At least 44 people have died and nearly four million Americans are without power after Hurricane Helene, which caused massive flooding in the southeastern United States. From Tallahassee, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, strong winds and heavy rain caused flash flooding, downed trees, and destroyed homes.
On the Florida coast, sea submergence has caused significant flooding, and in some places sea level has risen by up to six meters, according to the state’s governor. At least twenty people died in South Carolina, fifteen in Georgia, seven in Florida, one in North Carolina and one in Virginia, according to a report prepared by Agence France-Presse (AFP) based on statements from local authorities.
Although winds decreased to 55 mph, the US Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of flooding “historical” AND “catastrophic”accompanied by landslides, would continue in the Appalachians until Friday night.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that a dam in East Tennessee was about to fail and asked downstream communities to “immediately move to higher ground”.
“Will this become the norm? »
Hélène made landfall in northwest Florida on Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, with winds of 225 km/h. It was the most powerful to ever hit this region, according to expert Michael Lowry.
“At one point it was really scary. I was wondering: will my house be destroyed or not? »Larry Bailey Jr. told AFP in the small town of Perry, Florida. “We went to my sister’s room and said a prayer.said the 32-year-old man, who had taken refuge with her and two nephews. We feel relieved and pray that another [ouragan] It’s not happening, because there’s still about a month left in the season. »
In Steinhatchee, a small town on the west coast of Florida, Curtis Drafton, a former soldier, came to help. The 48-year-old also came to help during Hurricane Idalia in 2023. “We didn’t expect to have to go back.he told AFP. Will this become the norm? Is this going to happen every year? We talk about storms that only happen once in a lifetime, but last year we had a similar one…”
According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who toured the coast by helicopter, Hurricane Helene was “Much worse than Idalia”. “If you look at Keaton Beach, I think almost every house was destroyed.”described, on Friday.
By warming ocean waters, climate change makes rapid intensification of these storms more likely and increases the risk of more powerful hurricanes.
Fact sheet
“Human warmth”
How to face the climate challenge? Every week, our best articles on the topic.
Record
After forming, Helene moved over particularly warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico: more than 30°C, according to climatologist Andra Garner. “It is likely that these very warm waters have contributed to the rapid intensification of Hélène”the expert stressed. “We also know that hurricane-related marine flooding is getting worse because ocean levels are rising as we warm the planet. »
1,500 people mobilized
Many of the deaths are related to trees falling on houses. In Georgia, one of the people killed was part of a rescue team, the state’s governor, Brian Kemp, said Friday. Two firefighters also died in South Carolina, that state’s governor said.
“We have carried out almost 600 rescues”Deanne Criswell, head of the federal agency responsible for responding to natural disasters (FEMA), said Friday morning on CNN. “The threat is not over” and the situation “it is always dangerous”he added, highlighting the risk of flash flooding, particularly in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia.
The vice president and Democratic candidate for the White House, Kamala Harris, assured Friday night that she would continue “Monitor the situation closely” with President Joe Biden, adding that the administration had mobilized 1,500 people to help those affected.
