Catastrophic loss of life as Helene delivers perilous flooding and leaves powerless millions across Southeastern regions.
• Death toll rises in 5 states: Storm-related fatalities have been reported in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia. At least 19 have perished in South Carolina, including two firefighters who succumbed in Saluda County and two residents who met their end due to fallen trees in Anderson County, as per state authorities. In Georgia, at least 15 individuals have lost their lives, two of whom were casualties of a tornado in Alamo, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Governor Brian Kemp. Florida officials have documented eight deaths, several of whom drowned in Pinellas County near Tampa. Six additional deaths were recorded in North Carolina: these included a car accident on a wet road in Claremont, which claimed a 4-year-old girl's life, and a fallen tree that caused a fatality at a residence in Charlotte. In Craig County, Virginia, one individual died as a result of a storm-related tree fall and building collapse, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared on Friday.
• Emergency rescue operations underway: Over 3,900 National Guardsmen were participating in rescue operations in 21 counties across Florida, the Department of Defense revealed on Friday. North Carolina has mobilized 358 guardsmen, while Georgia has more than 300 and Alabama has 43, explained Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon deputy press secretary. Moreover, the Biden administration has mobilized over 1,500 federal personnel to assist communities impacted by Helene, Vice President Kamala Harris stated on Friday.
• Severe flooding in North Carolina: Helene is being referred to as one of the most severe storms in recent history for certain areas of North Carolina, according to Governor Roy Cooper. Western parts of the state were bombarded by heavy rain and powerful winds, reaching hurricane-strength levels, triggering life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides, and power outages. Over 100 people were rescued from flooded areas, the governor confirmed. From Wednesday morning to Friday morning, over 2 feet of rainfall was recorded in North Carolina's mountainous region, with Busick recording a total of 29.58 inches in just 48 hours. Asheville is under a citywide curfew until 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to the city government. Approximately 20 miles southwest of Asheville, overwhelming rainfall was threatening to cause the Lake Lure Dam to fail, as per the National Weather Service.
• Danger persists: Helene's remnants will continue to bring rain and powerful winds throughout hundreds of miles of the East Coast. Numerous states have reported over a foot of rain, resulting in approximately 14 different flash flood emergencies affecting approximately 1.1 million residents in the Southern Appalachians of Western North Carolina, parts of Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia. Furthermore, winds continued to gust between 30 to 50 mph across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley regions on Friday evening, while over 35 million individuals were under wind alerts as of Saturday.
• Power outages affecting millions: The remnants of Helene continued to disrupt power supplies for several eastern United States states on Saturday morning, leaving approximately 3,429,137 customers without electricity in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio, according to PowerOutage.us.
• Helene causes disruptions to travel and delivery services: Helene has caused significant disruptions to transportation and delivery services. Several Amtrak trains traveling to or departing from Florida and Georgia have been canceled, as communicated by the company. Delivery services were also impacted, with UPS announcing a halt to operations in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia due to the storm. FedEx likewise suspended or limited services in five states. Countless roads in the region became impassable due to inundation with water. In North Carolina, over 290 roads were closed throughout the state, and Governor Roy Cooper mentioned that the state's transportation department is closing additional roadways as severe flooding, landslides, and washed-out roads pose significant risks to public safety.
• Rescue of over 50 individuals from hospital roof in Tennessee: Over 50 persons found themselves stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, were rescued after the rapidly rising waters from Helene made evacuation impossible on Friday morning, as per Ballad Health.
• Helene now a post-tropical cyclone: Helene – the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall on Florida's Big Bend region – is now classified as a post-tropical cyclone, with winds of 35 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. This means that Helene no longer has a well-defined center of circulation and is shedding its hurricane-like characteristics, but its overall threat remains unchanged, as it will continue to produce copious, flooding rainfall and powerful winds. Keith Turi, acting director of response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, warned residents about the dangers still posed by Helene even after it passes, stating, “There's a range of reasons why people think that as the storm passes, the hazards will decrease. It's not necessarily true.” “There are numerous perils in those floodwaters, some visible and others hidden beneath the surface, and as a result, you must remain away from those floodwaters and find a safe place.” CNN’s Emma Tucker, Elise Hammond, Ashley R. Williams, Taylor Ward, Taylor Romine, Mary Gilbert, and Brandon Miller contributed to this report.
• The weather conditions continue to pose a threat: Despite Helene being classified as a post-tropical cyclone, its remnants continue to bring copious rainfall and powerful winds, posing significant risks and dangers to residents along the East Coast.
• The weather has disrupted weather forecasts: The severe flooding and storm-related conditions have made it challenging for meteorologists to accurately predict the weather, making it crucial for individuals to stay updated on emergency alerts and weather advisories.
