Hurricane Helene Death Toll Reaches 227, Recovery Ongoing \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hurricane Helene’s death toll rose to 227 as recovery efforts continued across six affected states. The Category 4 hurricane, which struck on September 26, caused widespread destruction from Florida to the Tennessee mountains, leaving countless homes and communities in disarray. Relief efforts, including FEMA assistance and donations from public figures like Dolly Parton, are providing critical support to those affected.
Hurricane Helene Destruction Quick Looks
- Hurricane Helene’s death toll reached 227, with two more deaths recorded in South Carolina.
- The hurricane made landfall on September 26 as a Category 4 storm.
- Helene devastated communities across six states, from Florida to North Carolina.
- North Carolina suffered the highest toll, including severe damage in Asheville.
- Over $27 million in FEMA assistance has been allocated in North Carolina.
- FEMA has provided over $12 million for survivors in Buncombe County alone.
- Dolly Parton pledged $1 million to aid flood victims, with an additional $1 million matched by her businesses.
- Walmart and Sam’s Club are contributing $10 million to hurricane relief efforts.
- Towns like Newport, Tennessee are struggling with extensive flood damage and clean-up efforts.
- Volunteers in Del Rio, Tennessee, worked on clearing downed trees and destroyed property.
- Many homes were severely damaged, with some swept off their foundations.
- FEMA encouraged affected residents to register for disaster assistance for immediate relief.
Deep Look
The death toll from Hurricane Helene rose to 227 on Saturday as the daunting work of recovering bodies and assessing the devastation continued more than a week after the powerful storm wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States. Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 as a formidable Category 4 storm, unleashing a wide path of destruction as it moved northward from Florida, causing immense damage in multiple states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and others.
The storm first struck Florida’s Gulf Coast with ferocious winds and heavy rainfall, washing away entire communities, destroying infrastructure, and leaving millions without power or phone service. Helene’s powerful surge and wind gusts wreaked havoc on roads, bridges, and electrical lines, with communities facing a daunting recovery process. As of Saturday, the number of deaths attributed to the hurricane increased from 225 to 227 after officials confirmed two more fatalities in South Carolina. Unfortunately, the number of unaccounted-for individuals remains uncertain, suggesting that the death toll could continue to rise in the days ahead.
Hurricane Helene stands as the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm’s impacts were widespread, but North Carolina suffered the heaviest toll, accounting for about half of the fatalities. Western North Carolina, particularly the city of Asheville, was hit exceptionally hard. Asheville, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, saw widespread flooding that overwhelmed creeks and rivers, damaged homes, and left many residents grappling with the aftermath.
North Carolina residents have received significant assistance in the form of federal aid. MaryAnn Tierney, a regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced that more than $27 million in individual assistance had been approved for North Carolinians impacted by the hurricane. Over 83,000 people in the state have registered for this assistance, which includes funding for immediate needs such as food, water, and temporary housing.
In Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, the FEMA-approved aid has surpassed $12 million, aimed at providing survivors with crucial resources during these challenging times. “This is critical assistance that will help people with their immediate needs, as well as displacement assistance that helps them if they can’t stay in their home,” said Tierney during a news briefing on Saturday. She stressed the importance of registering for disaster assistance, noting, “It is the first step in the recovery process. We can provide immediate relief in terms of serious needs assistance to replace food, water, medicines, other life safety, critical items, as well as displacement assistance if you cannot stay in your home.”
The storm’s impact stretched far inland, where it affected communities in the mountainous regions of Tennessee—areas often considered safe from hurricanes. Helene’s heavy rains led to severe flooding that inundated small towns in Tennessee, including those hundreds of miles from where the storm made landfall. The mountainous region that country music legend Dolly Parton calls home also felt the brunt of Helene’s fury, with rising waters causing significant damage in her native East Tennessee.
Dolly Parton, known for her philanthropy and deep connection to the Appalachian region, has stepped forward to support those affected by the storm. She announced a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate aid to victims of Hurricane Helene. Parton’s East Tennessee businesses, along with the Dollywood Foundation, have also pledged to match her donation with an additional $1 million contribution. Parton expressed her heartfelt solidarity with those impacted, saying, “I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods. I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing.”
In addition to Parton’s contributions, Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner announced that Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation would increase their commitment to hurricane relief, donating a total of $10 million to support ongoing recovery efforts. These funds are intended to help provide immediate relief supplies such as food, water, and other essentials to those struggling to rebuild their lives after Helene’s devastation.
The small town of Newport in eastern Tennessee, with a population of approximately 7,000, continued its clean-up efforts on Saturday, facing the aftermath of Helene’s relentless floodwaters. Mud still coated the basement walls of one Main Street funeral home, while the chapel of another was in the process of drying out, with a lone painting of Jesus remaining on a wall in an otherwise barren room. The destruction extended to public buildings as well, with Newport City Hall and its police department taking in significant floodwater from the swollen Pigeon River. Several modest, one-story homes along the riverbanks were destroyed, their walls crumbled and their rooms exposed to the elements.
Further east, in the unincorporated community of Del Rio along the French Broad River, residents and volunteers were hard at work attempting to clear the debris left behind by Helene’s floodwaters. The air was thick with the smell of freshly cut wood as chainsaws buzzed, clearing downed trees that had been uprooted during the storm. Bobcats moved slowly through the area, hauling away twisted sheet metal and other debris, while community members toiled to salvage what they could of their homes. Many structures in Del Rio suffered severe damage, including one house that was completely displaced, sliding off its foundation during the height of the flooding.
The scene in Del Rio, Newport, Asheville, and other impacted towns underscored the immense challenge facing survivors and emergency responders as they work to rebuild. Volunteers from surrounding areas joined the efforts, bringing tools, supplies, and much-needed labor to help those who had lost everything. The sense of community spirit remained strong, despite the overwhelming destruction that surrounded them.
As the clean-up process continues, FEMA and other relief agencies have urged residents impacted by Hurricane Helene to register for assistance as quickly as possible. The disaster relief programs in place are designed to provide immediate aid for those who cannot remain in their homes and to help cover the costs of necessities like food, water, and medical supplies. FEMA emphasized that getting residents signed up for assistance is a critical first step toward helping them stabilize their lives in the wake of the hurricane’s destruction.
Hurricane Helene has left a lasting scar across the southeastern United States, its path of devastation affecting hundreds of thousands of lives. The resilience of the communities affected by the storm, coupled with the aid provided by federal agencies and private donations from individuals like Dolly Parton, offers a glimmer of hope as the long journey to recovery begins. With $27 million already approved for North Carolina alone and millions more flowing into the region through charitable donations, the hope is that these efforts will bring much-needed relief to those grappling with the aftermath of one of the deadliest storms to hit the U.S. mainland in nearly two decades.
Despite the destruction and tragic loss of life, the spirit of the affected communities has remained unbroken. From Newport to Asheville, neighbors have joined together, volunteers have arrived from near and far, and notable figures like Dolly Parton have offered their support. The road to recovery will undoubtedly be long, with significant challenges ahead, but the unity and strength demonstrated by those in the storm’s path reflect a determination to rebuild and move forward. As relief funds continue to be distributed and recovery efforts expand, these communities are slowly but surely finding ways to heal and to reclaim the lives they once knew before Hurricane Helene changed everything.
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