Latest news Storm Helene leaves deaths and devastation in the USA
The devastating storm "Helene" has claimed numerous lives in the south-east of the USA and left a trail of devastation in its wake. According to US media, at least 40 people died as a result of the storm in several states.
28.09.2024, 03:44
SDA
The destruction caused by the storm stretched hundreds of kilometers inland from Florida in the south. In Tennessee, rescue workers managed to bring dozens of people to safety from the roof of a hospital.
On Thursday evening (local time), "Helene" made landfall as the second-highest category hurricane with sustained wind speeds of up to 225 kilometers per hour in the Big Bend region in the state of Florida. It then weakened to a tropical storm and continued north across the Appalachian Mountains. The US hurricane center continued to warn of life-threatening flooding and landslides. US Vice President Kamala Harris also warned: "The storm remains dangerous and deadly, it has cost lives, and the threat of flooding remains high."
Power outages and flooding
More than four million households across the country were without power as a result of the storm on Friday, according to data from the website "poweroutage.us". Houses were destroyed and entire villages flooded. There were reports of people being killed or injured by fallen trees, while others died in their cars and homes. Numerous roads were washed out and closed in the affected regions.
Spectacular rescue from hospital roof
There was also severe flooding in the small town of Erwin in the state of Tennessee. Here, more than 50 people climbed onto the roof of a hospital to save themselves from the floods. With the help of a helicopter, police and emergency services managed to rescue the people. All of them were brought to safety, Senator Bill Hagerty announced on the short message service X.
Evacuations due to imminent dam failure
In North Carolina, the authorities warned that a dam on Lake Lur could break and called on residents of the surrounding towns to get to safety. Evacuation orders were also issued in Newport, Tennessee, a town with a population of around 7,000, because a dam was threatening to burst. In both cases, the all-clear was later given.
No reliable death toll yet
It is still unclear how many people lost their lives in the storm. The New York Times reported 41 deaths in four states, US broadcaster ABC News 42 and CNN 45, while only eight deaths have been officially confirmed in Florida, 11 in Georgia and two in North Carolina. In storms of this kind, the extent of the destruction often only becomes apparent days later. Victims of the storm are often not discovered until the storm has passed and the water has receded.
Dark memories of hurricane "Ian"
For many people in the USA, storms like "Helene" bring back dark memories of previous storms. Two years ago, Hurricane Ian caused enormous damage in Florida, killing more than 100 people. At that time, the center of the storm passed over densely populated areas in the southwest of the state and swept over coastal cities with wind speeds of around 240 kilometers per hour.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters. According to experts, increasing global warming increases the likelihood of strong storms. The hurricane season begins in the Atlantic on June 1 and lasts until November 30.
