Helene Hurricane, the tropical depression brought devastating flooding on Friday, leaving at least 44 people dead. The hurricane hit the large parts of the Southeastern United States. As the storm swept through the area, it flooded homes, caused mudslides, and created serious concerns about the stability of the dams.

The aftermath resulted in a power outage, impacting numerous families and towns. The destruction by the Helene Hurricane has been profound, leaving many people unable to cope with the substantial damage and disturbing their daily activities.

Authorities have been rescuing people stuck in rising floodwaters, using boats, helicopters, and large vehicles. Among the rescued people were approximately 50 workers and patients, trapped on the roof of a flooded hospital in Tennessee.  

Path of the Helene Hurricane

The National Hurricane Center reports that by Friday afternoon, the hurricane proceeded across the Carolinas. It had by then weakened to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (48 kph). It is anticipated that the storm will continue to weaken as it progresses northward. At 2 p.m., Helene was roughly 124 miles (9205 kilometers) southeast of Louisville, Kentucky.

On Thursday, the hurricane wavered as it got closer to Florida’s coast, before making landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River. Here the maximum sustained winds were predicted at 140 mph (225 kph). This place is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of the area, where Hurricane Idalia struck last year, making a similar impact.

On Friday, evacuations began in certain areas of Western North Carolina. As per the reports, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, which is west of Asheville, was helping with evacuations in Waynesville’s lower-lying regions as well as Cruso, Clyde, and Canton.

Destruction Caused by Helene Hurricane

The destruction of Hurricane Helene’s path throughout Florida and the Southeast region of the US, has caused at least 44 fatalities. The storm’s powerful winds have severely damaged many homes and snapped tall oak trees like twigs. According to the poweroutage.us, over 3 million homes and businesses in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas were left without power.

Furthermore, the site reported disruptions that reached as far north as Ohio and Indiana, a testament to Helene’s rapid movement northward throughout the day.

Joe Biden offered his condolences and prayers to the survivors of the tragedy. Meanwhile, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) visited the impacted area. FEMA sent more than 1,500 people to help with relief efforts.

Recent Situation in Florida

Airports in Florida, including those in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, and Tallahassee, that were closed due to the storm, were reopened on Friday. According to the Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, inspectors were evaluating causeways and bridges around Florida’s Gulf Coast on Friday morning to expedite their reopening to traffic.

Additionally, at a Tallahassee press conference, Perdue declared that 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) of roadways across Florida had been cleared of debris.

As the situation unfolds, insurers and financial institutions are warning that the damage might reach into billions of dollars. The evaluation emphasized the extensive impact of this disaster on people as well as the overall economy. The ongoing rescue efforts highlight the urgency and severity of the crisis.