Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation across the southeastern United States, resulting in at least 33 fatalities. The powerful storm, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 225 kph, swept through Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, causing widespread flooding, mudslides, and infrastructure damage.
More than 4 million homes and businesses have lost power, and emergency services are hard at work conducting thousands of water rescues. In Tennessee, the city of Newport faced the imminent threat of a dam failure, prompting officials to evacuate the downtown area of its 36,000 residents. Although concerns arose about the Walters dam in North Carolina, state agencies later confirmed that it remained intact.
Helene has been downgraded to a tropical depression, but its heavy rains continue to wreak havoc. The Nolichucky River’s rising waters in Unicoi County trapped over 50 people on a hospital roof, though emergency crews successfully rescued everyone. In North Carolina’s Rutherford County, authorities warned residents near the Lake Lure Dam to evacuate immediately due to the risk of dam failure, leading to road closures and landslides that disrupted interstate traffic.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene showcases the resilience of communities and the critical role of emergency responders in mitigating the storm's impact. As regions recover, efforts are focused on restoring power, repairing infrastructure, and providing support to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.
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At least 33 dead as Helene cuts path through southeastern U.S.
cgtn.com
