Topline

Nearly 100 people have died in six states as a result of the widespread destruction and catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, a figure that authorities warn is likely to rise as they rush to rescue and recovery efforts.

Key facts

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Big number

More than 2 million. That’s the total number of homes and businesses that were without power early Monday in the wake of Helene, according to Poweroutage.us. South Carolina is the hardest hit, with more than 755,000 customers without power, followed by Georgia with more than 580,000 outages and North Carolina with about 458,000 outages. More than 133,000 homes and businesses in Florida remained affected, while another 100,000 in Virginia experienced power outages.

Crucial quote

Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) head Deanne Criswell called the North Carolina flooding “historic” and added, “I don’t know that anyone can be fully prepared for the amount floods and landslides they experience. currently experiencing, but we have had teams there for several days.

What to pay attention to

Although Helene has largely disappeared, the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warned Monday that there was a slight risk of excessive rainfall over the already saturated central Appalachians. The agency warned that the downpour could lead to localized flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas.

How many are still missing

Buncombe County officials told CBS News that at least 600 people in the area were missing Sunday evening — up from 1,000 a day ago. According to NBC News, approximately 153 people are missing in Tennessee. Authorities believe many of the missing people are likely safe but have been unable to contact people due to power outages and a lack of cell service.

Tangent

Former President Donald Trump will visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday “to receive a briefing on the devastation of Hurricane Helene” and “facilitate the distribution of relief supplies,” his campaign said. Trump attacked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally on Sunday for their response to the hurricane. Harris addressed the hurricane during her rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, saying she had received a briefing on the matter from FEMA officials. The White House has said that both Biden and Harris plan to visit the affected community when possible without disrupting emergency response operations.

Read more

Aftermath of Hurricane Helene: At least 52 dead as flood threat continues (Forbes)

Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm: Here’s what you need to know (Forbes)