At least 44 people have died and millions of Americans are without electricity after the passage of Hurricane Helene, which caused massive flooding in the southeast of the United States, where the storm continues on Friday gradually weakening.
From Tallahassee, Florida to Charlotte, North Carolina, strong winds and heavy rains caused flash flooding, falling trees and blowing away homes. On the Florida coast, marine submersion has caused significant flooding, with sea levels rising by more than 15 feet in places.
At least 14 people died in South Carolina, eleven in Georgia, seven in Florida, and one in North Carolina, according to a report compiled by AFP from statements by local authorities.
“Historic” and “catastrophic” floods
Even though winds have dropped to 55 km/h, the US Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “historic” and “catastrophic” flooding, accompanied by landslides, would continue in the Appalachian Mountains until Friday evening.
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Helene made landfall in northwest Florida on Thursday evening as a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, with winds blowing at 225 km/h. It was the most powerful hurricane to ever hit this region, according to expert Michael Lowry.
Storm intensification
By warming ocean waters, climate change makes the rapid intensification of these storms more likely and increases the risk of more powerful hurricanes.
After forming, Helen moved over particularly warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico — more than 30°C, according to climatologist Andra Garner. “It is likely that these very warm waters played a role in the rapid intensification of Hélène,” underlined the expert.
“We also know that hurricane-related marine flooding is getting worse because ocean levels are rising as we warm the planet,” she said.
>> See also the images of the hurricane in the 12:45 p.m.:
Electricity cut
According to the site PowerOutageapproximately 1.3 million customers were without electricity in South Carolina, 900,000 in Georgia and North Carolina, as well as 750,000 in Florida.
Staff are “working hard to restore power,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said. But it “takes time,” he added, asking residents to be patient.
“The threat is not over” and the situation “is still dangerous,” Deanne Criswell, head of the federal agency responsible for responding to natural disasters (Fema), said Friday morning on CNN, highlighting the risk of flooding. sudden, particularly in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia.
US President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation and approved state of emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina and Alabama. Vice-president and Democratic candidate for the White House Kamala Harris assured Friday evening that she continued to “monitor the situation closely” with the president, adding that the administration had mobilized 1,500 people to help those affected.
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