At least 100 people have lost their lives following catastrophic flooding that swept through the southeastern United States, as rescue operations intensify across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The destruction, caused by torrential rains from Storm Helene, has left residents grappling with power outages, supply shortages, blocked roads, and disrupted communication lines in often mountainous areas.
As the emergency response unfolds, political tensions rise in a region pivotal to the upcoming presidential election. Republican candidate Donald Trump plans to visit Valdosta, Georgia—one of the hardest-hit areas—while his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, has canceled campaign events to return to Washington for briefings on federal assistance. President Joe Biden is also scheduled to address the nation from the White House and intends to visit affected areas this week, with the timing dependent on emergency operations.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper reported that hundreds of roads have been destroyed and entire communities have been “wiped off the map.” “This is an unprecedented storm,” he said, emphasizing the emotional and physical toll on affected residents. “Rivers are still rising, so the danger is not over.” Governor Cooper also noted that long-term rebuilding plans must confront the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
Experts attribute the rapid intensification of hurricanes to climate change, which provides more energy for storms due to warmer ocean temperatures. The impacts of Storm Helene have been severe, with fatalities reported across multiple states: 39 in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee, and one in Virginia, according to local authorities.
The storm made landfall as a Category Four hurricane on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast late Thursday night, bringing winds of 225 km/h. Even as the storm weakened, it left a path of destruction extending over 800 km inland. Nearly two million households and businesses are currently without power, according to poweroutage.us.
North Carolina has faced some of the most significant flooding, with Governor Cooper noting that rescuers are resorting to airlifting supplies due to damaged or submerged roads. Four major interstate highways remain closed in North Carolina and Tennessee, with numerous bridges washed away by floodwaters. Kristin White from the U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed that Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina each have over 100 road closures, further complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
