What's happened
Hurricane Helene has left at least 62 dead and millions without power across multiple states. The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, caused historic flooding and significant infrastructure damage, particularly in Florida and North Carolina. Recovery efforts are ongoing as communities assess the extensive impact of the storm.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Mike Bedigan from The Independent, Deanne Criswell emphasized the unprecedented nature of Helene's flooding, stating, "This storm took a while to develop, but once it did it intensified very rapidly." Meanwhile, Andrew Freedman from Axios reported that Helene was the strongest hurricane on record to hit Florida's Big Bend region, causing record inland flooding and significant power outages. Freedman noted that the storm's rapid intensification is part of a concerning trend linked to climate change, which is expected to increase the frequency and severity of such storms in the future. Both sources highlight the ongoing recovery efforts and the challenges faced by local authorities as they work to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
How we got here
Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 4 hurricane, making landfall in Florida's Big Bend region. The storm's severity is attributed to rising Gulf temperatures linked to climate change, leading to unprecedented storm surges and flooding across several states.
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Georgia is a state in the Southeastern Region of the United States. Georgia is the 24th-largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States.
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Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. With a population of over 21 million, Florida is the third-most populous and the 22nd-most extensive of the 50 United States.
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North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. North Carolina is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the 50 United States.