Hurricane Helene Devastation ‘Apocalyptic’ as Death Toll Rises

October 1, 2024. Southeast United States.
It’s not a movie or television show. Real people died and the death toll continues to rise along the path of devastation from Florida, through Georgia, the Carolina’s, Virginia, and Tennessee. Category 4 Hurricane Helene hit the Florida Big Bend region with 140 MPH winds and a widespread storm surge that peaked at 19.5 in Virginia. Helene was still at Category 2 when it reached Georgia. The winds gradually died as the hurricane traveled northeast, but as is the case with all hurricanes, water kills more people and causes more damage than the wind.

Ahead of Helene, a frontal system soaked areas of Tennesee, North and South Carolina, and Kentucky, setting the stage for extensive and devastating flooding. Forecasters warned as early as Tuesday last week for mountain residents to take the warnings seriously. According to the National Weather Service, at least one area received up to 30 inches of rainfall. In Chimney Rock, NC, the Broad River overlowed its banks and swept through the town.

The storm affected 7.4 million utility customers by September 27, and as of today, 1.6 million remain without power in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Florida and Virginia still have about 70,000 customers in each without power. An average of two people per customer means that more than 3 million are still without power in these states.

In Asheville, NC, residents gathered on a hilltop where some had found a cell signal to send short, simple text messages to loved ones.

The North Carolina State Department of Transportation said that more than 400 roads were closed, and that sections of Interstate Highways I-40 and I-26 were impassable in multiple locations.

Response Efforts

Many of the hardest hit areas have lost cell service and lack even the most basic outside communication capability. Elon Musk stated they were delivering Starlink terminals to areas without internet or phone service. Starlink is broadband internet delivered by a network of satellites in low earth orbit.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that Florida had their situation under control and was sending assistance to North Carolina.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA,) has over 3500 federal workers deployed in across the southeat, including more than 1000 FEMA personnel. They have shipped 1.9 million Meals Ready to Eat, 1 million liters of water, 30 generators, and 95,000 tarps.

President Biden declared Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina major disaster areas, allowing surivors to begin applying for federal assistance through FEMA.

The Red Cross has 850 workers providing comfort and shelter, and helping find loved ones through their helpline. Families with Missing Children should call 9-1-1 and then call 1-800-The-Lost to receive assistance from the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.

The FEMA website has additional  information and state specific resources for survivors of Hurricane Helene.

Did You Know? 
Usually, when a tropical cyclone encounters land, it begins to lose strength because its energy comes from warm ocean water. However, moving over land already soaked by rain can help a tropical cyclone maintain strength or dissipate more slowly because it receives energy from the warm, water laden soil.