**Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern U.S., Death Toll Expected to Rise**

PERRY, Fla. (AP) - The death toll in North Carolina from Hurricane Helene is expected to climb beyond 11 as rescue and emergency crews reach areas isolated by flooding and destroyed infrastructure. Governor Roy Cooper emphasized the unprecedented nature of the tragedy and the necessity for an equally unprecedented response during a Sunday press conference. He urged residents to stay off roadways to avoid hazards and to allow emergency vehicles clear passage.

More than 50 search teams are scouring the region to locate and assist stranded individuals. Currently, many residents remain cut off due to impassable roads. Supplies are being flown into Asheville, a city in the western North Carolina mountains known for its arts and natural beauty. In one mission, 41 people, including an infant, were rescued north of Asheville.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm late Thursday with 140 mph winds. It then swept through Georgia, where Governor Brian Kemp described the aftermath as resembling a bomb blast. The storm then moved to the Carolinas and Tennessee, causing severe flooding that left over 60 people dead and millions without power by Sunday.

In Texas, Jessica Drye Turner’s plea for help on social media captured national attention: her family members were stranded on a rooftop in Asheville amid rising floodwaters. Despite her urgent requests, help did not arrive in time, and tragically, her parents and six-year-old nephew drowned when the roof collapsed.

Western North Carolina is facing severe isolation due to landslides and flooding. Interstate 40 and other major roads are closed, making it difficult to deliver essential supplies, including water. The storm resulted in the worst flood the area has seen in a century, including inundating one community, Spruce Pine, with over 2 feet of rain.

Authorities across the region are facing challenges in reaching survivors and notifying families of the deceased due to disrupted communication networks. Emergency supplies and relief efforts are ongoing, but access remains a significant issue.

Florida's Big Bend region is also grappling with the aftermath, where some residents have lost nearly everything. Power outages remain extensive, with 97 percent of customers still without electricity as of Sunday morning. Churches like Faith Baptist Church in Perry are holding outdoor services, emphasizing community solidarity and the power of prayer.

In Georgia, record-breaking rains have led to significant flooding issues too. Atlanta recorded over 11 inches of rain in 48 hours, the highest in over a century. In Augusta, officials shut off the water supply due to debris blockage and began distributing bottled water to residents.

President Joe Biden has recognized the overwhelming impact of Hurricane Helene, approving a disaster declaration for North Carolina to facilitate federal funding for recovery. Utilities crews from across New England are heading south to aid in the restoration efforts.

The financial toll of Helene is projected to be enormous, with Moody's Analytics estimating property damage between $15 billion and $26 billion, while AccuWeather's preliminary estimates suggest total economic losses could reach up to $110 billion. The hurricane represents a stark reminder of the intensifying impact of climate change on storm activity, as Helene is the eighth named storm of this above-average Atlantic hurricane season.