 "64 dead, over 3 mn without power as Hurricane Helene becomes one of the most expensive storms in US history")
At least 64 were killed and 3.5 million people were left without electricity as massive rains from powerful Hurricane Helene pounded southeastern states of the US. The treacherous conditions left hundreds of people stranded, without homes and waiting to be rescued.
Historic flooding engulfed parts of the southern Appalachians on Saturday, as first responders worked to reach stranded communities in trying conditions. “It looks like a bomb went off,” said Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, after surveying the damage from the rains on Saturday, The Guardian reported.
“To say this caught us off-guard would be an understatement,” said Quentin Miller, sheriff of Buncombe County, North Carolina, where part of Asheville is underwater and multiple cell towers remain down, hampering rescue and recovery efforts. While the emergency services have declined to confirm the fatalities until communication outages can be restored, the tallies from local news outlets give a picture of the havoc wreaked by Helene.
Biden, Harris extend support
In a statement issued on Saturday, US President Joe Biden said that the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanna Criswell, is travelling throughout the south-east to assess the damage caused by the storm.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the south-east … My administration is in constant contact with state and local officials to ensure communities have the support and resources they need,” he said. “We’re not going to walk away. We’re not going to give up.”
Meanwhile, US Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris also expressed her sorrow over the matter. “My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene,” Harris said. “President Biden and I remain committed to ensuring that no community or state has to respond to this disaster alone. Federal personnel are on the ground to support families that have been impacted so that critical resources like food, water, and generators are available.”
Estimated damage caused by the hurricane - $95bn and $110bn
On Thursday, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a category 4 storm. Heavy rains and flooding moved quickly through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, uprooting trees, blowing roofs off homes, sweeping away cars, testing dams and flooding rivers – leaving entire communities without escape.
Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, estimated that the cost of damage in the southeastern state is to cost between $95bn and $110bn, potentially making this one of the most expensive storms in modern US history.
With inputs from agencies.
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