Hurricane Helene Claims at Least 90 Lives in Southeastern United States

Florida, The Gulf Observer: At least 90 people have died in the southeastern United States as a result of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall late last week, NHC reports. The devastating storm, which hit as a Category 4 hurricane, left a trail of destruction across multiple states.

According to reports, 36 fatalities were recorded in North Carolina, 24 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, and two in Virginia. The hurricane has also caused widespread power outages, with more than 2.3 million residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia still without electricity, according to data from PowerOutage.us.

Hurricane Helene made landfall early Friday morning in Florida’s Big Bend region, a sparsely populated area. The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland, first downgrading to a Category 1 hurricane and later to a tropical storm. Despite the weakening, the storm brought torrential rain, powerful winds, and flooding, causing extensive damage and disruption.

Recovery efforts are ongoing across the affected states, with emergency services and utility companies working around the clock to restore power and assist those impacted by the storm. The scale of the devastation highlights the need for sustained relief and support in the coming days as the region begins to recover from the deadly hurricane.