Hurricane Helene tore through the southeast of the US on last Friday, leaving millions without power and at least 43 dead.
After making landfall overnight on last Thursday, the storm—which was the strongest storm on record to impact Florida’s Big Bend—moved northward into Georgia and the Carolinas.
While Helene has diminished considerably, meteorologists caution that strong gusts, flooding, and the possibility of tornadoes are still present.
“As Helene slams into the southeast of the US, at least 43 people die.”
On last Friday, houses and roads were completely flooded. One family told BBC News that they had to swim to safety from their residence. Financial institutions and insurers estimate that the storm might inflict damage worth billions of dollars.
On last Thursday night, the Category Four hurricane that had been Helene’s eye made landfall. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that six hours after making landfall, Helene was still classified as a hurricane.
The storm surge, or elevated sea levels largely brought on by strong winds pushing water towards the shoreline, reached more than 15 feet (4.5 meters) above ground level in certain areas of the Florida coast, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC).
According to the NHC, the surge should go down on Friday, but there is still a risk of floods and strong gusts, which could result in landslides. In certain areas, up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain are still possible.
Since records began, this hurricane is the 14th most powerful to strike the US. It is just slightly wider than Ida in 2017 and Opal in 1996, both of which were 460 miles wide, at about 420 miles (675 km). Due to its sheer magnitude, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas have all been affected extensively by severe winds and rain.
Since Friday, at least eight people have passed away in Florida, including at least five in Pinellas County, according to Bob Gualtieri, the sheriff of the county. The Florida Gulf Coast city of St. Petersburg is a part of Pinellas County.
According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, two people lost their lives when a tree fell on a house and a road sign fell on a car.
Authorities in Wheeler County, Georgia, reported that two more persons perished when a mobile home was scooped up and flipped by a probable tornado.
At least 15 individuals, including one first responder, perished in Georgia, according to Governor Brian Kemp. Kemp gave the order for 1,000 National Guard members to assist with the rescue.
According to the governor of Georgia, there are still people stuck in buildings, more than 150 roads have been closed, and 1,300 traffic signals are inoperative throughout the state.
The BBC’s American partner, CBS News, reports that at least 17 individuals lost their lives in South Carolina. According to Governor Roy Cooper, at least two people died in neighbouring North Carolina during the storm—one in a car accident and the other when a tree fell on a Charlotte home.
Glenn Youngkin, the governor of Virginia, announced at a press conference on Friday that one person had died in the state.
First responders have been undertaking daring rescues around the Southeast, utilising boats, helicopters, and big vehicles to assist those stuck in flooded homes. According to Cooper, there have been over 100 rescues in North Carolina.
The National Weather Service reported two tornadoes in North Carolina. About eleven structures were damaged, and fifteen people were injured. According to the weather service, four patients were admitted to the hospital in “serious” condition.
On Friday, 58 patients and employees of a hospital in the Tennessee city of Erwin were left stranded on the roof. The Nolichucky River’s swift-moving water made it impossible for boats to perform rescue operations, and strong winds made it impossible for helicopters to do so.
Later, after helicopters from the Virginia State Police and the Tennessee National Guard intervened, the group was brought to safety.
Four million homes and businesses in the area were without electricity late on Friday, according to the tracking website poweroutage.us. On Florida’s Gulf coast, 65 people have been rescued in Pasco County, north of Tampa, and other highways in Lee County, to the south, are impassable.
In Manatee County, another area of the Florida coast, a Ramada Inn experienced flooding and had to evacuate its guests. Additionally, authorities in Suwannee County, to the north, reported “extreme destruction” due to trees falling on homes.
According to NHC director Michael Brennan, strong winds are expected to continue affecting Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday, particularly over the Southern Appalachians’ higher terrain.
President Joe Biden asked people to “listen to local officials and follow evacuation warnings” in a Thursday night speech from the White House.
According to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, those who refused to leave should permanently inscribe their names and birthdates on their arms “so that you can be identified and family notified.”
According to Briana Gagnier, who spoke with the BBC, her family began shifting their possessions onto tables and beds as they noticed water seeping into their Holmes Beach, Florida, house. Suddenly, there was a huge bang. “My family and I exchanged glances,” she remarked. “After that, water just began to pour in.”
Ms. Gagnier claimed that she and her family swam out of their house after grabbing their pets, money, and a few portable chargers. Their shoulders were submerged in water.
On Friday, FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks said, “We also encourage all communities to please continue to listen to your local officials.” “It’s not always safe to leave your home just because the storm has passed where you are.”
Additionally, officials cautioned locals that the storm’s impacts are “not over yet” and asked them to exercise caution.
Sea surface temperatures above 27C (80F) are necessary to sustain hurricanes. The Gulf’s water temperature, which is between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius, is unusually warm for this time of year.
Hurricane Idalia hit ashore in 2023 at Florida’s 220-mile Big Bend coast. Hurricane Debby also made landfall in the region last month. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned earlier this year that there could be up to 25 named storms in 2024.
Of those storms, eight to thirteen have the potential to become hurricanes; several have, including Helene. Officials warned that further storms might be on the horizon because the official end of hurricane season is not until November 30.
[BBC]
