Hurricane Helene devastates southeastern US, millions without power
Al Jazeera
At least 63 are killed, and over 2.6 million people across 10 states go without electricity as Helene leaves a trail of destruction.
People across five states in the southeast United States have been left stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue after devastating Hurricane Helene killed at least 63 people and caused massive power outages.
More than 2.6 million customers were still without electricity across 10 states from Florida in the southeast to Indiana in the Midwest as of the wee hours on Sunday, according to tracker poweroutage.us.
The National Weather Service said conditions would “continue to improve Sunday” as it warned of possible “long-duration power outages”.
Helene slammed into Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane and surged north, gradually weakening but leaving a trail of destruction: uprooted trees, downed power lines and homes damaged by mudslides.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) said on Saturday it granted emergency declarations in six states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee – “to assist these states with preparation and response efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm”.
