Hurricane Helene Leaves 34 Dead in Southeast

Hurricane Helene, initially a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph, wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, leaving at least 34 dead, including a Georgia mother and her twin babies. The storm caused extensive flooding, power outages affecting millions, and severe property damage, particularly in Florida's Big Bend, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Rescue operations are ongoing, with many still trapped in damaged buildings and floodwaters. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reported significant infrastructure damage, including road closures and power outages affecting over a million meters. Michigan Task Force 1 was deployed to assist with search and rescue in North Carolina, where heavy rainfall led to severe flooding and landslides. The storm has highlighted the increasing intensity of hurricanes, likely exacerbated by climate change.