Helene kills at least 90, homes and memories washed away
(VOVWORLD) - The Southeastern US began a huge cleanup and recovery effort on Sunday and the death toll climbed towards 100 after Hurricane Helene knocked out power for millions, destroyed roads and bridges and caused dramatic flooding from Florida to Virginia.
 Asheville, North Carolina, September 29, 2024. (REUTERS/Marco Bello) |
The storm's winds, rain and storm surge killed at least 90 people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia, according to a Reuters tally of state and local officials. Officials feared still more bodies would be discovered.
With cellphone towers down across the region, hundreds of people had yet to make contact with loved ones and were listed as unaccounted for.
Damage estimates ranged from 15 billion to more than 100 billion USD as water systems, communications and critical transportation routes were affected.
Helene slammed into Florida's Gulf Coast on Thursday night, triggering days of driving rain and destroying homes that had stood for decades.