Severe damage in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee as Trump, Harris set to visit region.The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States has risen to at least 100, according to authorities, with rescue efforts continuing.
US President Joe Biden has described the impact of the storm as “stunning”. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he pledged his administration would “continue to surge resources, including food, water, communications and life saving equipment”.
“We will be there with you as long as it takes,” Biden said, while adding that he may have to request a supplemental funding package from the US Congress to support the effort.
Biden also announced that he planned to visit North Carolina – one of the hardest hit states – later this week.
Rescue, recovery and cleanup operations were also continuing across hard-hit areas of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The most severe damage was brought by flooding and the storm’s heavy rains, which destroyed roads and infrastructure across the region.
Helene had made landfall in Florida on Thursday, when it was a Category Four hurricane with winds of 225 kilometres per hour (140 miles per hour).
It weakened as it moved inland but caused a swath of damage stretching more than 804 km (500 miles).
At least 39 people were killed in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to tallies from local au …
