The aftermath of Hurricane Helene's destructive path through the Southeast, particularly in North Carolina, has been likened to a "post-apocalyptic" scene by Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari.
Surveying the damage from Lake Lure, Bokhari likened the storm to a "blender" that indiscriminately obliterated everything in its path, leaving the usually serene waters filled with debris. "Years and years" is the time frame Bokhari anticipates for the cleanup process, as reported by CNN.
According to The Independent, the hurricane, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 storm, has claimed at least 133 lives. The storm then charted a destructive course through the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia, with the death toll expected to rise. In North Carolina's Buncombe County alone, the death toll has surpassed 40, with 600 individuals still unaccounted for. Governor Roy Cooper chillingly described the affected communities as being "wiped off the map."
The hurricane's aftermath has left hundreds of roads closed, five bridges near the Tennessee-North Carolina border on I-40 "completely gone," and over 1.5 million people without power. President Joe Biden has announced plans to visit North Carolina, while former President Donald Trump has already arrived in Valdosta, Georgia, to assess the recovery efforts.
One North Carolina resident, Sam Perkins, undertook an arduous 11-mile hike, including a 2,200ft ascent, to reach his parents after 48 hours of radio silence. Perkins' journey to his parents' home in the mountains between Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland was fraught with challenges, including failing roads, deep mudslides, and fallen trees. Upon reaching his parents, Perkins expressed immense relief, stating, "I have never been so relieved to see anyone OK."
Alyssa Hudson, a resident of Black Mountain, North Carolina, recounted the horrifying aftermath of the storm in her village. The storm, which claimed at least 40 lives and left 600 missing in Buncombe County alone, left bodies strewn high amongst the branches. Hudson described the scene, saying, "There were bodies in trees. They were finding bodies under rubble."
The storm's devastation also claimed the life of Madison Shaw's mother in Anderson, South Carolina. Shaw shared her mother's last words to her: "I love you, be safe. I'll see you later." Shaw described her mother as her best friend, highlighting the personal tragedies behind the rising death toll.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer described the situation as "the biggest test we've ever faced." Meanwhile, former President Trump has taken partial credit for Elon Musk's Starlink satellites restoring internet access in the affected regions. Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, "I spoke to Elon Musk about his brilliant communication system for North Carolina and Georgia. So many of their lines are down. He is on it!!!"
Musk confirmed his collaboration with Trump, stating on his own social media platform, X, "Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need." The White House has also announced that it sent dozens of Starlink satellites to North Carolina to restore internet access across the state.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that 40 Starlink satellite systems were available to aid first responders with communications, with an additional 140 satellites being shipped to restore communications. Despite these efforts, over 1.5 million homes and businesses across the southeast of the U.S. remain without power, underscoring the magnitude of the disaster and the long road to recovery that lies ahead.
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