By Bora Erden, June Kim, Elena Shao and Jeremy White
Hurricane Helene, a formidable Category 4 cyclone at landfall, left behind a trail of destruction from Florida’s Gulf Coast to Tennessee. Reports of damage and unprecedented flooding extended over 600 miles. As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities indicated that the storm had caused over 130 fatalities.
In Newport, Tennessee, officials mandated that thousands of residents evacuate due to fears of a potential dam failure and a flash flood warning.
Many patients and staff were rescued from Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, as the Nolichucky River reached alarming heights.
Vehicles were spotted stranded on inundated roads in Boone, North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper described Helene as “one of the most catastrophic storms in recent history for sections of western North Carolina.”
In Asheville, North Carolina, residents found themselves without electricity, water, and gas, and faced challenges in securing food as numerous roads were closed throughout the state.
In Anderson County, South Carolina, two individuals lost their lives when trees crashed onto their residences. Additionally, another person perished in a vehicle accident during the storm.
People from an Atlanta neighborhood returned to collect their belongings after Helene caused severe flooding, leaving roads and cars submersed.
The storm swept through central Georgia, resulting in at least six deaths. Overall, state officials reported a total of 15 casualties due to the storm, including an emergency responder.
In Dublin, Georgia, a resident was killed when a tree fell on his home.
Near Cedar Grove, Georgia, a tree landed on a tractor-trailer traveling along a highway, resulting in a passenger’s death and injuries to another.
In Perry, Florida, winds tore away roofs and windows and uprooted trees. The city experienced a power outage lasting over 24 hours.
Debris from damaged homes scattered across Keaton Beach, Florida, a community with over 12,000 residents.
Homes were destroyed in the Gulf Coast town of Horseshoe Beach, Florida.
Residents of Crystal River, Florida, waded through floodwaters after Helene hit land there on Friday.
Two casualties were discovered on Treasure Island, Florida. By Saturday, eleven deaths had been confirmed in the state.
