Hurricane Helene

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North Carolina's Hurricane Numbers Are 'Jaw-Dropping'

Gov. Roy Cooper estimates $53B

(Newser) - The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, Gov. Roy Cooper's administration said Wednesday. The state budget office generated the preliminary figure for direct or indirect damages and potential investments to...

Family Flees Ukraine War Only to Die in Hurricane Helene

Couple, their son, and his grandma killed or presumed killed in North Carolina

(Newser) - A couple, their 13-year-old son, and the boy's grandmother fled Ukraine after Russia invaded their country in 2022, finding what they believed was safety in North Carolina, where they lived near family. But tragedy struck last month when Hurricane Helene hit, People reports. Anastasia Novitnia-Segen and her husband Dmytro...

In North Carolina, Early Voting Brings a 'Clear Sign'

'That voters are energized about this election,' with more voting on first day than on 2020's first day

(Newser) - More North Carolina residents turned out to cast ballots on the first day of early voting this year than in 2020, even as residents from the mountainous western portion of the state continued to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. Preliminary data shows a record 353,166 people...

SBA Out of Cash for Hurricane Victims, for Now

Congress would need to greenlight additional funding, though lawmakers are now out of town

(Newser) - The Small Business Administration has run out of money for the disaster assistance loans it offers small businesses, homeowners, and renters, delaying much-needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses...

Armed Militia Reportedly 'Out Hunting FEMA' After Hurricane
Arrest Made in Threats
Against FEMA Workers
updated
Oct 14, 2024 6:05 PM CDT

Arrest Made in Threats Against FEMA Workers

North Carolina officials say there was no armed militia patrolling the area

(Newser) - Law enforcement officials reported Monday that an armed suspect was arrested in western North Carolina on charges of making threats against federal emergency response workers helping with the hurricane recovery. The 44-year-old man was taken into custody at a supermarket where a FEMA bus was parked on Saturday, they said,...

In Church, Harris Praises 'the Angels Among Us'

Candidate criticizes misinformation as damaging to relief efforts

(Newser) - Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of faith and unity at a church service in North Carolina on Sunday, praising the heroic efforts of residents who helped others after Hurricane Helene struck the state last month. "Moments of crisis, I believe, do have a way of revealing the heroes among...

Biden Surveys Damage in Florida, Promises Aid

Power outages, flooding, gas shortages persist after storms

(Newser) - President Biden on Sunday looked over the storm damage in Florida for the second time in a little more than a week, seeing the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Milton on the Gulf Coast and announcing more financial aid is on the way. He was given an aerial view of the...

Meteorologist Chokes Up While Warning About Milton
Meteorologist Gets Emotional:
'This Is Just Horrific'
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Oct 12, 2024 4:00 PM CDT

Meteorologist Gets Emotional: 'This Is Just Horrific'

Veteran South Florida hurricane specialist chokes up while discussing Milton

(Newser) - Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 storm with terrifying speed on Monday, and veteran meteorologist John Morales became visibly emotional while discussing it. "It's just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricane. It has dropped," the NBC6 hurricane specialist said before choking up. "It has dropped 50...

FEMA Spent Almost Half Year's Budget in 8 Days

Unless Congress adds funding, agency could have to limit rebuilding projects

(Newser) - Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned last week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget might not withstand another hurricane. Hours before Milton struck in Florida, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a briefing, "I'm going to have to evaluate how quickly we're burning the remaining...

Biden Answers Trump Directly on Hurricane Misinformation

President tells GOP candidate to help people affected instead of spreading false stories

(Newser) - President Biden on Thursday publicly admonished Donald Trump, telling his predecessor to "get a life, man" and try to help people impacted by a pair of devastating hurricanes rather than spreading misinformation about the federal response. Speaking at the White House on the government's work to address Hurricanes...

Taylor Swift Makes Big Donation to Hurricane Relief

Charity says star gave $5M to help communities

(Newser) - The charity Feeding America says it is "incredibly grateful" to Taylor Swift for a $5 million donation to help communities hit by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Million. "This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating...

Just 9% of FEMA Staff Are Currently Available

Agency 'supporting over 100 major disaster declarations' as Hurricane Milton bears down

(Newser) - FEMA did not need another disaster to deal with, but it looks like it will have one with Hurricane Milton now en route to Tampa . Assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in various states, Tropical Storm Debby in New York and Georgia, flooding and landslides in Vermont, tornadoes in...

North Carolina's New Post-Helene Issue Really Stings
North Carolina's
New Post-Helene
Issue Really Stings
in case you missed it
Oct 6, 2024 2:45 PM CDT

North Carolina's New Post-Helene Issue Really Stings

State health officials stock up on Benadryl, EpiPens after yellow jackets start swarming

(Newser) - "The air was full of yellow jackets, which seemed incongruous with an otherwise lovely late fall afternoon. But like so many of the folks standing on the highway, they had nowhere else to go." That was the observation last week of a North Carolina local checking out the...

In North Carolina, Harris Praises Neighborly Response

Governor vouches for FEMA's help with Hurricane Helene recovery

(Newser) - Vice President Kamala Harris went to North Carolina on Saturday, promising federal aid would continue to flow for recovery from Hurricane Helene while being briefed on the situation. The meeting in Charlotte included Gov. Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, the Washington Post reports. "I've talked with...

Son Hikes 11 Miles in NC to Check on Parents
Son Hikes 11 Miles
in NC to Check on Parents
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Oct 5, 2024 12:00 PM CDT

Son Hikes 11 Miles in NC to Check on Parents

They were OK but cut off from communication at mountain home after Helene hit

(Newser) - One story out of Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene illustrates the problem of family members trying to check on loved ones. Sam Perkins tells CNN that he hiked 11 miles to his parents' home in the mountains on Saturday because he hadn't heard from them...

WH on False Helene Rumors: Stop 'Spreading This Poison'

Conspiracy theories about disaster relief abound in the wake of deadly hurricane

(Newser) - As local, state, and federal authorities scramble to help those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene , which killed more than 220 , they've got another problem to deal with: conspiracy theories about relief efforts, per Reuters and CNN . "Disinformation of this kind can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when...

Dolly Parton to Helene Victims: 'I Am Part of You'

Country star, 78, donates $1M toward relief efforts in wake of deadly hurricane

(Newser) - As regions hit hard by Hurricane Helene continue to deal with the aftermath, a big name from Appalachia has stepped up to help. On Friday, country star Dolly Parton announced she'll be donating $1 million out of her own pocket toward relief efforts, via the nonprofit Mountain Ways, reports...

Hospitals Nationwide Could Suffer Because of Helene

Baxter facility in North Carolina was damaged, and impact to IV fluid supply will reverberate

(Newser) - One unintended consequence of Hurricane Helene is being felt in hospitals around the country: a reduction in the amount of IV fluids available. NBC News reports four companies manufacture the bulk of IV fluids in the US, and Baxter International is chief among them, handling about 60% of the market....

Newborn Twins, Mom Found Dead in Helene Aftermath

Month-old twins were crushed by a falling tree

(Newser) - Obie Williams could hear babies crying and branches battering the windows when he answered his daughter's daily phone call last week as Hurricane Helene tore through her rural Georgia town. Kobe Williams, 27, and her newborn twin boys were hunkering down at their trailer home in Thomson, Georgia, and...

Couple Killed by Falling Tree Found Hugging in Bed

Marcia and Jerry Savage were teenage sweethearts, married for over 50 years

(Newser) - As Hurricane Helene roared outside, the wind howling and branches snapping, John Savage went to his grandparents' bedroom to make sure they were OK. "We heard one snap and I remember going back there and checking on them," the 22-year-old said of his grandparents, Marcia, 74, and Jerry,...

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