The southeastern United States faces a monumental cleanup and recovery effort after Hurricane Helene tore through the region, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The powerful storm, which knocked out power for millions, destroyed infrastructure, and caused widespread flooding, has claimed the lives of at least 90 people, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as more bodies are discovered.
States stretching from Florida to Virginia have been affected, with the hurricane’s winds, rain, and storm surge causing catastrophic damage. According to a tally by Reuters of state and local officials, the fatalities span across six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. As the scope of the disaster becomes clearer, hundreds of people remain unaccounted for due to downed communication systems, leaving many families in limbo as they await word from their loved ones.
The physical destruction caused by Hurricane Helene is staggering, with damage estimates ranging from $15 billion to over $100 billion. Insurers and forecasters have reported that property damage, lost economic output, and the cost of restoring essential services, such as water systems and transportation routes, will take weeks to fully assess.
The storm’s sheer magnitude is evident in the devastation it caused to both public and private infrastructure. Entire road networks have been washed away, bridges have collapsed, and towns remain underwater. The ferocity of Helene’s winds, combined with relentless rainfall and massive storm surges, impacted areas hundreds of miles inland, leaving few communities unscathed.
In North Carolina, one of the hardest-hit states, Buncombe County alone recorded 30 deaths, most of them from severe flooding and collapsing structures. Sheriff Quentin Miller, speaking to reporters during a video conference call, emphasized the scale of the disaster. “This is a devastating catastrophe of historic proportions,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “People that I talk to in western North Carolina say they have never seen anything like this.”
Search and rescue teams from 19 states, along with federal agencies, have descended on the region to assist in rescue operations. In some areas, such as Asheville, streets are entirely submerged, and emergency services are working around the clock to deliver food, drinking water, and medical supplies to stranded residents. As of Sunday, approximately 2.7 million people across the southeastern U.S. remained without power, down from 4.5 million on Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The power outages, resulting from unprecedented storm surges, high winds, and damage to electrical infrastructure, have left many communities struggling to access basic necessities.
In Flat Rock, North Carolina, widespread blackouts have disrupted daily life, forcing residents to wait in long lines for essentials like gasoline. “Grocery stores are closed, cellphone service is out,” said Chip Frank, 62, as he waited in line for gas. “It all depends on these gas stations. You’re not going to be able to go anywhere, and it’s just a scary feeling.”
The situation is equally dire in rural communities, where emergency services have been slow to arrive due to impassable roads and washed-out bridges. In many areas, residents have been forced to fend for themselves as they await help. South Carolina has reported 25 fatalities, Georgia 17, and Florida 11, according to statements from the respective governors. The death toll continues to climb as rescue teams access remote and hard-to-reach areas. Officials fear that the number of casualties will rise as floodwaters recede and more bodies are discovered. CNN reported that the total death toll across the region has reached 93, though this number is expected to fluctuate as rescue operations continue.
President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the storm-ravaged areas later this week once conditions allow for a safe visit. The White House has declared major disasters in several states, including Florida and North Carolina, and emergency declarations for Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama. “It’s tragic,” President Biden told reporters on Sunday, expressing his condolences to the families of those lost. “You saw the photographs. It’s stunning.” He pledged the full support of the federal government in assisting the recovery efforts and ensuring that affected communities receive the resources they need.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who had been campaigning in Nevada, plans to return to Washington, D.C., to take part in briefings on the hurricane response. Harris is also expected to visit the region once it is safe to do so without hindering emergency operations.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday, where he will receive a briefing on storm damage and participate in relief supply distribution. Florida’s Gulf Coast bore the brunt of Hurricane Helene when it made landfall late Thursday, unleashing days of torrential rain and high winds. Coastal communities, some of which had stood for generations, were leveled by the storm.
In Horseshoe Beach, about 120 km west of Gainesville, Charlene Huggins sifted through the remnants of her home. “Five generations lived in this house, from my grandmother, my father, myself, my daughter, son, and my granddaughter,” she said, holding a piece of debris from the wreckage. “It just breaks your heart.”
Nearby, James Ellenburg stood on the property where his family had lived for four generations. “I took my first step right here in this yard,” Ellenburg said, staring at the flat roof of a home that had been blown off its foundation.
Coastal towns like Steinhatchee and Spring Warrior Fish Camp saw storm surges as high as 4.5 meters, pushing mobile homes off their foundations and leaving debris strewn across the landscape. The destruction is so extensive that many of these small, rural communities have yet to receive emergency aid, leaving residents to rely on each other for help.
David Hall, a resident of Spring Warrior Fish Camp, lamented the lack of attention to the area. “No one thinks of us back here,” he said, standing amid the remnants of his flooded business. Many homes in the community are built on stilts to mitigate the risk of flooding, but even these structures sustained heavy damage.
With the immediate danger of the storm subsiding, the long and arduous process of recovery has only just begun. Search and rescue operations remain a priority as officials work to reach areas cut off by floodwaters and debris. However, the scale of the destruction means that it could be weeks, if not months, before some areas return to a semblance of normalcy.
Roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure will need to be rebuilt, a process that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned could take months. In many areas, businesses remain closed, and supply chains have been severely disrupted.
For the millions affected by the storm, the road to recovery will be challenging. Communities like Asheville, Horseshoe Beach, and Flat Rock are grappling with immediate concerns such as food, water, and shelter. Meanwhile, families across the region are still trying to contact loved ones, with cellphone towers down and communication lines severed.
The economic impact of the storm is expected to be profound, with damage estimates continuing to rise. Many residents who have lost homes and businesses face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. As cleanup efforts ramp up and aid begins to flow into the hardest-hit areas, the southeastern U.S. remains in a state of shock and mourning. Hurricane Helene has left an indelible mark on the region, one that will be felt for years to come.
