Lines for fresh water, communities cut off: Hurricane Helene leaves trail of destruction with over 130 dead, many missing – Times of India

Debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC. (Picture credit: AP)

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the southern United States, claiming over 130 lives. The true extent of the destruction became apparent on Monday, revealing a landscape of devastated homes, wrecked infrastructure, and inundated roads. The storm is considered one of the most severe in US history.
The situation in western North Carolina is particularly dire.Residents have been isolated due to damaged roads and power outages, leaving them without communication or access to essential services. People are lined up for fresh water, and many are frantically trying to reach loved ones to inform them of their safety.
The death toll currently stands at 133 across six Southeastern states, including North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. As emergency teams continue to access areas cut off by floodwaters and damaged infrastructure, the number is expected to increase.
Search and rescue efforts
White House Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall disclosed that up to 600 people remain missing, with some feared dead. President Joe Biden plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday to meet with officials and assess the most severely affected areas from the air. He has pledged that federal assistance will continue for as long as necessary.
Aid delivery efforts to the hardest-hit regions have already begun, with supplies being transported by air and truck. In Asheville and nearby mountain communities, at least 40 people have perished. Rescue teams are still working to reach stranded residents, using mules to transport supplies to remote areas.

North Carolina hardest hit

Western North Carolina has been hit particularly hard. The remnants of Hurricane Helene collided with the Appalachian Mountains, triggering torrential rain and deadly floods. The impact was exacerbated by the fact that many areas were already saturated from previous rainfall. “By the time Helene came into the Carolinas, we already had that rain on top of more rain”, said Christiaan Patterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Asheville’s water system has been severely damaged, forcing residents to collect creek water to flush toilets. Key routes into the city, including sections of Interstate 40, have been washed away or blocked by mudslides. The worst flooding in over a century has left communities isolated, with food and water supplies running low. Long queues were seen of people with any container they could find to collect water.
Volunteers have mobilized to assist, and search and rescue teams continue to operate throughout the region. At least 50 hospital patients in Tennessee were airlifted to safety, and several people were rescued from their cars in Atlanta.
Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina conducted an aerial survey of the Asheville region and subsequently held discussions with personnel involved in meal distribution. “This has been an unprecedented storm that has hit western North Carolina,” he said afterwards. “It’s requiring an unprecedented response.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall in northern Florida as a Category 4 storm before sweeping through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. In addition to the human toll, there has been widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up shelters housing over 1,000 displaced people.

Deadliest storm in state since 1989

More than 30 people have died in South Carolina, making this the deadliest storm to hit the state since Hurricane Hugo in 1989. In Florida, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium was inundated with several feet of water, forcing the relocation of animals, though all were reported safe.
As the region continues to cope with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath, a new threat has emerged. Tropical Storm Kirk has formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is expected to intensify into a powerful hurricane within the next 48 hours. While it currently poses no immediate threat to land, meteorologists are closely monitoring its development.