The death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to rise as states survey flooding, wind damage
States across the Southeast U.S. began a massive cleanup and recovery effort on Sunday after wind, rain and storm surge from Hurricane Helene left millions without power, destroyed roads and damaged roads. bridges and sewers, and caused catastrophic flooding from Florida to Virginia.
The death toll continues to rise as emergency response operations continue in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm killed at least 69 people, according to a Reuters tally of state and local officials. Officials fear more bodies will be discovered.
Insurance companies and forecasters said over the weekend that damage estimates ranged from $15 billion to more than $100 billion. The damage to property and lost economic output will become clearer as officials assess the extent of the devastation.
In this aerial photo, boats are piled up in front of homes after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the area as it passed offshore on September 28, 2024 in Treasure Island, Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida’s Big Bend with winds up to 140 mph and storm surge that killed at least 42 people in several states.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images
South Carolina recorded the highest death toll, reporting 25 deaths, including multiple cases of fallen trees.
“It’s a devastating blow, but we can get through it,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said during a news conference Sunday. “Help is on the way but it will take time.”
In North Carolina, the death toll rose to 11, Gov. Roy Cooper said. All roads in the western part of the state should be considered closed and will take months to repair, he said. Food and water are being airlifted to those areas.
In Flat Rock, North Carolina, there was a widespread power outage and people had to line up for hours to buy gas.
“Grocery stores are closed, phone service is down,” Chip Frank, 62, said as he entered his third hour in line. “It all depends on these gas stations. You’re not going anywhere and it’s just a scary feeling.”
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the storm damaged water systems, communications and key transportation routes across the region. FEMA said the Army Corps of Engineers will begin assessing damage to water systems on Sunday to get them back online.
A U.S. Department of Energy official said about 2.7 million customers lost power on Sunday, down 40% from Friday after unprecedented storms, fierce winds and dangerous conditions. The danger extends hundreds of miles inland.
Drone images show a flooded and damaged area after Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Florida, U.S., September 27, 2024.
Marco Bello | Reuters
Florida’s Gulf Coast is under attack
Days of pouring rain followed as Helene crashed into Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday night, destroying decades-old homes.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that 11 people died in Florida, in the Gulf Coast city of Perry, which saw storm surges as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters), greater than those seen in other storms in recent years.
At Horseshoe Beach, on Florida’s Gulf coast, about 70 miles (120 kilometers) west of Gainesville, Charlene Huggins surveyed the debris of her blown-out home, pulling a coat out of it. rubble on Saturday.
“Five generations lived in this house, from my grandmother, my father, me, my daughter, my son and my niece,” Huggins said, holding a chipped glass cake. “So there’s a lot of memories here. It just breaks your heart.”
David Hester inspects the damage to his home after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, on September 28, 2024.
Chandan Khanna | Afp | Getty Images
Not far away, James Ellenburg stood on the land where his family had lived for four generations. “I took my first step right here on the field.”
The roof of a house lay flat on the ground, the walls were blown away.
In coastal Steinhatchee, a storm surge — a wall of ocean water pushed ashore by winds — 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) high moved mobile homes, the weather service said.
In the tiny nearby community of Spring Warrior Fish Camp, people were surveying the damage Saturday and still waiting for an emergency or first aid.
“Nobody thinks about us here,” said David Hall, as he and his wife dug through seagrass and dead fish in the offices of the hotel they own. Many of the community’s homes were built on stilts due to local regulations and survived heavy damage.
Kristin Macqueen is helping friends clean up after their home was destroyed in nearby Keaton Beach. “It was absolutely devastating,” she said. The houses were just torn apart.”
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said some of the worst rain occurred in western North Carolina, where nearly 30 inches (76 centimeters) fell on Mount Mitchell in Yancey County.
In this aerial photo, electrical crews work on lines after Hurricane Helene passed offshore on September 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Florida.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Water overflowed the Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County, and residents in and around Chimney Rock described the village’s downtown as being washed away. Images showed mud and sediment accumulating, trees uprooted, telephone poles snapped and buildings reduced to debris.
Just south in east Tennessee, Greene County officials worried that Nolichucky Dam was on the brink of failure, but the Tennessee Valley Authority reported late Saturday that the dam was stable and safe.
Gov. Brian Kemp said 17 people, including children, were killed in Georgia after viewing the damage in Valdosta.
“It’s tragic,” US President Joe Biden told reporters on Sunday, a day after declaring a major disaster in Florida. “You’ve seen the pictures. It’s amazing.”
