Hurricane Helene leaves 56 dead and millions without power across Southeastern US
In Florida’s Pinellas County near Tampa, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri likened the damage to a "war zone," saying he had never seen anything like the destruction caused by Helene.
Frankie Johnson, left, talks with fellow resident Charlene Huggins, whose home was destroyed, amid the destruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla. (AP) Authorities across the southeastern United States are grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one of the most powerful storms to hit the country, as the death toll continues to rise.
By Saturday morning, at least 56 people had been confirmed dead, with officials fearing more victims would be discovered in the coming days.
Although downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone late Friday, Helene continues to cause havoc, bringing heavy rainfall and widespread flooding across multiple states, leading to fears of dam failures that could submerge entire towns.
President Joe Biden described the storm’s devastation as “overwhelming.” In a statement on Saturday, he said: “Jill and I continue to pray for all those who have lost loved ones and for everyone impacted by this storm. Our focus is on life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in the Southeast”, according to a report by Associated Press.
The remains of a home on Davis Island that burned during Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP)
Ellie Moss, along with family and friends cleans contents of her home after flooding from Hurricane Helene on Davis Island Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP)
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