A massive storm, Helene, has ravaged six states in the southeastern US, leaving more than 116 dead and widespread destruction. Western North Carolina was hit hardest, with homes, bridges, and villages destroyed, and the tourist town of Asheville cut off.
Rescue efforts are underway, but the rugged terrain and impassable roads are complicating operations. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper urged residents to stay off the roads, while Buncombe County officials reported dire needs for food and water.
Helene, which began as a hurricane and became the most powerful storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend, brought devastation across Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. North Carolina has reported 46 deaths, South Carolina 27, and 30 people have died in Buncombe County alone, where 1,000 remain unaccounted for.
Power outages affected over 1.25 million people across the region, and more than 140 American Red Cross shelters are housing over 2,000 evacuees. The storm’s damage is expected to cost between $95 billion and $110 billion nationwide. With hurricane season ending in November, further storms remain a possibility.
