Helene Leaves US South Reeling From Flooding and Power Outages
- Storm may be one of US history’s costliest, forecaster says
- It’s the worst flooding in the region in over 100 years
Damaged homes after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, on Sept. 28.
Photographer: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty ImagesRescue missions are underway across the US South as the region reels from historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, which has killed at least 52 people and knocked out power to millions, putting stress on aging dams and leaving behind potential losses of more than $100 billion.
Water rescues were reported Saturday in northern Tennessee and in North Carolina, which saw nearly 31 inches (79 cm) of rainfall from Helene in some places, according to the Weather Prediction Center — the current maximum recorded anywhere. Search and rescue teams from 19 other states have deployed to North Carolina, so far helping to rescue more than 200 people from Helene’s floodwaters.