At least 64 dead after Helene’s deadly march across the Southeast
SUMMARY
Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 64 lives and caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast after making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. The storm unleashed catastrophic flooding, particularly in North Carolina, where communities received over 2 feet of rain. Rescues were ongoing, with dramatic operations in Unicoi County, Tennessee, where helicopter evacuations took place. President Biden described the devastation as “overwhelming” and announced federal disaster assistance for affected states, including North Carolina. Helene is now considered the deadliest tropical cyclone for South Carolina since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, with 25 confirmed deaths in the state. Experts estimate property damage could reach between $15 billion and $26 billion, while total economic losses may range from $95 billion to $110 billion.
