The death toll from Hurricane Helene’s rampage through the south-eastern US has risen to at least 10, with six fatalities reported in Georgia alone. The storm caused widespread devastation, with fatalities reported from falling trees, tornadoes, and storm-related accidents in several states. The number of customers without power in the region has climbed to 4.2 million, with Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina each topping over one million outages. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida reported thousands of successful rescue missions overnight, praising the efforts of first responders in saving lives. The storm, which made landfall as a category 4 hurricane, has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but continues to cause havoc with heavy rainfall and flooding.
Meteorologist Jeff Masters noted the unprecedented strength of Hurricane Helene, which marks the eighth category 4 or 5 cyclone to hit land in the past eight years. Climate experts attribute the intensification of hurricanes like Helene to human-caused climate change, with warmer seas and a hotter atmosphere fueling more powerful storms. Rescue efforts are still ongoing in the wake of the storm, with over 600 missions completed so far across multiple states. Flash flood emergencies have been declared in various areas, including the Atlanta region, where dangerous flooding is occurring. With over 3 million people currently without power and storm watches in effect in 12 states, the impact of Hurricane Helene continues to be felt throughout the region.
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