Hurricane Helene's Deadly Impact and Climate Link

Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Florida's Big Bend region and tracked north, has become the deadliest storm to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina, with at least 189 confirmed fatalities across six southeastern states. The storm caused catastrophic flooding and destruction, particularly in North Carolina, and left 1.2 million customers without power across affected states. Helene's storm surge set new records in Sarasota and Manatee counties, surpassing previous hurricanes like Ian and Idalia. Residents of Tampa Bay experienced unprecedented flooding, marking the area's worst hurricane impact since 1921. The devastation prompted President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to visit and pledge federal support for recovery efforts. Experts link the increasing intensity of such storms to climate change, which has ushered in a new era of more powerful hurricanes.