Hurricane Helen death toll rises as aftermath investigation begins: NPR

More than 2.7 million homes and businesses were left without power Saturday as the threat of flooding continued, and rescue teams in the southeastern United States and southern Appalachia scrambled to respond to the destruction caused by Hurricane Helen.

Moody’s Analytics said it expected property damage from the hurricane, which was downgraded to a tropical storm by late Friday and turned into a tropical depression by Saturday, to be between $15 billion and $26 billion.

At least 56 people have died in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, according to the Associated Press. The dead included three firefighters, a mother and her one-month-old twins, and an 89-year-old woman who was hit by a tree that hit her home.

The White House has approved requests for state of emergency declarations from the governors of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide emergency response assistance. announced. Approximately 1,500 federal disaster response personnel were also sent to the area.

Coastal beaches near Tampa remained closed to Florida as rescue and recovery efforts continued. Andrew Swan, who lives in a house near the beach, told NPR member station WUSF reporter Stephanie Colombini that he rode out the storm alone in chest-deep water.

“I mean, everybody’s in shock and just trying to pick up the pieces. I mean, nobody expected this to happen,” Swan said. As the water rose, Swan said he fell asleep on the kitchen counter with his feet over the stove.

In North Carolina, Helen produced unusually strong winds reaching 160 miles per hour over land, making it the strongest wind recorded along the North Carolina coast since modern weather records began in the 19th century.

Experts said they were most concerned about the upcoming flow of debris.

“For me, the biggest concern in this area is debris flows. Debris flows are very wet, they move very fast, and they can travel long distances,” said Davidson College, who studies landslides and erosion. Brad Johnson told NPR member station WUNC.

Johnson added that debris flows can travel more than a mile, carrying rocks, trees and other hazards.

Western North Carolina cities long for water and power

Widespread flooding and mudslides occurred Saturday in western North Carolina, with cellphone service out and rescue efforts difficult. More than 600,000 homes and businesses remained without power across the state Saturday night, according to Poweroutage.us.

Officials said non-emergency traffic on the road was also hampering the response. The North Carolina Department of Transportation noted that Interstates 40 and 26 are impassable and said all roads in the area should be considered closed, adding: “No one is allowed to enter the area for non-emergency purposes. “The movement is hampering the necessary emergency response.”

Local authorities urged people to stay at home as long as it is safe to do so.

Electricity, water and cell phone service were cut off in much of the area, including Asheville. Officials have not said when power and water will be restored.

Asheville City Councilwoman Maggie Ullman said in a video posted to Facebook Sunday morning that the city is “working diligently” on a water distribution plan to bring drinking water to residents.

“I don’t know the details of that plan, but details should be announced soon,” she said.

Resident Richie Gedichovich told Blue Ridge Public Radio on Saturday that the Asheville area is in “total chaos.”

“Everything is flooded. Telephone lines are down everywhere, trees are hitting houses,” Gedihović said. “Three large pine trees fell on a house on Brookshire Road. It was a disaster.”

Gedihovich told member NPR that he needed a Wi-Fi signal because his basement was under 4 inches of water.

Officials in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, said they expected Wi-Fi equipment to arrive at shelters by Sunday.

Damaged infrastructure disrupted cell phone service west of I-77. Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said network providers have enabled “disaster roaming,” meaning people can find service on any operating network, regardless of provider. .

Representatives for Verizon and AT&T said they were working to restore service, BPR reported.

The governor said in a statement Saturday that more than 200 people had been rescued from the flood waters.

“This is a historic and devastating storm for Western North Carolina,” Cooper said. “Efforts are also underway to restore power and communications, and essential supplies are being airlifted.”

Record rainfall in Georgia and North Carolina

Heavy rains from Helen set records in Atlanta, with the past two days marking the highest amount of rainfall in a 48-hour period. The Georgia Weather Bureau tweeted that as of noon Friday, the region had received 11.12 inches of precipitation, breaking the previous record of 9.59 inches set in 1886.

In North Carolina, Friday afternoon’s precipitation totals were staggering. 29.58 inches in Busick, North Carolina, and 24:20 at nearby Mount Mitchell State Park. About 13 inches in Boone, about 55 miles away.

The storm dumped more than 8 inches of rain on Wilmington, causing severe damage to coastal homes, small buildings, and even farmland.