The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene continues to unfold as the death toll has tragically risen to at least 227 across six states. This makes Helene the second-deadliest hurricane to hit the United States mainland in the last 50 years, following the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which claimed the lives of at least 1,833 people.
South Carolina reported two additional deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 48. North Carolina also announced seven more deaths, raising their toll to 113. Georgia has reported 33 deaths, Florida 20, Tennessee 11, and Virginia 2.
The aftermath of Helene has left a trail of destruction, with widespread power outages, damaged water and cell infrastructure, and severed road access in many areas. The affected regions are now the focus of a massive relief effort aimed at restoring essential services, rebuilding infrastructure, and delivering much-needed supplies to isolated communities.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing as authorities work tirelessly to locate missing individuals and provide assistance to those in need. The scale of the devastation caused by Helene underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the immediate and long-term impacts of the hurricane.
