Described as an “unprecedented tragedy” due to the severe flooding and landslides unleashed by the remains of Hurricane Helene, Dozens of communities survive without water, food, electricity, gasoline and cell phone service.
In short, as of this Sunday night, nearly 100 deaths are estimated in six states in the southeastern United States, including North Carolina, where the majority of deaths were recorded, which is why the Government authorized a declaration of “great “disaster” to expedite assistance tasks.
The last official count of victims put a total of 93 dead in six states. The hardest hit is North Carolina where officials counted 36 deaths, 25 in South Carolina, including two firefighters; 17 in Georgia; 11 in Florida; two in Virginia; and two others in Tennessee.
However, according to a CBS television count, the death toll is 105, with 30 deaths in Buncombe County, North Carolina. one of the most affected areas.
In the case of North Carolina, its governor, Roy Cooper, said that, “This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response.”
According to authorities in North Carolina, some 460,000 people were left without power and more than 1,000 had taken refuge in 24 shelters. A major disaster situation had been declared in 25 counties.
Helene entered the southeastern coast of Florida on Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane and made its way north, with torrential rains and winds that have caused devastating scenes in which rescue and recovery teams are working today.
North Carolina is one of the worst affected states, especially on its western flank: an example of the catastrophe has been the town of Asheville, partially submerged, with its houses destroyed and streets full of debris, according to local media.
Given the situation, Roy Cooper explained that the heavy rains that fell in the state’s mountains caused landslides that washed away roads, They knocked down light poles and telecommunications towers on their way to residential areas.
Some 280 state highways are still closed and that makes emergency work difficult, so authorities are bringing resources, food and water to trapped people by air; There are also about 1,000 people in shelters, Cooper said.
North Carolina airports, located in Asheville and Charlotte, are the main airports in the US. today affected by cancellations and delays, although they continue with most of their operations.
The governor considered Helene “one of the worst storms in modern history” of the state and anticipated more victims, as there are numerous reports of missing people.
They face a similar scenario in Unicoi County, east of Tennessee, where authorities are searching for more than 70 missing people, according to authorities reported in a press conference on Sunday morning.
The hardships are being increased by blackouts that keep 2.4 million people without power in the five most affected southeastern states, and another 130,000 in the five northern neighbors where the hurricane weakened.
Keep reading:
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• A hurricane could hit the Florida coast this week