The list of victims of Hurricane Helen, which swept across the eastern and southeastern United States, is growing. According to a new count announced by authorities, the death toll reaches 91.
In North Carolina, the hardest-hit state, the death toll is now 37 – up from 10 previously reported – 30 of whom died in a single county, Buncombe.
At least 25 people were missing in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida and 1 in Virginia, according to an AFP report based on announcements from local authorities.
Hurricane Helen made landfall in northwest Florida on Thursday night, at which point it was classified as Category 4 on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of up to 140 miles per hour. It then moved north, gradually weakening but leaving a landscape of destruction in its path.
In affected areas Biden within a week
US President Joe Biden expressed his sadness at the human losses and destruction caused by the cyclone, recalling that the road to recovering the affected areas “will be long”. Yesterday, Sunday, his services at the White House announced that he will go to the affected areas within a week.
Major damage to buildings and infrastructure
Material damage is also very serious. “Infrastructure suffered extensive damage”, including “water networks, communications, roads”, while many homes were “destroyed”, Diane Criswell, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told CBS yesterday, stressing that The search for the victims continues.
In North Carolina, some areas remain impassable and access is only possible by helicopter, Gov. Roy Cooper said. Four highways were closed between North Carolina and Tennessee due to bridge damage, said Christine White of the Department of Transportation.
2.5 million homes without electricity
Nearly 2.5 million homes are without power, according to specialized website poweroutage.us, while the American Red Cross said it has offered assistance to thousands of people.
As the storm approached, which had already been downgraded, federal states of emergency were declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and about 800 FEMA personnel were deployed. A flood warning remains in effect for parts of western North Carolina as levees are at risk of failing, according to National Weather Service (NWS) Director Ken Graham.
At the same time, efforts continue to restore electricity and deal with the consequences of massive floods that destroyed homes, roads and shops. But the teams’ work is made difficult by blocked roads.
“True Tragedy”
On Cedar Key, an island of about 700 people off the west coast of Florida, roofs were ripped off homes and walls were destroyed. “It breaks my heart to see this. Houses were lost, the market was lost, the post office was lost. It’s a true tragedy and it will be difficult to rebuild,” said Gabe Doty, a city worker.
In South Carolina, two firefighters were among the dead.
Areas of the Pelorian have been devastated by landslides and floods, as far away as Asheville, North Carolina. “This is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of North Carolina,” Governor Cooper said during a press conference Friday night.
The danger of the Nolatsaki dam breaking in Tennessee was ruled out yesterday by authorities, following record floods. Residents were allowed to return to their homes.
In Erwin, in the same state, more than 50 patients and workers took refuge on the roof of a hospital, from where they had to be removed by helicopters.
After forming in the Gulf of Mexico, the phenomenon passed through extremely warm waters. “It is possible that these very warm waters played a role in the rapid strengthening of (Hyclone) Helen,” said climatologist Andra Garner. By warming ocean waters, climate change makes it more likely that storms will intensify quickly and powerful cyclones or hurricanes will form, scientists say.
Sources: APE-MPE, AFP
