91 Confirmed Deaths Across Five States Hit By Helene; Biden Declares Disasters In Six

[hatrack]

The head of the US disaster relief agency has called Hurricane Helene, which has killed nearly 100 people, a “true multi-state event” that caused “significant infrastructure damage” and had been made worse because of global heating. The storm killed at least 91 people, according to state and local officials in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Officials feared more bodies would be discovered.

“This is going to be a really complicated recovery in each of the five states” of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) administrator, Deanne Criswell. She noted that a 15ft storm surge hit Florida’s Taylor county, where Helene came ashore as a category 4 hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140mph (225km/h), and pointed out that areas of western North Carolina, where search and rescue operations are continuing, recorded 29in (74cm) of rain when the storm stalled over the region.

“This is historic flooding up in North Carolina,” Criswell told the CBS show Face the Nation on Sunday. “I don’t know that anybody could be fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides they are having right now.”

Kamala Harris said the Joe Biden administration had approved emergency declarations for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, “making resources and funding available to maximize our coordinated response efforts at the local, state and federal levels”. The White House said on Sunday that Biden intended to travel this week to communities affected by Hurricane Helene as soon as it would not disrupt the emergency response.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/29/hurricane-helene-historic-flooding-global-heating-fema

[lark]

1. This was a very surprising storm for the NE coast of FL.

Every time a storm has been so far away, our impacts here were almost nil. Not this time. They were forecasting 40 mph winds, nothing at all scary, BUT we got hit by 71 mph winds - a huge difference. Plus, we think there was a mini tornado in our neighborhood, 3 trees almost in a row went down - including one of ours. Our neighbor got hit hard, 2 HUGE trees came down on her carport and brand new pool and beautiful custom fence. All of those were destoyed. Our tree was small and didn't fall on anything except a dilipated shed that was due to be removed anyway. I'm just really tired from removing all the debris and my back hurts.

I feel so sorry for those folks who are stranded by the floods and hope they make it out ok. It's really difficult living without power when it's blazing hot, and you have so much to do and such a heavy heart.

Best wishes!!!!

[appalachiablue]

3. Thanks for the update, not as much news for FL that I've noticed. Take care!

During Sandy we had 77 mph winds in Del. but were spared the havoc & damage further north.

[lark]

5. I've been wondering about that.

Wondering how the Big Bend area did and have heard nothing about it. I'm afraid it might be like the storm that devastated the south FL area, the news was Miami is fine. A few days later, we heard about the total devastation aroaund Homestead. I hope this isn't that scenario.

[neohippie]

6. Not well from what I had heard

I think particularly the areas around Perry FL, Cedar Key was likely heavily damaged, as well as the damage in Steinahatchee was very bad

[lark]

7. Not good at all!

The silence is kinda frightening.

[IronLionZion]

2. There are some important swing states impacted

with the locals seeing Biden-Harris administration helping them out while Trump-Vance spew nonsense.

[pandr32]

4. At least 115 dead now.

Devastation continues.
Very sad.

[Marthe48]

8. My cousin near Tampa checked in

Power was back on in 12 hrs. They didn't get cut off by flood waters as they did last Spring. Sounded like a positive update.
I've seen a few pictures of western N.C. Terrible destruction.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

9. More than 120 dead.

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/g-s1-25406/helene-death-toll-damage

I looked up Hurricane Sandy. 254 died in late October 2012.

[TBF]

10. The actual NC numbers are probably very low at this point,

and unfortunately will likely rise. I don't think they know quite what they're dealing with. Many folks are completely cut off, and they are just finally getting communication in Asheville to notify next of kin for the folks they do know about. Here in Houston, we are still getting updates regarding deaths during Beryl (thankfully much lower numbers here, in the dozens rather than hundreds)