At least 40 individuals have lost their lives across four states following the devastating onslaught of Hurricane Helene, which swept through the southeastern region of the United States.
Rescue teams are urgently working to save those trapped in submerged residences after Helene made landfall on the coast of Florida as an extremely formidable Category 4 hurricane.
The storm generated a significant storm surge, leaving a path of devastation that spanned hundreds of miles to the north.
In Florida and surrounding states, millions are currently without electricity.
Simultaneously, many individuals are stranded on the roof of a flooded Tennessee hospital, where a “hazardous rescue operation” is in progress.
The Unicoi County Hospital is submerged in “extremely perilous and swiftly moving waters,” according to Tennessee’s Ballad Health.
Patients and medical staff are stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital. (Pic: Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson)
According to reports, 54 individuals were evacuated to the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital, while seven others were on rescue boats.
“The condition at the hospital is extremely perilous, and TEMA [The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency] along with National Guard resources are involved in what can only be termed a hazardous rescue operation,” Ballad Health stated.
Local leader Michael Baker informed Sky News that people are being extracted from the roof “gradually,” labeling the flooding as “unprecedented.”
“We have never encountered anything like this,” he remarked.
Aerial view of Steinhatchee in the Big Bend region of Florida. Pic: Reuters
Flooding has caused extensive damage to properties in Atlanta. Pic: AP
As of early afternoon, Helene, which has been downgraded to a tropical depression, was exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) as it gradually moved across Tennessee and Kentucky, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
The storm initially struck overnight with maximum sustained winds recorded at 140 mph (225 kph) in the rural Big Bend region, the northwestern part of Florida.
The National Hurricane Center indicated that early assessments reveal water levels surged more than 15 feet above ground in that area.
United States President Joe Biden has authorized emergency declaration requests from governors of several southern states impacted by Helene.
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina are being aided by emergency responders including search and rescue personnel, medical support teams, and engineering specialists.
Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, has reported that numerous individuals are trapped in structures affected by the storm, with several hospitals in southern Georgia lacking electricity.
In western North Carolina, emergency management officials in Rutherford County have advised residents in the vicinity of Lake Lure Dam to urgently relocate to higher elevations, cautioning that “Dam failure is imminent.”
Simultaneously, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that the devastation wrought by Helene appears more severe than the total destruction caused by Idalia and Hurricane Debby in August. “It’s disheartening,” he remarked.
Traveling by kayak is more efficient than by vehicle in St. Petersburg, Florida. Pic: AP
Rescue operations in Venice, Florida. Pic: Venice Police Department
Many individuals stranded in areas such as Tampa could only be accessed via boat, with officials cautioning that the waters might harbor live wires, sewage, sharp debris, and other hazardous materials.
Over four million residences are currently without power across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, as reported by the tracking service, PowerOutage.
Why this hurricane season is straying from forecasts
In spite of Helene’s intensity, this hurricane season has been marked more by a notable absence of activity.
When the hurricane season commenced, which spans from June 1 to November 30, sea surface temperatures were (and still are) extraordinarily warm.
This oceanic warmth is what drives the formation of tropical storms.
Coupled with the emergence of a La Nina phenomenon, US meteorological experts anticipated 2024 would witness a significant hurricane season. They predicted 17 to 24 storms, with eight to 13 expected to develop into hurricanes.
Hurricane Beryl skimmed past Jamaica’s coast in July as a Category 5 hurricane. It was the earliest storm of such magnitude ever documented and was perceived as a precursor to the forecast. Thus far, however, the anticipated storms have not materialized.
Only six hurricanes have occurred this year, which is slightly below the average. So what is causing this discrepancy?
It appears that changes happening across the Atlantic, where ocean warming has pushed the African monsoon further north than typically observed, are part of the explanation.
This shift has led to devastating flooding in central and west Africa, displacing millions, but it has also altered the weather patterns that usually generate hurricanes and propel them across the Atlantic.
Ample evidence suggests that our warming oceans and atmosphere are intensifying storms, yet forecasting their locations and frequencies remains complex—perhaps growing more so as our planet continues to warm.
Before the hurricane reached land, officials in Florida appealed to residents to evacuate. The sheriff’s department…
The office located in rural Taylor County issued a somber alert to individuals who chose not to evacuate.
“Kindly jot down your name, date of birth, and other vital details on your arm or leg using a permanent marker to ensure identification and family notification,” the Facebook post urged.
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Weather forecasters now anticipate that the storm will continue to diminish in intensity as it moves across Tennessee and Kentucky.
There are concerns that excessive rainfall in the Appalachian Mountains may lead to mudslides and flash floods.
