The latest news in the wake of Hurricane Helen

 

  

The latest news in the wake of Hurricane Helen

A North Carolina village faces total destruction as a tornado destroys an entire business district.

That the small village of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is recovering from the complete devastation caused by Helene, which forced many people from their riverside homes and left the town's businesses unaccounted for. Gone, Meow

That some families have yet to contact their loved ones because cell service is not present in the area.

Emergency crews are relying on radio communications, and the mayor said he has resorted to staying 10-15 miles outside the city, so they can contact people in the morning and evening before returning to the village.

The downtown business district was "100% destroyed, including the general store," he said. Was washing.

Asked what he would say about who is visiting the state Wednesday, the mayor said the financial commitment to rebuild is needed.

There is a strong desire to rebuild the city, rebuild the region. Chimney Rock is a historic, iconic landmark for western North Carolina.

The reality of the long recovery is still sinking in for Chimney Rock residents.

It is still very fresh for everyone. Of course, we want to rebuild. We all want to rebuild. But we have huge challenges ahead of us.

Helen's death toll rose to 130 after two more deaths were confirmed in Tennessee.

Two deaths were reported in Washington County, Tennessee, after Hurricane Helene, bringing the storm's death toll in six states to at least 130.

Both deaths were confirmed by the mayor of Washington County.

As of Monday evening, 17 people are missing in the county, he added.

According to the statistics, a breakdown of deaths by state is:

North Carolina: 56

South Carolina: 30

Georgia: 25

Florida: 11

Tennessee: 6

Virginia: 2

About 600 Asheville residents are still unaccounted for, the mayor said

Debris from Hurricane Helene is seen in Asheville, North Carolina on September 30.

Debris is seen following Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina on September 30. Mike Stewart/AP

About 600 people were still missing after the city of Asheville, North Carolina, was damaged Monday afternoon.

From roads and bridges, cell service outages and blackouts, the mayor.

Extensive damage to roads and infrastructure has isolated many remote communities and prevented crews from reaching residents with essential supplies.

Asheville Mayor on The Source Monday night.

There are still a lot of people we need to be able to reach, so that's a priority. But we are also in a situation where we don't have water and electricity in most areas, and we need resources like drinking water and food and other household goods and personal belongings.

The havoc Helen has wreaked on the city is devastating, Mayor. Pictures don't do it justice.

3 hours 59 minutes ago

Florida's biologists rescue stranded manatees after hurricane.

Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working to rescue a manatee that was stranded in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working to rescue a manatee that was stranded in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists are working to rescue people stranded in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

While our top priority is helping Florida residents and visitors recover from the effects of Helen, we are also working quickly to restore and recover.

Protect these gentle giants, the commission said in a post on X.

The commission advises that if people come across a trapped, injured or dead manatee, they should avoid handling the animal and instead call the wildlife alert hotline or local wildlife rehabilitation center. Animals may require specialist medical attention.

On Saturday, the agency rescued a manatee that had crashed at the end of a runway at McGill Air Force Base. M anti had made her way to the base after the water level rose during the storm, but was unable to return to the bay after the water receded. .

A North Carolina county says don't call 911, go to a fire station.

Officials in the county, North Carolina, which borders Tennessee, are telling residents that cell phone service is so unreliable.

Residents who need assistance should go to the local fire department.

The county's website lists 15 items that about 15,000 residents should know. According to the list, the curfew is from 8 pm. From 7 am

As for contacting 911, county cell service is essentially non-existent and urges people to “go to your local volunteer fire department station if you need help.

Officials also noted that nursing facilities are receiving support, but that residents may be moved in the future.

Put politics aside: North Carolina governor responds to claim Trump won't help Republican districts.

Trump said in a post on True Social that reports from the federal government and the state's Democratic governor,

 Going out of your way to not help people in Republican areas. Trump did not provide evidence when asked by a reporter.

It doesn't matter who you are, the governor said. If you need help, we're going to provide it.

And if there's ever a time when we all need to come together and put politics aside, it's now.

FEMA has delivered 1 million liters of water and 600,000 meals to North Carolina

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided 1 million liters of water and 600,000 meals to the governor of North Carolina.

92 search and rescue teams are also working to bring people to safety.

While there is a lot to do in the short term, recovery in the long term is going to be a monumental task.

More than 2,900 calls report loved one's being unreachable in North Carolina, Gov.

North Carolina's 211 line has received more than 2,900 calls reporting loved ones who have been unable to contact family and friends since Hurricane Helen began to take its toll, the governor said.

When someone reports, search and rescue teams go out and do welfare checks in addition to rescues, Governor.

Some people who made reports have since been able to contact their loved ones as cell service is slowly restored.

Donate $1 million to 23XI Racing Team and North Carolina Restoration.

The 23XI Racing Team and Michael Jordan are donating a total of $1 million to help North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene, they announced on Instagram.

23XI Racing, which is co-owned and a NASCAR driver based out of North Carolina, has lived most of his life in the state, according to his website.

While the recovery process will take time, as a proud North Carolinian, I know firsthand the strength and resilience of the people of the state we call home, and we came together in a statement posted on Instagram. Will get through it.

They plan to contribute $500,000 each to the NC Disaster Relief Fund and Metrolina's Second Harvest.

An official number for unaccounted for people in North Carolina authorities Governor, as of Monday afternoon there was no official count of how many people were missing in North Carolina.

He emphasized that search and rescue teams are still on the mission and once cell service is restored it will be easier to determine how many people are missing.

Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, also did not have a specific number of missing persons, the county manager.

A North Carolina mayor is frustrated by a lack of cellular service, which is hampering recovery efforts

This isn't the first time a tropical system has wreaked havoc on Canton, North Carolina, but today's aftermath of Mayor Helene is a big difference.

And three years ago, when flooding from Tropical Storm Fred devastated his town.

We're facing search and rescue and recovery from a hurricane in 2024 with 1990s technology. At best, referring to the complete loss of cellular communications in Canton and Haywood County.

The number one problem is lack of communication. Initially, before the worst parts of the storm on Friday, we lost all cellular communication.

And this is across the region. And it has crippled every aspect of our ability to respond and recover. Which continues even today since the storm.

 It's unacceptable, and it's dangerous, said the mayor of the Canton Police Department, where Starlink is located in Haywood County.

If I'm not physically at the police station, and someone needs me, the police officer has to go out on the street and look for me. We cannot respond to requests. There are families who live in chaos because they can't make a simple cell phone call 72 hours after the storm.

 We cannot negotiate with crisis management to deliver supplies, because we do not know what we have and what people need.

Aid is arriving in the canton, but communication problems have prevented smooth coordination.

He worries that this could potentially lead to people who need it most not getting the help they need. He noted, days later, there was sometimes spotty service early in the morning, but most cell phones still didn't work even with iPhones trying new satellite connection technology.

I have seen with my own eyes, FEMA and state aid on the ground but due to communication problems I cannot tell you how far they are here.

I can't reach my police officers and firefighters unless I see them in person at the station and town hall.

I am literally notifying our water department to coordinate with the energy company to help restore the water. I am giving notice. It is 2024. This is unacceptable."

The community desperately needs additional Starlink capacity or mobile communication towers.

I'm hearing rumors that there are mobile communication towers, but I don't know. I heard they have some in Asheville, we need them too. Bring us the connection.

Help us get service. This was the moment when we needed our cell phones the most. We have been crippled by the inability of telecommunication companies to meet our basic emergency needs.

Canton suffered severe flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. The lessons they learned helped the city prepare this time, but it wasn't enough.

Three years ago, in Haywood County, we experienced flooding after Tropical Storm Fred. So I think we were better prepared than anybody. But when you have your river 28 feet wide, preparation only gets you so far. Streams became streams, rivers became rivers, rivers became oceans. Businesses, restaurants, homes, they are gone. My sister lost her house. Roads and bridges, just washed away and gone. I see sadness on the faces of everyone I meet, they are going through this again after three years. The idea that western North Carolina looks like a hurricane is a story in itself.

No disrespect to our friends back east, but I think this will go down as the worst natural disaster in North Carolina history. When it's all said and done.

22 acute care hospitals in North Carolina are back on the power grid after being on generator power.

Twenty-two North Carolina acute care hospitals were back on the power grid by Sunday night after being on generator power for several days, Health and Human Services Secretary Cody Kinsley said.

Hospitals were able to continue care with generator power.

The department is in almost round-the-clock communication with hospitals and providing food, water and other supplies to ensure that they can maintain services.

NC Emergency Management is getting more water and food into devastated communities.

North Carolina Emergency Management is working to get more resources, such as food and water, to communities affected by flooding after roads have washed out over the past several days.

We continue to deliver commodities, particularly water and MERS (meals ready to eat), as well as fuel and other resources to affected communities.

The state is also increasing the number of vehicles and air support to remove the material, and is working with it.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency to maintain those levels over the next two weeks.

We know that this will require significant resources, both in the short term and in the long term.

North Carolina: 56

South Carolina: 30

Georgia: 25

Florida: 11

Tennessee: 4

Virginia: 2

North Carolina's attorney general says it will take weeks, months and years for us to recover.

People look at flood damage near Lever Lake in North Carolina on September 28.

While all levels of government are working hard to help Western North Carolina recover from recent flooding, the North Carolina Attorney General it will take weeks, months and years for us to recover.

While the state's transport department works round the clock to clear washed-out roads and airlifts are being operated to bring in supplies, the state is still in active rescue mode.

Everybody's doing everything they can to move mountains, trying to help people who are in trouble, adding that it would cost billions of dollars to bring western North Carolina back. 

Lack of any kind of — water, power, cell service — has been isolating, but today we're really starting to see distribution. Seeing so many volunteers coming in, and we are so appreciative.

Some power was restored to assist the Public Works Department and repairs are underway at the local water treatment plant.

First Street found that parts of western North Carolina could experience a 100-year flood every 11 to 25 years after a hurricane. A strong storm can affect all parts of the country. In the Northeast, the Ohio River Basin, northwestern California, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the Mountain West, precipitation depths for a 1 in 100-year event may occur at least every 5 to 10 years.

National Guard personnel from Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, New York, South Carolina and Florida have joined in the hundreds.

North Carolina defenders to help communities devastated by Hurricane Helene, Pentagon deputy press secretary. At least 119 people have died in six states.

Among the states hit by Helene, Florida has about 3,500 Guardsmen, hundreds of tactical vehicles and buoys, and 11 helicopters for emergency response.

Georgia mobilized about 800 defenders. South Carolina has about 600 personnel and two helicopters. Tennessee activated 130 guards and seven helicopters, and Virginia activated about 50 guards, one helicopter and "several high-water vehicles.

The US Army Corps of Engineers deployed approximately 200 personnel assisting in both virtual and in-person capacities, as well as another 170 contractors. The personnel deployed — in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama — include debris management, bridge inspections, infrastructure assessments and water and wastewater management, as well as two temporary emergency power planning and response teams. 

Eighteen helicopters, including 10 from the Navy, will arrive at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, later Monday, while 30 high-water vehicles have been staged at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

We came down with trucks full of stuff, Trump said as he stood in front of the CHZ What furniture store, which was destroyed by Hurricane Helen. We've done this before. But we have a lot of trucks of different goods from oil to water to all kinds of goods that are going to help them.

Several large semi-trucks were parked near where the former president spoke to reporters in Valdosta, Trump noted, many of which were filled with relief supplies and a tanker truck filled with gasoline, which the campaign said they want to distribute throughout the day.

Trump received a briefing earlier in the day on the hurricane's impact on Valdosta.

He thanked the first responders and explained how the hurricane devastation has spread across several states.

Leaving many dead, homeless and without power. During his speech, Trump held a moment of silence for the dead.

Response to requests for resources has been slow because more than 30 counties are essentially competing for the same resources and vendors are unable to meet those requests,” the emergency services' director via email.

He said that apart from the lack of supply, there is also a lack of ability to communicate. We have radio towers down, we have no power, 911 services are affected, and everyone is working to their physical and mental capacity right now.

 

Emergency Response Efforts

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared several regions as disaster areas, allowing them to access federal funds and resources. Emergency shelters have been set up in safe locations to accommodate displaced residents, offering food, medical care, and emotional support. Local and state authorities are coordinating efforts with FEMA to ensure that relief is delivered efficiently.

Emergency responders, including firefighters, police officers, and National Guard troops, have been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations. They are working tirelessly to reach those trapped by flooding or debris. The ongoing efforts are crucial, as many individuals are still unaccounted for in affected areas.

Community Support and Resources

Numerous nonprofit organizations and community groups have also stepped in to help those impacted by Hurricane Helen. The American Red Cross is providing emergency shelter and meals, while local charities are gathering donations of clothing, hygiene products, and essential supplies. Community centers have become hubs for recovery efforts, offering resources and support for those in need.

Residents are encouraged to reach out to local emergency services for assistance and to report any damages or hazards in their neighborhoods. It is essential for individuals to stay informed about local safety guidelines, particularly concerning potential flooding and unstable infrastructure.

Ongoing Updates and Safety Measures

As the situation evolves, officials are urging residents to stay updated through local news outlets and emergency management websites. Social media platforms are also being utilized to disseminate real-time information, including safety alerts and recovery resources. For those in need of immediate assistance, the National Response Center (NRC) has set up hotlines to provide guidance and connect individuals with necessary services.

Authorities are also stressing the importance of following safety protocols. Residents are advised to avoid flooded areas, stay indoors during severe weather, and refrain from driving on damaged roads. Public health officials are monitoring the situation to prevent health risks related to water contamination and mold growth, which can arise after severe flooding.

Long-Term Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, recovery will be a long-term process. Community leaders are already discussing rebuilding efforts, focusing on infrastructure improvements to better withstand future storms. Federal and state funding will be crucial in supporting these initiatives, along with community involvement and volunteer efforts.

As the nation comes together to support those affected by Hurricane Helen, the resilience of communities shines through. From local volunteers to national organizations, a collective effort is underway to help rebuild lives and restore normalcy in the wake of this devastating event. Continued support and resources will be vital as the recovery process unfolds, ensuring that no one is left behind during this challenging time.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed and connected, and to reach out for help when needed. Together, the nation will navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Helen and work toward a brighter future.