As residents across six southeastern states begin to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, they face an enormous challenge of recovery. With over 100 people dead, millions without power, and entire communities cut off by floodwaters, the task ahead is daunting. Helene, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, has left a trail of destruction spanning more than 500 miles, from the Florida coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The death toll, which currently stands at 102, continues to rise as search and rescue operations reach the hardest-hit areas. North Carolina has been the most affected, with at least 42 confirmed fatalities, including five in Henderson County and a sheriff's deputy in Macon County. Other states, including South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, have also reported numerous deaths.
Many of the victims are still unaccounted for, with communications infrastructure severely damaged across the region. Officials in Buncombe County, North Carolina, alone have received 600 reports of missing persons, though authorities remain hopeful that many are simply unable to reach their loved ones due to power and phone outages.
Residents in the storm-ravaged regions are struggling to come to grips with the devastation. Roads and bridges have been washed away, cutting off entire towns, and leaving people stranded without access to food, water, or medical supplies. Asheville, a historic North Carolina mountain community, has been particularly hard hit, with road closures making it nearly impossible to deliver essential supplies.
Meredith Keisler, a school nurse in Buncombe County, described the grim situation to CNN: "We're collecting wood because we have a grill to make fire, to cook food." Keisler considers herself lucky, as many others in her community have lost their homes entirely. Despite her own hardships, she plans to volunteer at a local shelter to help others in need.
In nearby Black Mountain, North Carolina, Krista Cortright shared a harrowing tale of her efforts to reach her boyfriend's grandmother, who was trapped in her home with limited supplies and no way to leave. What was usually a 25-minute drive turned into a 2.5-hour ordeal as the couple navigated through flooded roads. "Things are even more devastating in person," Cortright said. "My heart is broken for our people here."
More than 2 million homes and businesses remain without electricity across the affected states, with restoration efforts hampered by extensive damage to infrastructure. Power companies are grappling with blocked roads, downed power lines, and destroyed equipment, making it difficult to estimate when service will be fully restored.
Michael Callahan, president of Duke Energy's utility operations in South Carolina, explained that infrastructure repairs must be made before power can be restored. "The poles and wires that make up our transmission system have experienced unprecedented damage," Callahan said. Duke Energy hopes to have most customers back online by Friday, but many areas remain inaccessible due to flooding.
In North Carolina alone, over 458,000 customers are still without power, while South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are dealing with hundreds of thousands of outages. Some areas may remain in the dark for days or even weeks as crews work to rebuild the damaged infrastructure.
With communications down in many areas, hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, adding to the concerns of families who have been unable to contact loved ones. Former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate encouraged people not to lose hope, explaining that the loss of communication does not necessarily mean the worst. "We generally see more people that are missing or unaccounted for because of communication issues," Fugate said on CNN.
Despite the uncertainty, officials have expressed grave concerns about the final death toll. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the situation an "unprecedented tragedy," adding that many residents remain trapped in their homes due to flooding and landslides that have rendered roads impassable.
In response to the widespread devastation, President Joe Biden has approved disaster relief for the affected areas and will visit the storm-ravaged communities later this week. He has also been in contact with the governors of the hardest-hit states, including North Carolina's Roy Cooper and Georgia's Brian Kemp, to ensure federal resources are delivered as quickly as possible. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell visited Georgia on Sunday and is expected to travel to North Carolina soon to oversee recovery efforts.
Vice President Kamala Harris, addressing a campaign rally in Las Vegas, expressed her support for the affected communities, stating, "We will stand with these communities for as long as it takes to make sure that they are able to recover and rebuild."
Former President Donald Trump also offered his condolences to those impacted by the storm. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said, "A lot of death and all of those who are displaced and suffering in the wake of the hurricane's destruction...especially in western North Carolina, which took a tremendous hit."
As the Southeast begins its long road to recovery, the challenges are far from over. Rain continues to fall in many areas already saturated by the hurricane, raising the risk of further flooding. The National Weather Service has warned that the region could face additional localized flooding in the coming days, compounding the difficulties for those working to clear debris and restore basic services.
Despite the grim circumstances, communities are coming together to support one another. In Asheville, Michelle Coleman, executive director of the Asheville Dream Center, described how local groups have mobilized to deliver food, water, and other essentials to those in need. "Our prayer is that people are just not losing hope because our community is coming together. Asheville is a strong community," Coleman said.
