Laredo Morning Times, Texas
(TNS)
Sep. 30—More than 100 people are now reported dead from the impacts of Hurricane Helene throughout the South, including in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the storm has caused the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina. Busick led the state with more than 30 inches of rainfall from the storm. Spruce Pine received 23 inches, while Asheville recorded 13 inches.
Aid efforts over the weekend were challenging as many towns in western North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains were cut off, with communications severed and roads washed out.
One of these towns was Asheville, a major tourist hub, according to the Associated Press. The North Carolina county that includes Asheville reported at least 35 people killed. The state has tried to send clean water to Asheville, but mudslides blocking Interstate 40 and other highways have hampered those efforts. Asheville's water system was severely damaged, forcing residents to carry buckets to a creek to get water to flush toilets.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Monday that hundreds of roads were closed across western North Carolina, and shelters were housing more than 1,000 people. According to FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assessing the damage to water systems and what is needed to restore them in several areas across the Southeast. Several counties in all affected states have issued boil water notices.
More from Hurricane Helene
- Blackshear, GA, Assistant Chief Killed when Tree Falls on Truck Cab
- Three San Diego Firefighters Headed to Help with Hurricane Hurt in Crash
- Waycross, GA, Fire Station Damaged by Hurricane Helene
- Chimney Rock, NC, Wiped out by Historic Flooding
- People Rescued from Roof of Unicoi County, TN, Hospital
- Stranded in NC Mountains, Colerain Township, OH, Firefighter Rescued Residents
- Water Rescues Conducted Throughout the South as Hurricane Helene Hits
- USAR Teams Headed to Florida to Await Hurricane
Help has come from outside sources as well. Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber and pilot known as Cleetus McFarland, used his newly rebuilt helicopter to provide aid and water to towns in North Carolina.
According to CBS News, President Joe Biden plans to visit areas impacted by Helene in North Carolina this week, if he can do so without hindering recovery efforts.
Georgia's death toll was raised Monday from 17 to 25. In South Carolina, 27 people have been killed, while Florida has reported 13 deaths from the storm. Overall, the Associated Press reports that at least 120 people have been killed.
"This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference Sunday. He added that more deaths are expected as rescuers reach isolated areas.
___
(c)2024 the Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas)
Visit the Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas) at www.lmtonline.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
