The South Carolina Summer Hurricane’s Day. Power Outages, Fuel Shortfalls and Water Shortage in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

An official for Unicoi County Schools said during the conference that it’s “unlikely” schools will be back in session by the second week of October, but that the district is working to get schools reopened as soon as possible.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the death toll in the southeast U.S. and southern Appalachia continues to rise. At least 91 people across several states were killed, The Associated Press reported.

Many people drowned after not heeding evacuation orders; others were killed in their homes and cars by falling trees and road signs. The two Georgians killed by the tornado were in a car. Deaths were reported in several states. Hundreds remained missing.

Large portions of the region remained in darkness with power still knocked out to more than 2 million customers in five states on Sunday evening, nearly three days after Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region.

Over the weekend, much of western North Carolina faced communications blackouts, power outages, fuel shortages and no drinkable water. Travel was impeded by flooding.

On Sunday afternoon, critical supplies started to reach areas in need, Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said, as crews made progress toward restoring power and cellphone service and repairing roads.

Supplies were being airlifted to the region around the mountain city of Asheville, he said. Buncombe County officials said late Sunday afternoon that the supply deliveries did not include water.

Tampa Bay, Florida, a deadly epicenter of flood and landslides: Public access and power outages closed to the public on Sunday afternoon

Travel remained limited and dangerous from landslides and flooding, with some 280 state-maintained roads still closed as of Sunday afternoon, including parts of Interstates 26 and 40.

Helene turned the Tampa Bay region into the state’s deadly epicenter, where the death toll reached nine people on Sunday. All deaths took place in a mandatory evacuation zone. The majority were the result of rising waters or apparent drownings, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

NPR member station WUSF reported that cooling stations and libraries were opened to county residents in St. Petersburg, Largo, Madeira Beach, Seminole and Clearwater, where people could find air conditioning and charge their devices.

Garbage and debris in the river has blocked the city of Augusta’s water treatment systems. Emergency management officials said at a press briefing Sunday afternoon that water services should be restored within 24 to 48 hours.

The wind gusts were 100 mph when she entered Georgia. At least 17 people died, including one first responder, officials said.

Power outages were widespread in the western half of the state. In Greenville County, the state’s most populous, more than 200,000 people lacked power on Sunday evening.

73 people were not reachable by Sunday afternoon, according to Unicoi County officials. There were no confirmed deaths, an Incident Management Team spokesperson said at a press conference.

Rescue efforts in the Erwin-Asheville, North Carolina, death toll rises to more than 90 millions remain without power: a view from the county of Tennessee

The county saw perhaps the most dramatic rescue from Helene’s wrath after rising floodwaters left more than 50 people stuck on the roof of a small hospital in Erwin, in east Tennessee.

President Biden said he would go to the area this week if rescue efforts are not disrupted by the storm.

As rescuers and other emergency workers reach the areas that are isolated by collapsed roads and failing infrastructure, the death toll will rise, said Gov. Roy Cooper. 30 people were killed in a North Carolina county.

Cooper told residents in western North Carolina to avoid traveling for their own safety and to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. More than 50 search teams spread throughout the region in search of stranded people.

One rescue effort involved saving 41 people north of Asheville. Another mission was focused on saving a baby. North Carolina’s Adjutant General said that the teams found people through social media and calls to the police.

Source: Helene death toll rises to over 90 as millions remain without power

The impact of the air-induced flooding on 115 structures in Augusta, Valdosta, Florida, last seen at air-wave intensity

Kemp said it looked like a bomb went off after viewing splintered homes and highways from the air. Kemp said the stretch from Augusta to Valdosta was particularly hard hit, where some 115 structures took serious damage.