Hurricane Helene slammed into the Gulf Coast of Florida last Thursday. The hurricane caused massive flooding and damage as it moved through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The deadly storm has left many areas in the Southeast US struggling to recover.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday. It was a Category 4 hurricane – the second strongest level – with winds of up to 140 mph (225 kph). The storm caused a storm surge of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) to parts of Florida, flooding areas that had never flooded before. Helene destroyed many homes in small communities along the Gulf Coast.
The winds knocked down trees, which sometimes fell on buildings, cars, and electrical lines. The storm flooded rivers and creeks, and in some areas it even caused tornadoes.
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As Helene moved north, it slowed down, bringing heavy rains to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The rains caused massive flooding, and led to landslides in some places.
In Tennessee, the storm weakened the Nolichucky Dam, putting 100,000 people in the area in danger. In another part of Tennessee, helicopters were needed to rescue people from the roof of a hospital.
In some areas, flooding and landslides cut off towns and communities. Some of these places have been left without clean water. North Carolina has been hit especially hard. In Asheville, for example, city officials say that it could be weeks before the water system is working again.
FEMA, the US government agency that responds to emergencies, has sent over 1,200 rescue workers to help out. In places where roads are open, workers are dropping off bottled water, food, and other supplies. In other areas, workers are helping to clear roads and repair water systems.
But rescue efforts have been slowed by the large amount of damage. Some of the people who need the most help live in areas that are very difficult to reach. Many roads are still blocked by fallen trees and other debris. In western North Carolina, over 400 roads are closed. In some locations, only emergency vehicles are allowed on the roads.
In many areas, the storm knocked out power and cell service. Close to two million people may still be stuck without power.
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Damaged communications systems have caused confusion, and made rescue efforts more difficult. In Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, officials say they’ve had over 600 reports of missing people. But with cell service out, it’s likely that many of these people are safe, and simply can’t be reached.
Still, the effects of the storm are serious. So far, Helene has led to the deaths of over 100 people, with more than 40 of these in North Carolina.
The rain caused by Helene has triggered flooding in over 90 rivers across the region. In many areas, rivers are still rising, and won’t reach their highest point until later this week.
More rain is expected in some areas affected by the storm, which will make cleanup efforts more difficult.
Did You Know…?
Deanne Criswell, who leads FEMA, pointed out that the damage caused by Hurricane Helene is linked to climate change. She said that warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico are making storms stronger and causing more flooding. “In the past,” said Ms. Criswell, “Damage from hurricanes was primarily wind damage, but now we’re seeing so much more water damage.”