The death toll from Hurricane Helene now stands at 102, and is expected to rise, as hundreds are still missing. The deaths were spread across six states, after Helene smashed into Florida as a category 4 hurricane, before tearing through the southeastern US, causing ‘biblical’ level flooding.
The state with the highest death toll so far is North Carolina, with at least 42 reportedly killed so far. Crews are now working their ways through the hardest hit areas, searching for survivors. Included in the death toll was a Macon County Sheriff Deputy, who was washed away by the storm.
More than 2 million people are still without power, and many without water, as Helene left a path of destruction spreading over 500 miles, from Florida to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cell phone and internet service is also out in many locations.
On Sunday the White House said President Biden plans to visit at some point soon, “as soon as it will not disrupt emergency response operations.”
Biden spoke on the phone Sunday with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, along with officials across North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina.
Speaking at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, former President Trump expressed his condolences, saying: “Before we begin, I’d like to send my love and prayers to the families of those who have died – a lot of death — and all of those who are displaced and suffering in the wake of the hurricane’s destruction in the South, especially in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and in particular, western North Carolina took a tremendous hit.”
{Matzav.com}