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The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to 200 as rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the US southeast, making it the deadliest mainland storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. More than half of these deaths occurred in North Carolina, where entire communities were devastated. Nearly a million homes remain without power almost a week after the storm made landfall, and hundreds of people are still missing.
President Joe Biden has been touring the affected areas, visiting Florida and Georgia, where he assured residents that federal support would remain until the communities are fully restored. Biden also announced federal disaster assistance for survivors across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He committed to covering 100% of the costs for emergency protective measures and debris removal for six months in North Carolina, and for 90 days in Georgia and Florida.
One of the most severely impacted regions is the mountainous area of Asheville, North Carolina, where tens of thousands are left without running water. Nicole Rojas, a resident of Vilas, described her experience, saying, "I feel like I just survived the apocalypse." Tragically, an elderly couple in South Carolina lost their lives when a tree fell on their home. Their grandson reported they were found hugging one another.
Efforts to deliver aid to hard-hit areas have been hampered by road closures, but private citizens have stepped in to assist. Mountain Mule Packer Ranch has deployed a team of mules to carry supplies to remote communities. Michele Toberer, a mule-packer, explained how these "sure-footed" animals can navigate broken roads and rough terrain that vehicles cannot manage. They have delivered essentials like insulin, baby formula, canned food, and animal feed, though the deep mud left by flooding has posed a significant challenge.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, 800 inmates were relocated due to the lack of power and water, adding to the 2,000 prisoners moved earlier in the week. Family members expressed frustration over their inability to contact their loved ones for more than a week.
Across the southeast, over 933,000 customers were still without electricity on Thursday. The National Guard has deployed more than 6,700 personnel from 16 states to assist in the response, and 1,000 active-duty soldiers have been sent to aid in relief efforts. The Biden administration has shipped millions of meals, liters of water, and essential supplies to the region.
With the Atlantic hurricane season ongoing until the end of November, there are concerns about further storms. Hurricane Kirk, a Category Three storm, is currently creating dangerous surf conditions in Florida and the Caribbean but is not expected to make landfall in the US.
