Rescue Efforts Intensify as Death Toll From Hurricane Helene Surges to 91 Across US

Valdosta, United States: The death toll from the devastating Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 91, with one county in North Carolina alone reporting 30 fatalities, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The storm unleashed massive destruction across several southeastern states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, leaving towns in ruins, roads submerged, and millions without power.
Rescue teams are scrambling to reach those trapped by the storm, while emergency operations are further hampered by severe damage to critical infrastructure. Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), described the recovery as “incredibly complex,” with water systems, communication networks, and transportation routes all impacted.
“We’re seeing entire homes destroyed and roads washed away,” Criswell said. “This will be a long, difficult recovery for all five affected states.”
As of Sunday, at least 91 people had lost their lives in the wake of the storm, including 37 in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, and one in Virginia. North Carolina’s Buncombe County, home to the city of Asheville, was particularly hard hit, with 30 confirmed deaths.
“We are still actively conducting search and rescue operations,” said Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller. “Sadly, we anticipate more may be recovery operations.”
Flood warnings remained in effect for parts of western North Carolina, with National Weather Service Director Ken Graham warning of the ongoing risk of dam failures. Although the storm’s intensity is expected to ease by Tuesday, significant threats remain across the region.
Nearly 2.5 million households were still without power as of Sunday, with restoration efforts expected to take several days. Matt Targuagno, an official with the US Department of Energy, cautioned that restoring electricity would be “a complex, multi-day response.”
In Florida, where the storm made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds, severe damage left many communities in ruins. In Valdosta, Georgia, residents described roofs being ripped off buildings and streets filled with downed utility poles and trees.
President Joe Biden has approved federal disaster aid for the hardest-hit states and plans to visit the region this week. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Valdosta on Monday to receive a briefing on the disaster.
With many communities cut off by floodwaters and damaged roads, FEMA has deployed additional search and rescue teams, while airlifts are being used to deliver essential supplies. Four major interstate highways and multiple bridges remain closed in North Carolina and Tennessee, further complicating relief efforts.
“This storm has created a catastrophe of historic proportions,” said William Ray, North Carolina’s emergency management director. “The flooding and landslides are unlike anything we’ve seen before.”
As rescue efforts intensify, the full extent of the left in Hurricane Helene’s wake continues to emerge.
Read Now:Lebanon Claims 105 Dead 359 Injured in Fresh Israeli Strikes Amid Ongoing Conflict