Hurricane Helene unleashed chaos across the southeastern U.S. this week, claiming at least 33 lives and leaving over 4 million homes and businesses powerless. The storm's deadly trail stretched from Florida to Tennessee, flooding neighborhoods, triggering landslides, and sparking urgent evacuations amid fears of dam failures. 💔
States on High Alert 🚨
Tennessee faced dual crises as rising waters from the Nolichucky River trapped 50+ people on a hospital roof in Unicoi County before their rescue. Conflicting reports emerged about the Walters Dam near Newport, where evacuations were ordered despite Duke Energy later clarifying no failure occurred. Meanwhile, North Carolina's Lake Lure Dam risked collapse, forcing residents to flee.
From Category 4 to Tropical Depression 📉
Helene struck Florida's Big Bend region Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane with 225 kph winds, flipping boats and submerging cars. By Friday, it weakened to a tropical depression but continued dumping rain, creating 'catastrophic' flooding. Helicopters and boats became lifelines for stranded residents as roads turned to rivers.
Infrastructure Under Siege 🏞️
Critical highways like I-40 and I-26 in Buncombe County shut down due to landslides, while emergency crews raced against time. 'This isn't over yet,' tweeted one responder, echoing the mood as communities brace for more challenges ahead.
