Death Toll from Storm Helene Rises to 155 as Biden and Harris Prepare to Survey Damage
Florida, The Gulf Observer: The death toll from the devastating storm Helene, which tore through the southeastern United States, has climbed to at least 155, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. As recovery efforts continue, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to visit the hardest-hit regions.
President Biden is scheduled to travel to North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday, while Vice President Harris, currently campaigning for the presidency, will head to Georgia. Both states have been significantly impacted by the storm and are also pivotal battlegrounds in the upcoming November presidential election, where Harris is challenging former president Donald Trump.
Local officials have reported 74 fatalities in North Carolina, 36 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee, and two in Virginia, according to figures compiled by AFP from local authorities and media outlets.
Emergency crews are working around the clock to restore power and water services across the affected areas. However, hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, with officials expressing hope that many will be located once cell phone services are restored.
“We know that the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene is beyond belief. Communities were wiped off the map,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said in a Tuesday briefing, acknowledging that the death toll in his state is likely to rise. He highlighted challenges such as widespread power outages, blocked highways, and the need for emergency airlifts to isolated communities.
Buncombe County, home to the popular tourist destination Asheville, bore the brunt of the storm in North Carolina, with 57 confirmed fatalities. In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster announced 36 deaths and cautioned that the number would likely increase.
As of late Monday, more than 1.4 million homes and businesses remained without power, according to poweroutage.us, as emergency workers continue their efforts to restore services.
