ALBAWABA- The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 100, as rescue teams and federal agencies intensify recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating Category 4 storm.
Catastrophic flooding has ravaged communities across the southeastern United States, leaving more than two million people without power and cutting off access to several isolated areas.
US President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the hardest-hit areas but noted his trip is delayed to avoid disrupting ongoing recovery operations. "I will travel to the impacted areas as soon as possible, but I've been advised it would be disruptive right now," Biden said.
Days after Hurricane Helene made landfall along the Florida coast, the region still grapples with blocked roads, widespread infrastructure damage, and isolated communities in desperate need of aid.
Among the worst-affected areas is North Carolina, where Buncombe County has reported a third of the fatalities. According to NBC, 30 people have died in the mountain city of Asheville alone, with state officials warning that the death toll could rise as search and rescue teams continue their operations.
Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina stated that over 50 search teams have been deployed to the region to find survivors, while local officials scramble to provide essential supplies.
County manager Avril Pinder pledged that food and water would reach Asheville by Monday, as many residents remain stranded.
In Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, deaths have also been reported, and the widespread devastation has left many communities in urgent need of assistance.
Supplies are being airlifted into the region. However, the slow recovery has led to long lines for basic necessities like fuel, with some Asheville residents waiting for hours for just $15 worth of gasoline.
One Asheville resident, recalling the last natural disaster she experienced in the 1990s, said, "It wasn't as bad as this... this is a disaster."
