Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday, saying the storm caused widespread destruction and power outages. He urged residents to stay off roads and let emergency workers do their jobs.
In South Carolina, officials said more than 100 people had to be rescued from homes and vehicles. The storm caused widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, leaving many without power or access to clean water.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also declared a state of emergency, saying the storm had caused at least 15 deaths and significant damage across the state.
As President Biden prepared to visit the region, he vowed to provide all necessary resources to help the affected communities recover and rebuild.
ASHEVILLE, N.C.—President Joe Biden was scheduled to assess the damage in the Western North Carolina mountains on Wednesday. Emergency workers were tirelessly working to clear roads, restore power and cellphone service, and rescue stranded individuals in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The storm tragically claimed the lives of at least 133 people, with many more still missing four days after landfall.
Across the South, election officials were making emergency plans to ensure that displaced residents could still vote in the upcoming presidential election.
The city of Asheville suffered severe damage to its water system, with officials warning that it could take weeks to fully repair. Relief efforts were underway to deliver supplies to the town and surrounding mountain communities, with at least 40 fatalities reported in the county.
Stories of survival and loss emerged from the devastation, with rescuers working tirelessly to save lives. The storm brought historic flooding to North Carolina, washing away roads and causing significant damage to infrastructure.
Residents faced challenges such as lack of water and food, with many relying on community resources for survival. The storm’s impact was felt across multiple states in the Southeast, with widespread destruction and loss of life.
As North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described it, the storm necessitated an unprecedented response due to its scale and severity.
Western North Carolina was particularly hard hit due to its geography, with the mountains amplifying the rainfall and flooding. Cities like Asheville, built in valleys, were especially vulnerable to the storm’s effects.
From Florida to Virginia, the storm caused chaos and destruction, with several states declaring states of emergency. President Biden’s visit aimed to provide support and assistance to the affected communities as they begin the long process of recovery.
Governor Brian Kemp expressed that Hurricane Helene had devastatingly impacted everyone in its path, particularly in Augusta where a large portion of the population remained without power. With a death toll of at least 30 in South Carolina, Helene was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit the state since Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Helene wreaked havoc, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
In other news, Tropical Storm Kirk emerged in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday and is projected to intensify into a strong hurricane by Tuesday night or Wednesday, as per the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Located around 800 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, Kirk boasts maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Fortunately, no coastal watches or warnings are in effect, and the storm poses no immediate threat to land.
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