional deaths have been reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations in the wake of the storm. Hundreds of thousands remain without power as widespread outages are impacting numerous regions, primarily in North and South Carolina and Georgia. In light of the considerable damage, the Biden-Harris administration has approved emergency assistance requests from the impacted states, including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Alabama, ahead of the storm’s arrival. Deanne Criswell, the FEMA administrator, discussed the complexities of recovery efforts during an interview with CBS News. “The five states affected by the storm are going to have very complicated recoveries, but we will continue to bring those resources in to help them, technical assistance as they are trying to identify the best ways to rebuild,” Criswell stated. She further remarked on the unprecedented flooding in North Carolina, stressing that such conditions were beyond typical preparedness measures. “I do not know that anybody could be fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides they are having right now,” she noted. Notably, Pamlico County Emergency Management described the destruction from the storm’s remnants as “unimaginable.” Criswell has been actively assessing damages, including visits to Florida alongside Governor Ron DeSantis, and will be meeting leaders in flood-affected communities in North Carolina this week. President Biden has expressed intentions to travel to the impacted areas “as soon as it will not disrupt emergency response operations.” Furthermore, Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit the affected communities when feasible. In terms of power outages, over 779,000 customers were reported without electricity in South Carolina, with an additional 586,000 in Georgia also affected. Utility trackers show more than 481,000 in North Carolina, nearly 138,000 in Florida, and almost 104,000 in Virginia were without power on Sunday evening. The frequency of intense hurricanes is on the rise, and studies attribute this trend in part to human-induced climate change, which escalates ocean temperatures—one of the factors contributing to the rapid intensification observed in Helene. This hurricane was one of nine storms across the U.S. that intensified by at least 35 mph within a 24-hour period before landfall. Criswell noted a significant shift in hurricane damage types: “In the past, when we would look at damage from hurricanes, it was primarily wind damage, with some water damage. Now, we are seeing so much more water damage, which I believe is a result of the warm waters due to climate change.”
The topic discusses the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern United States, highlighting the destruction and challenges faced by officials in multiple states. It references the recent rise in hurricane intensity and its connection to climate change, emphasizing the need for federal assistance and complex recovery efforts in the aftermath of the disaster. The article also underlines the significant loss of life and widespread power outages resulting from the storm, providing a comprehensive overview of the ongoing response efforts.
In summary, Hurricane Helene has caused extensive destruction across several states, leading to significant fatalities and power outages. The federal government is mobilizing resources for recovery, yet the path to stabilization and rebuilding will be complex and challenging. This event underscores the increasing intensity of hurricanes linked to climate change, necessitating a deeper understanding and response to such emergencies in the future.
Original Source: www.axios.com
