Emergency crews in the southeastern US were racing on Monday to reach people affected by a storm that left a trail of destruction. Hurricane Helene churned through the region and killed at least 120 people, with 600 others missing.
Residents of Florida saw the storm make landfall on Thursday as a Category Four hurricane then move on through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. People throughout the region watched as floodwaters covered roadways and washed into their homes. “There’s a lot of memories here,” said one woman in Florida. “It breaks your heart. It just devastates you.”
People in many communities have been left without drinking water. More than two million lost power, and many lost cell service.
US President Joe Biden said he would visit the region later this week. “I’m here to tell every single survivor in these impacted areas that we will be there with you, as long as it takes,” he said.
Thousands of government personnel have been sent in to help. They are working alongside aid workers to bring in supplies.