By Rich McKay, Joseph Ax and Andrew Hay
As the aftermath of Hurricane Helene unfolds, authorities in the southeastern United States are facing a monumental task of cleaning up and assessing the damage caused by one of the most powerful storms to hit the country. The death toll continues to rise, with at least 43 reported deaths by late Friday, and more feared to be discovered across several states.
Despite being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, Helene is still producing heavy rains, leading to life-threatening flooding and the risk of dam failures that could potentially inundate entire towns. The impact of the storm has been described as unprecedented, with Florida's Pinellas County experiencing destruction likened to a war zone.
Currently, over 3.5 million customers remain without power across five states, and authorities are cautioning that it may take several days for services to be fully restored. Scientists point to climate change as a contributing factor to the intensification of hurricanes like Helene.
Before reaching Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Emergency responders have been conducting thousands of water rescues, including evacuating a hospital in Tennessee and ordering the evacuation of downtown areas in various regions due to the threat of dam failures.
The extent of the damage became apparent in Florida as the sun rose on Friday, revealing scenes of storm surge displacing mobile homes and boats grounded in front yards. The city of Tampa reported numerous water rescues and impassable roads due to flooding, emphasizing the importance of heeding evacuation orders.
As the death toll rises and communities grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, it serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of such events.
