Following the devastating landfall of the powerful Hurricane “Helene” in Florida, United States on late Thursday night, September 26th, the southeastern region of the country has been left reeling from extensive damage. Countless homes, trees, and infrastructure have been destroyed, with some areas along the Gulf of Mexico still submerged in water. At least 44 people have lost their lives across five southeastern states as a result of the storm.
As reported by the National Hurricane Center in the United States, when “Helene” made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida, it reached a Category 4 intensity hurricane, with wind speeds at the storm’s center reaching up to 225 kilometers per hour, marking it as the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend area on record.
The vast destruction caused by this storm has stretched from South Florida all the way to the mountain regions of North Carolina and Tennessee, triggering flash floods and mudslides in multiple areas. Some small coastal communities along the Gulf of Mexico have been completely devastated. In the densely populated Tampa Bay area, many neighborhoods have been swamped by floodwaters due to the powerful storm surge.
According to official statistics, as of Friday night, at least 44 people across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have lost their lives due to flooding, fallen trees, building collapses, accidents, or tornadoes triggered by the storm.
Furthermore, over 4 million households and businesses in the southeastern United States remain without power due to the massive storm surge brought by the hurricane.
Moodys Corporation stated on Friday that the estimated property losses caused by this storm could range from $15 billion to $26 billion.
Currently, “Helene” has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and is slowly moving inland in the southeastern United States, with the storm center currently located in Kentucky. It is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley this weekend. Meteorological forecasts predict that “Helene” will continue to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the affected areas along its path.