### Hurricane Helene's Aftermath: Southeastern U.S. Battles Floods, Debris and Power Outages

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, rescue operations are intensifying across the southeastern United States and the southern Appalachians. Over 3 million homes and businesses remain without power as of Saturday, facing the ongoing threat of floods. Moody's Analytics forecasted property damage costs from $15 billion to $26 billion due to the hurricane, downgraded to a tropical storm by late Friday.

The destructive force of Helene left a tragic toll, as at least 52 lives were lost across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, according to the Associated Press. Victims included three firefighters, a mother with her 1-month-old twins, and an 89-year-old woman struck by a falling tree in her home.

The federal government has stepped in to assist the affected regions. The White House approved emergency declarations for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This enabled the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide crucial emergency response support. Additionally, about 1,500 federal disaster response personnel have been deployed to the affected areas.

North Carolina faced particularly powerful winds of up to 140 mph, the strongest recorded in the region since the 19th century. Experts are now closely monitoring for potential debris flows, which present significant dangers. Brad Johnson from Davidson College highlighted the peril, noting that such flows are "very wet, very fast-moving, and can travel long distances," sometimes over a mile while carrying rocks and trees.

The storm also set a new benchmark for rainfall. In Atlanta, a new record was established with 11.12 inches of rain over 48 hours, surpassing the previous record of 9.59 inches set in 1886. North Carolina experienced extreme rainfall, with 29.58 inches in Busick, 24.20 inches at Mount Mitchell State Park, and around 13 inches in Boone. In Wilmington, the storm unloaded more than 8 inches of rain, causing extensive damage to coastal homes, small buildings, and agricultural fields.

Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, navigating both the immediate and secondary impacts of this devastating storm.