- Tragically, hundreds remain unaccounted for, and officials have reported difficulties in identifying some of the deceased.
Hurricane Helene has wrought devastation, claiming 213 lives—106 in North Carolina and 41 in South Carolina. The death toll has been exacerbated by landslides in North Carolina's mountainous regions and relentless rainfall that has led to severe flooding. Residents in both states are grappling with the aftermath, as homes lie in ruins and many remain submerged.
The impact of the hurricane has frustrated countless individuals across the Carolinas. More than 100 roads are closed, and several bridges have been swept away by torrential rain, complicating the efforts of volunteers striving to deliver much-needed supplies. Power outages have left many homes in darkness, and the lack of clean water poses additional challenges for those in affected areas.
Tragically, hundreds remain unaccounted for, and officials have reported difficulties in identifying some of the deceased. Medical professionals have expressed their concerns, noting that the scarcity of clean water has hindered their ability to perform surgeries on injured individuals.
Hurricane Helene is now considered the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Robert Gaudet, founder and CEO of the Cajun Navy—a volunteer disaster rescue team—remarked on the unprecedented nature of this disaster.
“We’ve done a lot of disaster response. We went to Maui for the wildfires, but we’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “To hear that over 100 individuals have lost their lives—those are just the ones recovered so far—is truly horrifying.” Helene's death toll now ranks third following Hurricane Maria (2017) with 2,975 deaths and Hurricane Katrina (2005) with 1,392.
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On October 2, 2024, President Joe Biden surveyed the affected areas via aerial tour. He indicated that relief efforts would require billions of dollars but assured residents that aid would continue. “The nation has your back; we are not leaving until you’re back on your feet completely,” he promised.
To bolster relief efforts, President Biden announced the deployment of over 1,000 active-duty soldiers to assist the North Carolina National Guard in distributing supplies, food, and water to affected communities.
For those struggling to locate missing loved ones, authorities advise calling 211 to help account for the unaccounted individuals in the wake of this devastating hurricane.
