Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern U.S., 44 Dead as Storm Wreaks Havoc

Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation across several U.S. states after making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm late Thursday, leaving at least 44 people dead and billions of dollars in damages. The storm packed winds of up to 225 kilometers per hour, striking Florida’s Big Bend region, and severely impacted Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.

In Florida, the storm claimed the lives of several individuals, including three firefighters, a woman and her one-month-old twins, and an elderly woman whose house was crushed by a falling tree. Five people were killed in Pinellas County, where residents had been advised to evacuate. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described the aftermath as a “war zone,” as search and rescue teams continued to assess the damage and search flooded areas.

Floodwaters rose rapidly, forcing residents in some areas to take refuge in their attics. Rescue operations were carried out in places like Tampa, where emergency crews completed 78 water rescues, while over 65 people were saved in Pasco County. Coastal areas like Steinhatchee saw storm surges between 2.4 and 3 meters, displacing homes and causing further destruction.

As Helene moved northward, it continued to wreak havoc. Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee faced destructive winds and flash flooding. In the Appalachian Mountains, mudslides washed out highways, and tornadoes added to the chaos, critically injuring several people. A dam near a North Carolina lake, made famous by the movie Dirty Dancing, was overtopped, prompting evacuations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed over 1,500 workers, and emergency personnel responded to thousands of distress calls. Millions of people were left without power, as utility companies in affected states grappled with extensive damage to infrastructure. High winds and heavy rains persisted, leading to catastrophic flooding in parts of Tennessee and Ohio.

Despite Helene weakening into a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening flash flooding, signaling that recovery efforts in the storm’s aftermath would be a prolonged process. Experts highlighted the role of climate change in the rapid intensification of storms like Helene.