The confirmed death toll from Hurricane Helene has tragically risen to at least 189 people as of Wednesday evening, making it the deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina, according to The Associated Press. The storm’s wrath has left a devastating path across the Southeast, with catastrophic storm surges, wind damage, and inland flooding. Homes have been destroyed, neighborhoods submerged, and residents stranded in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
As recovery efforts continue across the region, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to the Southeast on Wednesday to survey the destruction firsthand. Rescuers are relentlessly searching for those still missing. Addressing a crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina, President Biden reassured the devastated communities, “I’m here to say the United States — the nation — has your back. We’re not leaving till you’re back on your feet completely.”
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Thursday night, was the strongest hurricane to ever hit the Big Bend. The storm’s immense force continues to be felt across the region, with over 1.2 million customers in several southern states still without power. As of Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., poweroutage.us reported 1,276,750 customers without power across the South. South Carolina has been particularly hard hit, with over 484,410 customers without power, followed by North Carolina with over 343,632 and Georgia with over 354,418. Outages are also reported in Florida (40,724 customers), Virginia (40,184 customers), and West Virginia (13,382 customers).
President Biden announced on Wednesday that he has authorized the deployment of up to one thousand active-duty soldiers to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard. “These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina – they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast. They will join hundreds of North Carolina National Guard members deployed under State authorities in support of the response,” President Biden stated.
In a joint letter released on Tuesday, Senate leaders Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and several other senators from both sides of the political aisle urged Congress to convene in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. “Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents,” the leaders wrote in the letter. The senators suggested a Congressional meeting in October to “ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year.” “Tens of millions of Americans were impacted by Hurricane Helene, and we look forward to working with you to provide relief to those impacted by this horrific storm,” the senators concluded.
You can help those affected by Hurricane Helene by donating to the Red Cross. Your donation will help the Red Cross prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from this disaster. Donate now at redcross.org/abc.
