Hurricane Helene has caused severe flooding, leading to dramatic rescues in Florida. At least 45 people have died, and millions of people have lost power across the southeastern US.
Officials are using boats, helicopters, and large vehicles to rescue those trapped in floodwaters, including 50 workers and patients stuck on the roof of a flooded hospital in Tennessee.
According to BBC News, Helene is the most powerful storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend region and has moved north to Georgia and the Carolinas.
The storm’s damage could cost billions, and houses and roads are underwater. One family told BBC News that they had to swim out of their house to escape. Even though Helene has weakened, experts are still warning about high winds, flooding, and possible tornadoes.
Helene started as a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall Thursday night, staying powerful for six hours, as reported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm surge, where strong winds push water towards the shore, was over 15 feet high in parts of Florida.
Although the surge may go down by the weekend, the risk of landslides and more flooding remains. Some areas could still see up to 20 inches of rain.
Helene is the 14th strongest hurricane to hit the US since records began, with a width of 420 miles, making its impact felt over a wide area, from Florida to Tennessee.
BBC News shared that Florida has seen at least eight deaths, including five in Pinellas County, and the area looked like a “war zone,” according to local authorities.
In Georgia, at least 15 people have died, including a first responder. A suspected tornado also overturned a mobile home, killing two more people.
The governor has called in 1,000 National Guard troops to help with rescues. CBS News, BBC’s US partner, reported that 17 people died in South Carolina, and North Carolina saw two more fatalities. Virginia also reported one death.
BBC News noted that millions of homes and businesses were without power across the southeast by Saturday morning. Rescue teams have been working tirelessly, with more than 100 rescues already completed in North Carolina alone.
In Tennessee, 58 people were stranded on the roof of a hospital, but helicopters from the National Guard and Virginia State Police managed to rescue them.
BBC News also shared the story of a woman in Florida who described how water flooded her house. She and her family had to swim out with their pets, as the water reached shoulder height.
President Joe Biden urged people to listen to local officials and stay safe as the storm’s effects continue.
BBC News emphasized that the storm isn’t over yet, and warm ocean temperatures are making hurricanes like Helene more dangerous.
Experts warned that more storms are likely before the end of hurricane season in November.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd13mezz7mo