Genevieve Brooks
Staff Writer

Hurricane Helene made landfall on the coast of Florida as a Category 4 storm. In the days leading up to this, weather agencies in many states along the Gulf Coast warned that Helene would bring heavy rain and extreme flooding. The majority of the damage from the storm was concentrated in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Helene was the 8th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, and one of the most devastating in recent memory. The national death toll is currently 230, although it’s expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.

When Helene first made landfall in Florida, it was accompanied by winds above 140 mph and caused a 15 foot high storm surge in Keaton Beach, the coastal community where it first made landfall. Tampa also experienced storm surge that ranged from 6-8 feet. The storm moved inland shortly after making landfall, and headed towards Georgia. By the time it had reached Georgia, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Despite the reduction in wind speed, Helene still caused torrential rain as it moved further inwards towards North Carolina. This rain caused catastrophic flooding in several states, along with landslides. Asheville, North Carolina suffered heavy damage to roads and bridges, caused by flooding. Many smaller Appalachian communities in North Carolina also suffered heavy damages to both houses and roads. These communities were already isolated, and will face unique challenges as they attempt to rebuild.

Two weeks have passed since Helene made landfall, and recovery efforts are still underway in several states. Many states worked to restore power and water access in the immediate days following Helene. Construction crews have also been working to clear debris from roads that have been blocked since the storm. Recovery efforts will take longer in areas where the damage was more severe. They also may be hindered by the development of new storms as hurricane season progresses.