Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 189 lives, making it the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina. Recovery efforts are ongoing in several states affected by catastrophic flooding and wind damage. President Biden has promised federal support and deployed military assistance to hard-hit areas. Congress is urged to convene to address relief funding for tens of millions impacted by the storm.
Hurricane Helene has officially been confirmed as the deadliest storm to impact the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina, with the death toll rising to at least 189 individuals as of Wednesday evening, according to a report from The Associated Press. The storm’s catastrophic effects, including extensive storm surges, wind damage, and significant inland flooding, have devastated communities in multiple states, such as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. In response to the disaster, recovery efforts are underway across the Southeast as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited the affected areas to assess the damage and to support ongoing rescue operations searching for missing residents. President Biden reassured the impacted communities, stating, “I’m here to say the United States — the nation — has your back. We’re not leaving till you’re back on your feet completely.” Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, has led to over 1.2 million customers in the southern states without power. Areas hardest hit include South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, where outage figures have exceeded 484,000, 343,000, and 354,000 respectively. Smaller outages have also been reported in nearby states, including Florida and Virginia. In a decisive move to assist with recovery, President Biden announced the deployment of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to assist the North Carolina National Guard in delivering essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine to isolated areas. The soldiers, who are part of the Infantry Battalion Task Force from Fort Liberty, will work alongside the National Guard to expedite critical relief efforts. “These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies… They will join hundreds of North Carolina National Guard members deployed under State authorities in support of the response,” Biden stated. Furthermore, Senate leaders from both parties issued a joint letter urging Congress to convene to address the urgent needs arising from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. They acknowledged the extensive impact of the storm on tens of millions of Americans and highlighted the necessity for timely legislative action to provide relief to those affected, hoping to meet in October to discuss potential measures before the end of the year.
Hurricane Helene has emerged as one of the most severe storms to hit the U.S. mainland in recent history, surpassing the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina in terms of loss of life. The hurricane’s catastrophic nature not only resulted in extensive fatalities but also caused significant property damage and widespread power outages across several southeastern states. Emergency response and recovery operations have been a national priority, reflecting the urgency for assistance and support for affected communities.
The humanitarian crisis following Hurricane Helene requires a collective response from federal, state, and local authorities to aid the vast number of citizens affected by the storm. With the confirmed death toll making it the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina and millions facing power outages and disruptions, the actions taken by government officials and agencies are critical. The ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and provide essential aid will be essential in the upcoming weeks as recovery efforts continue.
Original Source: abc11.com
