Hurricane Helene’s death toll has reached 189, making it the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina. The storm caused extensive damage across several southern states, leading to power outages for over 1.2 million customers. President Biden has announced the deployment of active-duty soldiers to aid recovery efforts, and Congressional leaders are urging immediate legislative action for disaster relief following this historic storm.
The toll from Hurricane Helene has tragically escalated to at least 189 fatalities as of Wednesday evening, as reported by The Associated Press. This considerable loss of life positions Helene as the deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina. The destructive forces of the storm have wrought havoc through storm surge, wind damage, and extensive inland flooding, which have devastated communities across several states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. In the wake of this disaster, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited the affected regions to assess the damage and support ongoing recovery operations, emphasizing the federal government’s commitment to assist those impacted. “I am here to say the United States — the nation — has your back,” President Biden assured a gathering in Raleigh, North Carolina. “We are not leaving until you are back on your feet completely.” Sea-level records show that Hurricane Helene made a historic landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend area, marking the most powerful storm to ever hit the region. As recovery efforts remain underway, reports indicate that over 1.2 million customers still lack power in parts of the Southern states, with the hardest-hit areas realizing significant outages: South Carolina records over 484,410 customers, North Carolina over 343,632, and Georgia over 354,418, among others. Efforts to restore essential services are hampered by the unprecedented scale of destruction. In light of the extensive recovery operations, President Biden has ordered the deployment of up to one thousand active-duty soldiers to bolster the North Carolina National Guard’s capacity in response efforts. The President stated, “These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina.” The soldiers will immediately assist in delivering critical resources to those most in need. Further demonstrating a bipartisan commitment to recovery, Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, alongside other senators, have urged Congress to convene promptly following the calamity. They expressed in a joint letter, “Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents.” They have proposed that Congress reconvene in October to ensure timely legislative relief efforts.
Hurricane Helene has emerged as one of the most severe hurricanes to strike the continental United States, leading to catastrophic effects in several states. Its immense strength was evidenced by its rapid intensification and catastrophic landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, marking it as historically significant, particularly for the Big Bend area of Florida, which has not experienced such a storm previously. The widespread outages and devastation highlight the critical need for emergency response and recovery measures from local, state, and federal levels, leading to notable political actions and commitments of support.
In summary, Hurricane Helene has tragically resulted in a significant loss of life and widespread devastation across multiple states, prompting immediate action from federal authorities and bipartisan calls for legislative relief. President Biden has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aid affected Americans with both immediate relief and longer-term recovery efforts, emphasizing the support of military resources to expedite the distribution of essential supplies. The ongoing efforts to address the grave impacts of this disaster will require cooperation among various levels of government and the community.
Original Source: abc7ny.com
