In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene swept through the southeastern United States, making landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm. With wind speeds up to 140 mph (220 km/h), it became the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005, which killed more than 1,800 people. The hurricane particularly affected Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and the southern Appalachian region. This article delves into this devastating hurricane’s causes, impacts, and responses.
Formation and Track of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene formed over the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean in mid-September 2024. Its development was driven by favourable conditions, including warm sea surface temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F) and low wind shear, allowing rapid intensification. Helene formed as a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa before intensifying as it moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean.
By the time it reached the Gulf Coast of Florida, the hurricane intensified into a Category 4 storm. On September 26, 2024, Helene landed in the Big Bend region of Florida, just east of the Aucilla River. The storm brought a massive storm surge, high winds, and torrential rains to coastal areas. As it moved inland across Georgia and the Carolinas, Helene weakened but continued to bring severe weather, including widespread flooding.
Hurricanes typically decrease in strength as they travel over land (they draw their energy over warm water). However, the days before Hurricane Helene made landfall, it drew a lot of energy from the warm waters over the Gulf of Mexico, strengthening very quickly from a Category 1 to a powerful Category 4 hurricane. The high surface temperatures meant a lot of moisture in the atmosphere capable of producing a vast amount of rain carried deep inland by the storm.
Hurricane Helene reached maximum sustained wind speeds of 140 mph (225 km/h) when it landed in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26, 2024. This classified it as a Category 4 hurricane, capable of causing severe damage. After landfall, the wind speeds decreased as the hurricane moved inland, eventually weakening into a tropical storm.
Did you know?
The destruction across the southeastern states was also due to a phenomenon known as the “brown ocean effect”. This is when a storm continues to draw some energy as it passes over the wet ground so it does not fizzle out as fast as a storm that crosses dry terrain.
Primary Effects
Loss of Life and Injuries
The hurricane tragically caused over 200 deaths across multiple states. North Carolina experienced some of the worst impacts, with 116 fatalities reported, particularly in the mountainous areas. Many people were left unaccounted for due to the widespread flooding and damaged infrastructure, which isolated entire communities.
Economic Impact
Preliminary estimates indicate that Hurricane Helene’s economic losses could reach $160 billion, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in recent U.S. history. This figure includes damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure across affected states. Additionally, the storm caused severe agricultural losses, especially in Georgia and North Carolina, where crops were destroyed due to heavy rain and strong winds.
Storm Surge and Flooding
One of the most significant aspects of Hurricane Helene was the storm surge, which reached over 15 feet (4.5m) along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Record flood crests were measured in at least seven locations in North Carolina and Tennessee. In parts of western North Carolina, records that had stood since the “Great Flood” of July 1916 were smashed.
Coastal towns like Horseshoe Beach were inundated, with water flooding streets, homes, and businesses. Inland, the storm brought record-breaking rainfall to areas of the southern Appalachians, particularly North Carolina, where some places received up to 29 inches of rain. This led to catastrophic flooding, landslides, and damage to hundreds of roads and bridges, leaving entire communities isolated.
Power Outages
More than 4.5 million people lost power across the southeastern U.S., with the largest outages reported in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Due to the extensive damage to electrical infrastructure, power restoration efforts took weeks in many areas.
Secondary Effects
The secondary effects of Hurricane Helene were particularly devastating and prolonged:
Water Contamination and Disease
The flooding significantly contaminated water supplies in many rural and urban areas. The floodwaters, mixed with sewage and hazardous materials, increased the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and gastrointestinal infections. Damaged water treatment plants worsened the situation, making clean drinking water scarce in many areas.
Mental Health Impact
The mental health impact of the storm was profound. Many survivors who experienced the loss of their homes or loved ones faced long-term psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Limited access to mental health services in many affected areas made recovery even more difficult.
Economic Disruption
Hurricane Helene also caused extensive economic disruption. The destruction of infrastructure, businesses, and agricultural lands led to many people’s loss of income and employment. Businesses were closed for weeks, and some may never reopen, further contributing to financial instability. Farmers faced significant crop and livestock losses, which impacted food supply chains and regional economies.
Infrastructure and Isolation
The hurricane’s flooding and landslides caused significant destruction to roads and bridges, particularly in the Appalachian region. Entire towns were left isolated, making it challenging for emergency responders to deliver supplies such as food, water, and medical aid. The damaged infrastructure made the recovery process slow and complex, with many areas cut off for extended periods.
Landslides
As of 8 October 2024, the US Geological Survey (USGS)has identified at least 244 landslides associated with Helene in the Southeast. Most of these occurred in South Carolina.
Warnings and Preparations
Before Hurricane Helene made landfall, the National Hurricane Center issued widespread warnings, and officials in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas prepared by ordering mandatory evacuations in coastal and low-lying areas. Emergency shelters were opened, and food, water, and medical supplies were stockpiled. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre-positioned personnel and equipment to respond to the impending disaster.
Despite extensive preparations, the scale of the storm’s impact was overwhelming. Some residents were unable to evacuate in time due to transportation challenges or health issues, and many communities were forced to face the full brunt of the storm’s power.
Response and Recovery
The immediate response to Hurricane Helene involved extensive search and rescue operations across multiple states, with emergency personnel working tirelessly to locate missing individuals and aid affected residents. FEMA and state emergency teams were deployed to assist with the recovery, including clearing debris, restoring power, and providing medical aid. US President Joe Biden approved federal disaster assistance for survivors in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The Biden administration has shipped more than 8.8 million meals, 7.4 million litres of water, 150 generators and 225,000 tarps to the region.
According to the National Guard, more than 6,700 Army and Air National Guard members from 16 states are assisting with the on-the-ground response.
The president deployed 1,000 active-duty soldiers to help with the aid efforts.
Private citizens have been helping distribute aid in various ways, including by mule and privately owned helicopters.
The music legend Dolly Parton donated $1m towards disaster recovery efforts in the wake of the hurricane.
Rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and businesses is expected to take years, with many areas requiring long-term government support. Agricultural assistance is also needed to help farmers recover from their losses. Mental health services are being provided to help survivors cope with the trauma, but access to such services remains limited in rural areas.
Could Change have made Helene worse?
Scientists believe that climate change caused by human activities made Hurricane Helene much worse, especially regarding the amount of rain it brought.
One study showed that some areas in Georgia and the Carolinas got over 50% more rain during Hurricane Helene because of climate change. This happens because warmer air can hold more water, which leads to heavier rain when storms happen.
Another study found that hurricanes like Helene are now 20% wetter and 7% windier compared to similar storms in the past, especially in the southeastern United States and along Florida’s Gulf Coast. This means hurricanes today are stronger and bring more rain because of the warmer climate.
As the Earth warms, it holds more moisture in the air, leading to more intense rainstorms. This makes hurricanes like Helene even more dangerous, with stronger winds and heavier rainfall.
Conclusion
Hurricane Helene 2024 is a stark reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters. The storm’s powerful winds, devastating storm surge, and record-breaking rainfall caused significant destruction, loss of life, and long-term secondary effects. As climate change intensifies hurricanes, there is a growing need for investments in resilient infrastructure, better disaster preparedness, and strategies to reduce the impacts of future storms. Learning from events like Hurricane Helene is crucial to improving our ability to respond and adapt to these increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
