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Helene made landfall as the most devastating hurricane in the United States since Hurricane Katrina, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. The storm claimed the lives of at least 200 individuals, a toll rivaled only by the infamous 2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that storm Helene had accounted for 189 fatalities, with that number climbing to 200 by the evening. The storm’s impact was felt most acutely in the southeastern United States, where Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee bore the brunt of Helene’s fury. In particular, western North Carolina saw some of the worst of the storm, prompting extensive search and rescue efforts in its mountainous regions.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris wasted no time in assessing the damage and offering support to those affected by the storm. A visit to the Southeast on Wednesday allowed them to witness firsthand the devastation wrought by Helene, with Biden promising the affected communities that the nation stood behind them as they worked to recover and rebuild.
Helene, classified as a Category 4 storm, made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday night, unleashing its full force on the region. The aftermath of the storm left over 1.2 million customers without power across the southern United States, with significant outages reported in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and West Virginia.
President Biden’s response to the crisis was swift and decisive. He ordered the deployment of up to one thousand active-duty soldiers to augment the North Carolina National Guard in their relief efforts. These troops were tasked with providing essential supplies such as food, water, and medication to remote communities in North Carolina that were cut off by the storm.
In a show of bipartisan unity, Senate leaders from both parties called on Congress to convene and address the urgent needs of the communities affected by Helene. Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, along with their colleagues, recognized the scale of the devastation and the need for prompt action to provide relief to the millions of Americans impacted by the storm.
The White House announced that troops would be deployed to support the delivery of essential goods to the affected populations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action. The Infantry Battalion Task Force at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, was mobilized to ensure that aid reached those in need as quickly as possible.
As the recovery efforts continue and the full extent of the damage becomes apparent, the nation must come together to support those who have lost everything in the wake of Helene. With strong leadership and cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities, the affected communities can begin the difficult process of rebuilding and healing. Hurricane Helene may have been historic in its devastation, but the resilience of the American people will prevail in the face of adversity.
