Helene Strikes Southeast United States

Helene barreled ashore the night of Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane and sported winds up to 140 miles per hour, according to The Associated Press. The storm made landfall near Perry, Florida at 11:10 p.m. that night and proceeded to inflict catastrophic damage that had not been seen in Florida’s Big Bend region since 1851, according to USA Today. Helene stayed strong through the night, and according to Reuters, it had been reduced to a tropical depression when it ripped through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee by 11 a.m. Friday. 

According to Fox Weather, more than 4 million homes have been left in the dark, and the death toll continues to rise as first responders do everything in their power to locate the lost. At least 126 people have died across the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, according toFox Weather.

First responders were not spared by Helene. Fox Weather stated that an assistant fire chief, who was responding to the tragedy, was killed due to a tree falling onto his vehicle. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp urged his citizens to stay off the roads and be patient while rescue staff risk their lives to reach those affected.

According to AP News, tornadoes touched down in Nash County, North Carolina and added to the number of critically wounded for that area.

Amid the chaos, officials are also warning citizens who are trying to reach loved ones to stay out of floodwaters because they could contain live wires from downed power lines, sewage and sharp debris, according to AP News.

This story is developing; all facts were accurate as of Sept. 30.

Barber is the off-campus news editor for the Liberty Champion.