Communities across the Southeast are reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which is likely to make history as one of the country’s most destructive disasters on record.
The swath of devastation, which cut hundreds of miles inland from Florida’s Gulf Coast into southern Appalachia, is a stark reminder of the worsening impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures are fueling stronger, deadlier hurricanes with impacts that can ripple across the country.
It’s also an indicator that no regions are immune to the dangers of climate-fueled disasters. Asheville, North Carolina — which experienced some of the worst hurricane-related flooding in the nation — has previously been described as a “climate haven.”
Hurricane Helene, an unusually large and powerful storm, rapidly intensified after racing through record-warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. More than 60 deaths were reported across at least five states as of Sunday night, with officials warning that many more are likely to be reported in the coming days.
