Groups of rescuers battled this Sunday to help Thousands of people affected by the devastating storm Helene in the southeastern United States, where roads were flooded, there were blackouts and even food was delivered by air in areas that were difficult to access.
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The storm left havoc in several states such as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, with its strong winds and torrential rains that left some towns as if they had been erased from the map.
“Search and rescue efforts by local, state and federal officials continue,” said Lori Moore-Merrell of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“There is significant road closure due to standing water and risks impede response efforts, including resuming power, debris clearing, search and rescue, and damage assessment,” he added.
At least 24 people died in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, 11 in North Carolina and one in Virginia. according to local authorities and an AFP count based on media reports.
At least 2.7 million customers remain without power on Sunday.
Three flash flood watches also remained active in western North Carolina on Sunday. due to the risk of dam failure, reported the director of the National Meteorological Service, Ken Graham.
The official added that the weather is expected to improve in the affected areas around Tuesday.
Thousands of people continued to seek help at American Red Cross shelters, said official Jennifer Pipa.
Helene made landfall on Thursday afternoon near Tallahassee, the capital of the state of Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5. With winds of 225 km/h, it was degraded to a post-tropical cyclone, causing intense flooding.
Some of the hardest hit areas are in North Carolina, where rescuers have been forced to airlift supplies in some areas due to the extent of damage or flooding of roads, Gov. Roy Cooper said Sunday. .
“Since it is so difficult to enter with trucks by land, yesterday we began transporting supplies to the region by air, including food and water,” he explained.
The director of the state emergency management department, William Ray, warned that conditions were extremely dangerous.
The storm caused the closure of hundreds of roads and the collapse of bridges due to flooding. At least four interstate highways remained closed in North Carolina and Tennessee, the Department of Transportation said.
In the Georgia city of Valdosta, the storm tore roofs off buildings and road intersections were completely blocked with downed trees and poles.
“The wind started hitting very hard, it tore off branches and pieces of roof hit the sides of the building and the windows,” said Steven Mauro, a Valdosta resident.
On Sunday, the Department of Energy said its teams were working to restore power to all customers, but that “it was a complex, multi-day response.”
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