The eighthnamed storm, fifthhurricane, and secondmajor hurricane[nb 1] of the2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Helene began forming on September 22, 2024 as a broad low-pressure system in the westernCaribbean Sea.[5] By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached theYucatán Peninsula, receiving the nameHelene from theNational Hurricane Center. Weather conditions led to the cyclone's intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced andrapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed theGulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene madelandfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city ofPerry, withmaximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Helene weakened as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to apost-tropical cyclone overTennessee on September 27. The storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29.
On September 17, theNational Hurricane Center (NHC) highlighted the potential fortropical cyclogenesis in the western Caribbean Sea.[8] Conditions conducive for development of a tropical cyclone resulted from the interaction of theCentral American gyre—a broad monsoon low pressure system—and theMadden–Julian oscillation, which reinforced the large-scale cyclonic flow extending from the eastern Pacific Ocean to the western Caribbean Sea.[9] Several days later, on September 22, a broad low-pressure area developed within the western Caribbean.[5] As the system traversed an environment conducive for tropical cyclone development,[10] showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance gradually consolidated.[11] Due to the system's imminent threat to land, it was designatedPotential Tropical CycloneNine on September 23.[12] The next day,Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters aircraft and Satellite data indicated that a low-level center had formed by 12:00 UTC, leading to the NHC to upgrade the system to Tropical StormHelene withmaximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h).[13] The system continued strengthening, becoming a hurricane by 12:00 UTC on September 25 as it entered theGulf of Mexico while turning north.[13] Anupper-level trough to its west and a ridge ofhigh pressure located off the Southeastern United States both served to steer the cyclone towards theU.S. Gulf Coast.[14] Helene was an extensive system,[15] with the NHC noting in multiple forecast discussions that the forecast storm radii were "at the 90th percentile of hurricane size at similar latitudes".[16]
After remaining steady in intensity for a while due to its broad size and someentrainment of drier air to its west, Helene rebounded on the morning of September 26. Aided by low mid-levelwind shear, highrelative humidity, andsea surface temperatures exceeding 86 °F (30 °C) near theLoop Current, the system began torapidly intensify. An increasingly definedeye developed, and Helene reached Category 2 intensity at 12:00 UTC.[17] By 18:00 UTC, Helene strengthened to a Category 3 major hurricane, with sustained winds up to 120 mph (190 km/h).[18] At 00:00 UTC on September 27, the hurricane attained its peak intensity withmaximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 939 millibars (27.73 inHg). Retaining this intensity, it made landfall about 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest ofPerry, Florida at 3:10 UTC, becoming the strongest hurricane to strike Florida'sBig Bend region since records began in 1900.[19][20][13] Rapid weakening occurred as the storm tracked inland, and it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane at 5:00 UTC shortly after crossing into Georgia.[21] Weakening further, it became a tropical storm over east central Georgia at 9:00 UTC.[22] Helene transitioned to apost-tropical cyclone at 18:00 UTC by September 27 in southernKentucky, with the system losing deep convection and merging with a cut-off low to its west. After executing a slow-cyclonic loop, remnants of Helene dissipated at 18:00 UTC on September 28 over north-centralTennessee.[13]
As Helene moved north into the SouthernAppalachian Mountains, the storm would encounter the terrain of theBlue Ridge andBlack Mountains. As it passed through, there was a significant and noticeable amplifying of rainfall, as well as a rapid increase in cooling, condensation and precipitation in the region.[23]
Influence of climate change
On October 9, researchers withWorld Weather Attribution concluded with "high confidence" that Helene was made worse byclimate change. In a scientific assessment, researchers found the 2.3 °F (1.3 °C) increase in temperatures[clarification needed] due to climate change increased Helene's rainfall by 10% and maximum wind speeds by 11%, or 13.6 mph (22 km/h), as compared to a similar storm in prior cooler conditions.[24][25]
Preparations
Mexico
Tropical storm warnings were issued on September 24 for the easternYucatán Peninsula.[26] Parts ofQuintana Roo andYucatán were placed under a blue alert, indicating indirect impacts.[27] It was later raised to red alert, maximum danger.[28] Cruise ship arrivals in the former state's ports were canceled for September 24 and 25.[29]Tren Maya was also closed.[30] OnIsla Mujeres, two shelters were opened.[31] Evacuations were carried out in vulnerable areas.[32] Visitors ofIsla Holbox were offered a ferry ride off the island at no cost.[33] Classes were suspended in Quintana Roo.[32]
Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches were issued for westernCuba.[26] Medical brigades were prepared for flood-prone areas;[39] as heavy rain began to fall, schools and ports were closed, and fishing boats were called in.[40] Due to adverse weather conditions caused by Helene, the Provincial Transport Company of Havana suspended ferry services inRegla. Additionally, the Maritime Administration of Cuba suspended navigation in theGulf of Batabanó.[41]
United States
Amtrak modified or canceled several of itssoutheastern train routes between September 27 and October 1 because of the storm.[42]
Hurricane warnings were issued for theBig Bend area of Florida, and the entire state except the westernmost part of theFlorida panhandle was put under a tropical storm warning.[43] In addition, on the evening of September 26, anextreme wind warning was issued for the east part of the Florida panhandle,[44][45] the first sinceHurricane Idalia. On September 23,Ron DeSantis, thegovernor, issued a state of emergency for 41 ofFlorida's 67 counties.[46] The next day, this was expanded to 61 counties.[29] U.S. PresidentJoe Biden authorized a federal disaster declaration for 61 counties across Florida.[47] Locally,Volusia County issued a state of emergency.[48] Several sandbagging sites opened up across the state.[49][50] On September 24, several state parks were closed: four of them inFranklin County, two inGulf County, and one inGadsden County.[51]
On September 24,Citrus County issued mandatory evacuations for zone A, which includes coastal areas in the communities ofCrystal River andHomosassa. InWakulla County, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for all residents and visitors. In contrast, inHernando County, mandatory evacuations were ordered for anyone west ofUS 19 and all residents in coastal or low-lying areas and those living in manufactured homes.[29] Two prisons in Wakulla County holding a combined 2,500 inmates were not evacuated despite the evacuation order issued to residents.[65] Gulf County issued mandatory evacuations for all visitors. InCharlotte County and Franklin County, mandatory evacuations were issued forbarrier islands, low-lying and flood-prone areas, manufactured homes, and homes that did not meet building codes.[29] InSarasota County, officials issued an evacuation order for Level A and manufactured home communities on September 25.[66]
Prior to Helene's landfall, residents in Florida showed the highest level of perception of disaster likeliness at 84% believing that there would likely be a major meteorological event, according to a 2023 FEMA National Household Survey.[71] Despite this, there was also a relatively low preparedness rate within the state, with only about 47% of residents saying that they believed they could stay home in case of a major meteorological event.
In addition, on the night of September 26, anextreme wind warning was issued for portions of southern Georgia, includingValdosta.[75] On September 24, in preparation for Helene, officials in the counties ofBryan,Candler, andChatham began mobilizing emergency response centers.[76]Colquitt,Thomas, andDecatur counties opened shelters.[77] On the same day,GovernorBrian Kemp issued a state of emergency for Georgia since Helene was expected to track into the state.[74] In Thomas County, the Public Works Department began providing sandbags due to the storm.[78]
On September 25, schools were closed in the counties ofBibb andTwiggs.[79] Many schools in theAtlanta metropolitan area canceled instruction for September 26 and 27, such asAtlanta Public Schools, with some counties moving students and non-essential workers online.[72] Also, some schools went to a digital learning day, for example, Gwinnett County Public Schools had a digital learning day on the 26th and was canceled altogether on the 27th. Elsewhere, inClayton County, schools and indoor and outdoor athletic events were canceled.[80] TheCumberland Island National Seashore andFort Pulaski National Monument closed on September 25 in preparation for the hurricane.[81] TheAtlanta Braves postponed the remaining two games in a series against theNew York Mets to September 30 in a doubleheader.[82] Curfews were implemented by several localities on September 26.[83]Emory University moved classes online for September 26 and 27,[84] and theUniversity of Georgia cancelled classes entirely.[85] Ahead of the storm, vice-presidential nomineeJD Vance canceled two events on September 26 for the2024 Trump–Vance campaign scheduled inMacon andFlowery Branch.[86]
Portions ofIndiana andOhio were placed underhigh wind warning orwind advisory alerts as a result of remnants of the hurricane producing wind speeds of at least 10–35 mph (16–56 km/h) as well as wind gusts up to 50 mph (80 km/h).[94][95] InAlabama,Henry andHouston Counties were placed under a hurricane warning.[96] Several eastern counties were also placed under tropical storm warning.[97] Several school districts in Alabama either canceled school or released early in preparation for Helene.[98] A state of emergency was approved for the state by President Joe Biden.[99] InLouisville, Kentucky, a music festival,Louder Than Life, canceled their Friday shows due to strong winds.[100]Glenn Youngkin, theGovernor ofVirginia, issued a state of emergency.Virginia Task Force 1 along withMaryland Task Force 1 were deployed to Hurricane Helene.[101]
Impact
Honduras
Honduras experienced heavy rains as a result of theCentral American gyre which preceded Helene.[102] As a result, theGoascorán River brought flooding to nearby communities located in low-lying areas throughValle andCholuteca departments, reaching a level over 0.48 feet (0.15 m).[103] A state of emergency was issued inSan Marcos de Colón, Choluteca, due to overall damage caused by the storm.[104] Nearly 30 homes were estimated to be affected in El Cubulero,Alianza, Valle. Due to high waves onshore, 120 families were affected in the coastal town ofMarcovia, Choluteca; at least one home was destroyed. Heavy rainfall left communities isolated, and 50 people were sheltered inEl Paraíso due to severe floods.[103]
Mexico
Hurricane Helene over the Gulf of Mexico on September 25
The region aroundCancún received 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain.[30] Over 120,000 customers, 14% of allComisión Federal de Electricidad customers, lost power in Quintana Roo.[105] Extreme flooding covering much of Isla Mujeres occurred.[105] The island also experienced wind gusts up to 69 mph (111 km/h).[106] Cancún andCozumel saw very rough surf, breaking the seawall in Cozumel and increasing beach erosion in Cancún.[107] Flights atCozumel International Airport were delayed whileCancún International Airport saw nearly 100 cancellations or delays.[105] Only minor delays occurred atMérida Airport.[108] The companies most affected by Helene wereViva Aerobus,Volaris, andAeromexico.[109] Trees fell and roofs were damaged across the Yucatán Peninsula.[108] Agas explosion occurred in Cancún during Helene,[110] but no fatalities were reported.[30] No deaths nor major damage were reported in Mexico during Helene.[111]
Caribbean
A map highlighting areas affected by Hurricane Helene's tropical storm and hurricane-force wind fields
Cayman Islands
Over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fell onto the Cayman Islands.[112] Heavy rainfall and large waves began affecting the Cayman Islands on September 24.[113] Roads inGeorge Town were flooded as rainfall produced by the storm caused 14 power outages, affecting 118 customers across Grand Cayman.[36] The government began planning to buy land to aid in storm water management.[114] After Helene had passed, Grand Cayman was impacted by 5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m) waves on September 26.[115]
Cuba
In Cuba, heavy rainfall occurred, with peak accumulations of 218.4 mm (8.60 in) recorded in Presa Herradura and 186.8 mm (7.35 in) inPalacios.[116] Elsewhere,Punta del Este andIsla de la Juventud received 101 mm (4.0 in), Paso Real de San Diego received 78 mm (3.1 in),Pinar del Río received 72 mm (2.8 in), and Isabel Rubio received 70 mm (2.8 in).[117] InPinar del Río Province, 17 of the province's 24 reservoirs overflowed. Elsewhere, in El Palenque, road access was cut off due to flooding caused by Helene.[116] Helene's winds caused a failure in the power lines that feed the Guanito transmitter, causing most of the territory, especially San Juan and Martínez,Guane,Mantua, andMinas de Matahambre, to suffer blackouts.[118] Gale-force winds were recorded in the provinces ofIsla de la Juventud and Pinar del Río.[119] In total, around 70,000 customers experienced power outages in Pinar del Rio, with another 160,000 residents affected inArtemisa.[120]
Initial estimates suggested that insured losses could reach US$3–6 billion, according to reinsurance broker Gallagher Re;[151]AM Best estimated losses in excess of US$5 billion.[152] Later estimates byMoody's Analytics estimated that the damage could reach US$20–34 billion.[153]AccuWeather estimated that the total damage and economic loss could cost anywhere from US$225–250 billion.[154] At least four million people have lost power, according to the Omaha Public Power District.[155] Agricultural damage is estimated at US$7 billion.[156] Insured losses are expected to be lower than initially estimated due to standardhome insurancepolicies not includingflood insurance coverage, increased coverage restrictions by insurers, and hurricanedeductibles.[157][158] Helene caused 65 wind-related fatalities across theSoutheastern United States, the most wind-related fatalities caused by a tropical cyclone in theContiguous United States since at least 1963.[13]
ABaxter International manufacturing site inMarion, North Carolina, which produced 60% of the nation's sterileintravenous andkidney dialysis fluids for health facilities, was temporarily closed due to flood damage.[160] The closure of the manufacturing site led to a shortage and rationing of IV fluids across hospitals across the country.[161] The shutdown resulted in shortages of parenteral IV fluids through the end of 2024.[162]
Across six affected states, a total of 250 fatalities were recorded.[163] North Carolina reported the highest amount, with 107 deaths recorded across the state.Buncombe County alone accounted for 43 of the total deaths in the state. Florida would report 34 fatalities, Georgia would report 37, and South Carolina would report 50.[163]
By the morning of September 26, 2024, thousands in theTampa Bay area were experiencing power outages.[166] Wind gusts reached 64 mph (103 km/h) inFort Lauderdale and 67 mph (108 km/h) inNaples.[20]Key West experienced storm surge of 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 m).[167] Storm surge reached 7.18 feet (2.19 m) inTampa.[168] Areas of the Big Bend experienced inundation of more than 16 feet.[13]
Helene caused 34 deaths in Florida, including at least twelve inPinellas County;[13][169][170] two in Tampa involving a car accident where a sign fell on a car onI-4, along with an elderly woman who drowned inside her house; and one inDixie County involving a tree falling on a home.[171][172][173][174] Of the deaths in Pinellas, ten have been drownings and one was caused by an electrical fire that started after water rushed into a home.[170]Pasco County Sheriff's Office rescued around 200 people in water emergencies.[175] InCitrus County, over 100 people and 50 pets were rescued after ten feet of storm surge hit the area.[176] In total, over 1,000 people had to be rescued in the Tampa Bay area.[177] As a result of the storm, around 1.69 million customers in Florida lost power. Rainfall in the state peaked at 14.39 in (366 mm) in Liberty county.[13] R
Though the storm weakened substantially crossing over Florida, Helene still entered Georgia as a strong category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 110 mph (180 km/h). The high winds caused at least $5.5 billion in losses to the timber and agricultural industries.[13]
InAtlanta, theNational Weather Service inPeachtree City issued the city's first-everflash flood emergency due to Atlanta having its heaviest 3-day rainfall totals in 104 years.[179][180] Rainfall totals over 48 hours in the city reached 11.12 in (282 mm), the most the city has seen in 48 hours since record keeping began in 1878.[181] About 25 people had to be rescued from floods in Atlanta.[182] Localized urban flooding was also reported on multiple interstates likeI-285,I-85,I-75[183] and many other interstate systems encompassing Atlanta. More significant flooding occurred inBuckhead due to overflowing of thePeachtree Creek, which flooded multiple surrounding apartment complexes. Other flooding occurred in areas aroundMetro Atlanta.[184] TheChattahoochee River overflowed its banks in multiple areas aroundFulton County, Georgia and in downstream counties which prompted a water rescue inCoweta County.[185] Three tornadoes were spawned by Helene in the state,[186][187] including one that killed two people inWheeler County when it overturned their mobile home.[188] The Wheeler County tornado was rated an EF1, while the other two were rated EF0.[189]
Rabun County officials ordered the evacuation of people living below a dam atLake Rabun after officials were forced to open a third floodgate, inundating several roads and trapping people in their communities in the southern part of the county. Four homes were destroyed by falling trees inWhite County andHabersham County, but no injuries were reported.[190] Rabun County's emergency management department said many roads were left "impassable" by the storm and that most residents were without power into September 27, urging them to stay home to allow rescue and cleanup personnel to work uninterrupted.[190] TheHiwassee River inTowns County crested at over ten ft (3.0 m), just one ft (0.30 m) below the record, and flooded pastures and parts of a campground, but campers were not reached.[191]
Helene caused significant damage to Georgia's poultry farms, causing damage or total destruction to 107 facilities.[192] Georgia and surrounding regions produce almost half of the 9 billion chickens consumed annually across the United States, and manure runoff from the damaged facilities raised alarms about the quality of streams and groundwater.[192] Power outages in the state totaled an estimated 1.28 million customers. Thirty-seven people died during the storm in the state.[13]
Clemson University faced major online backlash[201] after deciding to host its September 28 homecoming football game againstStanford, bringing 80,295 fans to campus, most of whom were non-locals, at a time when the surrounding upstate, including the nearby city ofClemson and town ofCentral, were facing widespread power outages and gas shortages.[202][203] Tailgaters put a heavy strain on already scarce supplies such as gas, hot food from the few local restaurants that remained open, and ice that residents needed to prevent their food from spoiling in the absence of power. Later, on September 28, Clemson University announced that it would be opening some of its powered facilities and offering free food, drinks, ice, charging stations, and showers to the community for members in need of respite following the storm. However, many criticized the university for not doing so sooner.[204] Criticism continued when Clemson University announced that classes would be canceled on Monday, September 30, seemingly contradicting the earlier assertion that the area was recovered well enough to host a game.[205]
An electrical power outage led to one South Carolina factory farm losing 45,000 chickens. Millions more likely died due to Helene's effects across the Southeast, where almost half of the chicken farmed for meat in the United States is produced.[192]
Flooding from Helene rivaled some of the most destructive inland floods in the state's history, and, in some locations, exceeded them. Prior to Helene, the state had experienced major flooding from Hurricanes such asFrances,Ivan andJeanne, which produced a combined total of 20 inches of rain.[206] However, the flooding by Helene rivals these storms and then some. Provisional data shows that theFrench Broad River reached a high crest point of 24.8 ft, compared to the previous record of 23.1 ft set in 1916.[206]
Although initially up to 115 deaths and more than 200 missing were attributed to Helene in North Carolina, including at least 40 inBuncombe County alone,[207][208][209] that number was later revised down to 103 as it emerged that significant double-counting and mis-allocation had occurred in Buncombe County.[210][211] Two people, a four-year-old girl inClaremont and a 58-year-old man inGastonia, were killed in traffic collisions during rains caused by Helene.[212] At least 879,000 customers in the state lost power.[213] InCharlotte, high winds from Helene caused a tree to fall onto a residence, killing one person and seriously injuring another.[214] InWinston-Salem, heavy rains and high winds caused a large tree to fall on a gas station, damaging two vehicles.[215][216] Residents living downstream ofLake Lure were ordered to evacuate as its dam was overtopped by water and imminent failure was expected. Lake Lure Dam was later evaluated, and no imminent failure was expected, although erosion on both sides of the dam and compromise of the structural supports were reported.[217][218] One woman in the town ofLake Lure was rescued with her dog after being stranded inside a collapsed house along a riverbank.[219] Eight tornadoes were spawned by Helene in the state.[189] This included a brief but intense low-end EF3 tornado that impacted the north side ofRocky Mount, damaging 14 buildings and injuring 15 people, including four critically.[220] Five of the other tornadoes were rated EF1, while the remaining two were rated EF0.[189]
Areas in theBlack Mountains region in the western part of the state were particularly devastated. Residents ofSwannanoa also reported that no search and rescue operations had reached their location as of September 29, leaving several residents who had not prepared for the degree of flooding without food or drinkable water.[221] Data from the National Weather Service indicated that over 19 in (480 mm) of rain fell in areas upstream ofChimney Rock, leading to devastating floodwaters that destroyed half of the village, including half of the businesses on the southern side of the village near theBroad River.[222] The downtown ofElkin was heavily damaged by floodwaters from theYadkin River.[223] TheCatawba River floodedMorganton and left thousands of residents without power.[224] The Oxford Dam, at Lake Hickory on the Catawba River, spilled over.[225] More than 400 roads were closed in the western part of the state, and over 200 people had to be rescued from floods.[226]
A curfew was issued forAsheville due to damage which occurred inside the city.[227] The city broke their record for two-day rainfall, recording 9.87 in (251 mm) of rain.[228] TheAsheville Police Department reported that they had made arrests due to looting.[229] TheFrench Broad River crested at 24.67 ft (7.52 m), and the Swannanoa River reached 26.1 ft (8.0 m), both higher than the all-time records set by theFlood of 1916.[230] Almost the entirety ofBiltmore Village and theRiver Arts District were flooded, and the city was largely isolated due to loss of power and cell service.[231][232] Landslides around Asheville caused sections ofI-26 andI-40 to collapse or wash away, forcing closures of affected routes.[233] Access to Asheville was cut off from September 27–28 via I-26 to South Carolina.[234] A curfew was also issued forBoone after high winds and torrential rain caused flooding, sink holes, and power outages throughoutWatauga County.[235]
Various non-specific online posts were using antisemitic rhetoric and threatening violence against FEMA officials in the aftermath of the storm.[247][248] In one instance, federal aid workers briefly paused or relocated their work inRutherford County, North Carolina, as a result.[249] A 44-year-old North Carolina man was later arrested and charged in the Rutherford County incident after he was found with a handgun and a rifle at a supermarket serving as a storm relief site.[250]
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that climate change increased rainfall from the storm by more than 50% in some parts of Georgia and North Carolina.[251] The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a record US$59.6 billion in damages and recovery needs.[252] The storm and its aftermath caused 1,400 landslides and damaged over 160 water and sewer systems, at least 6,000 miles (9,650 kilometers) of roads, more than 1,000 bridges and culverts and an estimated 126,000 homes, the budget office said. Some 220,000 households are expected to apply for federal assistance.[253]
Tennessee
Helicopter crews rescued 58 people, with units from theVirginia State Police assisting, fromUnicoi County Hospital inErwin after the hospital was almost entirely submerged.[254] Part of a set of bridges onUS 23/I-26/US 19W spanning theNolichucky River in Erwin were completely washed away.[255][256] TheNashville Predators postponed a preseason game against theTampa Bay Lightning to October 7 due to severe weather in the area.[257]Nashville broke a daily rainfall record on September 27.[258] InMorristown, several trees fell, causing power lines to be snapped throughout the city.[259] Wind gusts inSparta reached 44 mph (71 km/h).[260] InNewport, thePigeon River rose to over three times the flood stage and set a new record at 26 feet (7.9 m), flooding portions of the town and nearbyI-40.[261] InJohnson County, numerous residents were without power, telephone, and could not leave their residences for several days.[262] Many homes and buildings were washed away during the flooding, notably, Antioch Baptist Church in theTrade community.[263] As of October 1, 2024, across northeastern Tennessee, 85 people were still missing.[264]
Early on September 28, theTennessee Valley Authority (TVA) utility company issued a Condition Red alert for theNolichucky Dam, saying that a failure of the dam was imminent, and local authorities issued an evacuation order.[265] However, it was reported by late morning the same day that water levels along theNolichucky River were lowering. The TVA was investigating the dam to figure out the next steps.[266] 12 mi (19 km) northeast of the Nolichucky Dam, the Kinser Bridge, which is a part ofSR 107, usually 60 ft (18 m) above the Nolichucky River, collapsed after floodwaters overran the bridge.[267] A total of five state-maintained bridges were destroyed.[268] AK-9 for the Erwin Police Department named Scotty was found dead on September 28 after going missing during flooding in theBumpus Cove community.[269] Six employees who were trapped by flood waters at the Impact Plastics plant in Erwin were among the missing and dead, with one worker who survived and family members of the deceased saying workers were not told that they could leave until after flood waters had covered the road to the plant and it lost power. Impact Plastics released a statement expressing sympathy for the workers' deaths and said that employees had not been threatened with termination for leaving the plant.[270][271][272] The incident was investigated by theTennessee Bureau of Investigation,[273] which cleared the company of any criminal wrongdoing.[274]
After the storm, four state parks fully closed, withPanther Creek State Park experiencing trail closures andSeven Islands State Birding Park having both trail and boat ramp closures.[275] Hurricane Helene caused a total agricultural and forestry loss of $1.351 billion.[139]
Virginia
One person was killed inCraig County after a tree fell onto a building.[276] Another person was killed inTazewell County when a falling tree struck them as they were cleaning debris.[277] Rainfall reached 12.2 in (310 mm) in theGrayson Highlands,[278] whileGalax saw around 8.6 in (220 mm) of rain over a 72-hour period. In theNew River Valley, high waters from Helene were seen as far north asRadford University.Damascus saw flooding of 19.5 ft (5.9 m).[279]
Over 70 water rescue operations occurred in the state, with theVirginia National Guard rappelling from helicopters and pulling people from cars. InAlbemarle County, one road was washed out. Elsewhere,SR 670 inMadison County andSR 637 inGreene County suffered heavy damage.Claytor Lake would suffer heavy pollution, with officials noting that their teams had found propane tanks and floating cars behind the dam.[279] InPulaski County, initial estimates revealed that 45 homes were significantly impacted. At the same time, inGiles County, more than 35 buildings were destroyed. Most ofUS 21 along the mountainside outside ofIndependence inGrayson County was destroyed. At the same time,US 58 andVirginia Creeper Trail were wiped out and will need to be rebuilt heading into Damascus. Access toTaylors Valley inWashington County was cut off after the two bridges into the community were destroyed.[280] In the city ofRadford, theNew River crested at 31.03 ft (9.46 m), only being surpassed by a 35.96 ft (10.96 m) crest on August 14, 1940, due to the remnants of the1940 South Carolina hurricane. An EF1 tornado caused minor damage inBedford County, while an EF2 tornado inPittsylvania County injured one person, damaged 30 structures, and destroyed a mobile home.[281] Another EF1 tornado blew down trees nearKeeling as well.[189] Power outages in the state affected 190,000 people.[282]
After the storm, nine state parks and four preserves closed due to damage from Helene.[283] In addition, numerous trails were closed inShenandoah National Park.[284] The entireBlue Ridge Parkway was closed as well. However, much of the Virginia segment of the highway reopened on October 11.[285]
Elsewhere
LaRue County, Kentucky, experienced up to 3.61 in (92 mm) of rain.[286] A daily rainfall record was broken inLexington. Wind gusts inMorgan County exceeded 60 mph (97 km/h). Across Kentucky, nearly 220,000 customers lost power.[287] InJessamine County, the steeple of Edgewood Baptist Church inNicholasville, Kentucky was blown off.[288] In Lexington alone, over 110,000 customers had power outages.[289] In West Virginia, there was heavy rainfall. High water ran inBluefield, and trees blocked multiple roadways. Elsewhere in the state, fallen trees were across parts ofFayette County. InMercer County, more than 20,000 customers lost power due to Helene.[290] TheDenver Broncos, who were practicing at the Greenbrier Resort due to having two consecutive east coast road games, were forced to hold one of their practices in the indoor tennis courts due to the heavy rainfall.[291][292] Helene's rains have been primarily beneficial, alleviating drought conditions which were in the state since August 2024.[293] InHuntington, a wind gust of 70 mph (110 km/h) was recorded; which was the second highest wind gust ever recorded at that station.[294]
In Illinois, Helene's remnants produced heavy rains and high winds, causing several thousand outages.[295] The waves onLake Michigan were as high as 10 ft (3.0 m).[296] Portions ofSouthern Illinois exceeded 6 in (150 mm) of rain from the storm, which caused water levels on theOhio River to jump by 15 ft (4.6 m) following the storm. However, the rainfall in this region was largely beneficial due to drought conditions from a lack of rain earlier in the month.[297] About 100,000 power outages occurred inIndiana,[298] and winds gusted up to 68 mph (109 km/h).[299] Rainfall in the state peaked at 4.89 in (124 mm) inMt. Vernon, with 2.02 in (51 mm) of rain inDowntown Indianapolis; heavier rainfall totals occurred in the southern parts of the state.[300] One person was killed due to a fallen tree nearGriffin.[147]
Over 120,000 customers lost power inOhio.[301] An estimated 1,000 households sustained damage inScioto County due to unexpected heavy rainfall, with 7 in (180 mm) of rain falling within the span of a few hours. Four hundred damage reports have been filed as of September 30, 2024.[302] In the city ofCincinnati, rainfall totals reached 2.05 in (52 mm).[303] Wind gusts in the state reached 67 mph (108 km/h).[304] In the state ofAlabama, over 3,000 customers lost power.[305] Isolated regions inGeneva County andHouston County experienced 6–8 in (150–200 mm) of rain. However, a last-second shift to the east lessened impacts throughout the state.[306]
In theNortheast, particularly inNew York andNew Jersey, light moisture from the northeastern quadrants of Helene's remnants associated with a cold front would precipitate over thetri-state area.[307] Rainfall was overall light with breezy conditions across the region.[308] The peak amount of precipitation was 2.68 in (68 mm) atWall Township, New Jersey; over 200 locations statewide recorded at least 1 in (25 mm) of rain.[309] Helene's impacts across the region would be the last measured precipitation in that region until November in a historic dry-spell, that would eventually lead to extreme drought conditions in portions of New Jersey.[310][311] Following the storm, a record long rainless streak was established inPhiladelphia.[310]
Rapid assessment models played an important role in the early stages of relief from Helene. Developed by researchers in North Carolina, a decision support system was developed wherein health officials integrated 24 datasets to map flooded areas that had a great amount of infrastructure damage. This had led to the discovery of 19,600 wells, 34,300 businesses, and 150 community facilities being affected by flooding across the state.[314]
Hurricane Helene was one of the largest-diameter US Gulf Coast hurricanes.[315] Although large size does not meanstrength—which is based on sustained wind measurements—it may mean that more people are exposed to a storm's hazards.[315]
On September 28, 2024, theOmaha Public Power District sent Mutual Aid crews toWest Virginia to help with power restoration after Helene, their third in a disaster in 2024.[155]California sent 151 search and rescue members to affected areas.[316] TheFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent in search-and-rescue teams, bottled water, andStarlink terminals.[317] Additionally, an eastern Kentuckystorm chaser contributed 30 Starlink terminals to storm victims in westernNorth Carolina.[318]SpaceX said that they donated approximately 500 terminals through various channels.[319] TheAmerican Red Cross[320] andThe Salvation Army,[321] among other nonprofit organizations, began deploying emergency disaster services teams in many affected areas. A unit from the 1st Battalion of the169th Aviation Regiment, part of theConnecticut Army National Guard, was deployed to North Carolina to assist disaster relief efforts.[322] T&T Line Construction of Hornwell,New Brunswick in Canada sent 11 line crews to western North Carolina through its mutual assistance agreement with Duke Energy. "Companies from the US aid us in storms; it's a mutual thing," said a T&T crew leader. Several crews fromQuebec, Canada were also seen working aroundWoodfin, North Carolina.[323] Duke Energy also used helicopters to transport power poles to Henderson County, North Carolina and set the poles into the ground.[324] Two other line workers hiked 1.5 miles over very rough ground to bring a power line into the Asheville NCVeterans' Administration Medical Center that had gone dark due to the storm.[325]
Pack mules were utilized to access areas inaccessible by other means in North Carolina.[326] Operation AirDrop and the Carolina Emergency Response Team helped deploy volunteer private helicopter pilots to assist in rescue efforts.[327][328]
As of October 1, the White House reported via press release that FEMA had given out 6.5 million liters of water and 7.1 million meals.[329][330]World Central Kitchen would deploy food trucks to hurricane struck areas, proving more than 64,000 meals in multiple states affected.[329] The owner of a localMellow Mushroom would give away $5000 of free pizza to Asheville residents.[329] On October 9,Anat Sultan-Dadon brought emergency supplies to the community of North Augusta, South Carolina.[331] The international non-profit agency SmartAID also coordinated with communities in North Carolina and Florida to provide limited electricity and communications systems in areas impacted by Helene.[332]
On October 1, West Virginia GovernorJim Justice declared a state of emergency in Mercer County, enabling the West Virginia Emergency Management Division to implement the Emergency Operations Plan, which allowed swift mobilization of personnel, resources, and essential emergency services. Justice said the emergency declaration "will allow us to speed up the response on the ground and potentially receive federal assistance as we push forward with recovery efforts".[333]
A surge in air traffic over the disaster area occurred due to relief efforts, with an estimated 300% increase in air traffic over western North Carolina alone. TheFederal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation issued warnings and restrictions to prevent aerial accidents, including issuing temporary flight restrictions for drones, implementing prior permission request lines, creating temporary airspace coordination areas, creating Standard-use Army Aircraft Flight Routes, and deploying temporary air traffic control towers.[343][344] The restrictions followed a report of about 30 mid-air close calls over North Carolina on September 28 alone, along with at least two supply-drop incidents involving private aircraft—one in which a plane's landing gear failed to deploy before landing atHickory Regional Airport, temporarily closing the runway, and another in which a plane caught fire.[345][346]
On October 4,Elon Musk claimed in a post onX that FEMA was not allowing SpaceX personnel to deliver Starlink terminals to areas affected by Helene and that the airspace had been shut down.[347] Roughly an hour later,Secretary of TransportationPete Buttigieg responded to Musk on X by rejecting his claims, saying that the "FAA doesn't block legitimate rescue and recovery flights" and offering to discuss any potential issues over the phone.[348] Musk then later posted on social media that he'd talked to Buttigieg and thanked him for talking with him and subsequently commented that Buttigieg had resolved the issue.[349]
On October 5, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order requiring debris management sites and landfills in all affected counties to remain open 24/7 to expedite debris removal ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall. The order also increased the number of Florida National Guardsmen working on debris removal from 800 to 4,000 in an effort to prevent the debris from becoming a hazard ahead of Milton's anticipated landfall.[350][351]
Milton dumped 16 in (410 mm) of rain on Hillsborough County,[352] following its landfall south of the Tampa Bay area, nearSiesta Key, as a Category 3 hurricane on October 9.[353] Flooding, along with additional damage, adversely affected Helene cleanup efforts in the region.[352] In response, Bay Area nonprofits expanded their relief work.[354] Additional federal disaster assistance was also made available to Florida to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Milton.[352]
Florida recorded a rise in cases ofVibrio vulnificus (a flesh-eating bacterium that favors warm waters and spreads in heavy flood rains) following Hurricane Helene, which Hurricane Milton exacerbated. Before Helene, six cases had been reported in September; by the end of the month, that number had risen to 24. As of October 18, there were 38 confirmed cases statewide, equaling the total number of cases in 2024 prior the hurricanes.[355]
Political response
President Biden was criticized by Republican presidential nomineeDonald Trump and other Republican politicians for visitingRehoboth Beach, Delaware, over the weekend instead of being at theWhite House commanding the federal response.[356] Biden disputed claims that he was not helping to command the federal response to the disaster and stated that he had been doing so over the phone. Biden also said that he might have to askCongress to return toWashington, D.C., to pass supplemental funding for the federal government's response to Helene. Biden promised to visit the emergency operations center inRaleigh on October 2 before embarking on an aerial tour of Asheville before visiting Georgia and Florida "as soon as possible after that". Democratic Party presidential nominee, Vice PresidentKamala Harris also promised to be "on the ground" as soon as possible without interrupting emergency response operations. On September 30, Harris boardedAir Force Two en route toJoint Base Andrews to visit FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., for a briefing on support for emergency response and recovery efforts from the results of Hurricane Helene.[357]
In response to reporters' questions about the relation between climate change and the hurricane's severity, the head of FEMA,Deanne Criswell, said climate change made the storm significantly worse.[358][359] Later, when reporters asked President Biden if climate change is to blame for the damage done by the hurricane he answered: "Absolutely, positively, unequivocally, yes, yes, yes, yes."[360]
On September 30, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia and alleged that Georgia's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, was "having a hard time getting the president [Joe Biden] on the phone. Federal government is not being responsive." Biden responded that Trump was "lying" as Biden said he had spoken to Kemp. The federal government was "doing everything possible", while Kemp said that Biden "just called me yesterday afternoon [on September 29] — I missed him and called him right back... [Biden] just said, 'Hey, what do you need?' And I told him, 'You know, we got what we need, we will work through the federal process.' He offered that if there's other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that. But we've had FEMA embedded with us since, you know, a day or two before the storm hit."[361][362][363] Trump also claimed without providing evidence on his social media platform,Truth Social, that the federal government and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper were "going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas".[364]
On October 1, theU.S. senators from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia wrote a letter to Senate leadership urging action to help their states, even if it meant returning early from the fall recess.[329] However, a day later,Speaker of the HouseMike Johnson said that lawmakers would not return early, saying that, "We wouldn't even conceivably have the request ready before we get back in November" due to uncertainties about the cost of the disaster and that there was "no necessity" for a return.Secretary of Homeland SecurityAlejandro Mayorkas said that the costly relief effort would use most of FEMA's funding for the year and that the agency would be unprepared for another major disaster.[365] That same day, Lieutenant Governor of North CarolinaMark Robinson, tweeted claims that Biden had told reporters that there were "no more supplies" for North Carolinians that were affected by the storm. When asked for proof of the comment being said, reporters were given a video clip of Biden on September 29 responding to a question about any additional supplies being made available, with Biden stating "no, we have pre-planned a significant amount of [resources], even though they hadn't asked for it yet."[366]
(From left to right) Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, FEMA director Deanne Criswell, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and President Joe Biden speak during an aerial tour to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene aboardMarine One on October 2, 2024
On October 2, President Biden flew toGreenville-Spartanburg International Airport aboardAir Force One and met with South Carolina officials such as SenatorLindsey Graham and Governor Henry McMaster to discuss the federal response to Helene in the state before boardingMarine One and traveling to North Carolina to embark on an aerial tour of Asheville and Lake Lure. Biden was joined by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Asheville MayorEsther Manheimer, FEMA director Deanne Criswell, andHomeland Security AdvisorElizabeth Sherwood-Randall.[367] According to Alejandro Mayorkas, the tour was done from the air using Marine One not to impede the emergency response on the ground. Biden also ordered the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty troops to assist with aid efforts.[365] After Biden's visit, Graham said in a press conference that Biden needed to intervene in theport strike due to it potentially jeopardizing the relief efforts in the Carolinas. McMaster said that he and Graham also suggested to Biden during his visit that he intervene in the strike as well.[368] Vice President Kamala Harris visited Augusta, Georgia, and spoke with residents of the city whom Helene impacted. Harris met with Augusta residents, handed out supplies, spoke about ongoing relief efforts, and thanked local and state officials such as Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson. Harris also visited a Red Cross relief center where she received a briefing from local officials about the situation.[369]
On October 3, President Biden flew to Tallahassee International Airport aboard Air Force One, where he then embarked on another aerial tour aboard Marine One of impacted areas while en route to Perry. From Perry, Biden then traveled via motorcade to Keaton Beach, where he was joined by SenatorRick Scott and other local officials. Biden spoke to a couple whose home had been destroyed by storm surge and discussed the impacts of the storm with local emergency management officials before returning to Perry, where he boarded Marine One and then flew toMoody Air Force Base in Georgia.[370] From Moody Air Force Base, Biden traveled to Shiloh Pecan Farm southwest ofRay City where he said it was time to put aside "rabid partisanship" to help get people relief.Secretary of AgricultureTom Vilsack accompanied Biden at the farm, and he spoke about federal programs to help farmers recover.[371] Also on October 3, RepresentativeMarjorie Taylor Greene posted online a map showing many Republican-leaning areas affected by Hurricane Helene, stating that "hurricane devastation could affect the election", then separately stated: "Yes they can control the weather ... It's ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can't be done"; the precise meaning of this statement has not been confirmed.[372][373]
On October 3, Trump falsely accused the Biden administration of spending FEMA funds meant for disaster relief "on illegal migrants", and thus having "stole the FEMA money just like they stole it from a bank"; he repeated the accusations the next day, which the Biden administration claimed was "poison".[374][375] FEMA stated they have separate Congress-approved funds for disaster relief and for migrants (the Shelter and Service Program).[374]
On October 7, the North Carolina Board of Elections unanimously passed an emergency resolution to ease voting rules for the 13 counties most affected by the hurricane. The goal is to ensure voters in those counties can still cast their ballot by providing alternative polling sites, an easy process for requesting or replacing absentee ballots, and giving more options for voters to return their ballots.[376]
Donald Trump delivers remarks in North Carolina in January 2025.
On January 24, 2025, President Trump visited North Carolina and met with officials and residents. Trump said that he planned to sign an executive order to begin a process of reforming and overhauling FEMA, or perhaps even getting rid of the agency altogether. While inFletcher, Trump suggested that state governments handle disasters that occur within them.[377] In April, with the support of North Carolina's Republican Congressional delegation, GovernorJosh Stein appealed FEMA's decision to deny a 180-day extension on the federal government's payment for disaster relief. In May, FEMA denied the appeal.[378][379][380]
Following the storm's devastating effects in the Southeastern United States, the nameHelene was retired by theWorld Meteorological Organization during the 47th Session of the RA IV Hurricane Committee on April 2, 2025, and will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane. It was replaced byHolly in the list, which is scheduled to be used during the 2030 season.[385]
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Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
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