The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to 227, with two additional fatalities reported in South Carolina on Saturday, more than a week after the storm made landfall. Helene, which struck the southeastern U.S. as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, 2024, has left a wide path of destruction from Florida to Tennessee, claiming lives in six states. The storm, now the deadliest to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has caused widespread devastation, destroying homes, roads, and leaving millions without power.
North Carolina has been particularly hard-hit, with half of the victims hailing from the state. In Asheville, businesses and homes near the French Broad River remain submerged in mud, with efforts to clean up ongoing. So far, over $27 million in individual assistance has been distributed by FEMA, with more than 83,000 residents registered for aid. The Buncombe County area, where Asheville is located, has received $12 million of that amount. As the recovery process continues, residents are urged to apply for disaster relief to address immediate needs like food, water, and shelter.
State Defense Forces Provide Crucial Aid in Hurricane Recovery
The Georgia State Defense Force, South Carolina State Guard, and Virginia Defense Force have been actively engaged in recovery operations for over a week, providing critical support to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. In South Carolina, the State Guard’s Provost Marshal unit has bolstered law enforcement efforts by securing vital infrastructure, assisting with traffic control, and ensuring the smooth distribution of relief supplies. With 146 soldiers deployed, the South Carolina State Guard has also taken part in debris removal, operating Points of Distribution (PODs), and providing aerial drone assessments to gauge damage.
In Georgia, the State Defense Force has been instrumental in restoring key infrastructure by clearing roads and removing debris. Their chainsaw training program, conducted with the Georgia Army National Guard, ensured that soldiers were equipped to handle the aftermath of the storm safely and efficiently. The Georgia State Defense Force also played a pivotal role in coordinating operations within Emergency Centers across the state, working in close partnership with the National Guard to deliver food, water, and supplies to those in need.
Similarly, the Virginia Defense Force has been deployed to provide logistics, administrative support, and help coordinate operations at Emergency Operations Centers. Their collaboration with the Army National Guard has been essential in streamlining recovery efforts across multiple states.
New Threat Emerges as Hurricane Milton Approaches Florida
As recovery from Hurricane Helene continues, Florida is once again bracing for another potentially catastrophic storm. Hurricane Milton, which rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast midweek. With winds of up to 150 mph, the National Hurricane Center has warned residents of life-threatening storm surge and significant flooding in many areas. Evacuations have already been ordered in several Florida counties as the state prepares for what could be the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to heed warnings and evacuate if necessary, as Milton threatens to compound the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene continued today across the state as South Carolina State Guard forces continued missions across multiple counties in everything from debris clearing to security operations. #SCSG # TrainedandReady
When disaster strikes, the South Carolina State Guard responds! Spent the day in the field checking on my soldiers. These men and women are hard at work making their way through the damage and destruction that is afflicting the Palmetto State. So very proud of them for their selfless service. Join us in service: sg.sc.gov
While embedded with the Georgia Army National Guard (GAARNG) 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldier photographs beams of light from military vehicles. A nearby pick-up truck is loaded with water slated for delivery to Georgia’s citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, south Georgia, Oct. 2, 2024.
The GAARNG and the GSDF, along with the Georgia Air National Guard, are components of the Georgia Department of Defense.
The GSDF is Georgia’s state guard!
Join at gsdf.link/join.
(Georgia State Defense Force photo by Spc. Richard Brackin)
Soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) work together, distributing water to Georgia’s citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Swainsboro, Ga., Oct. 6, 2024.
The GAARNG and GSDF, along with the Georgia Air National Guard, are components of the Georgia Department of Defense.
Join the GSDSF at gsdf.link/join
(Georgia State Defense Force photos by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Howard Seay)
#GeorgiaNationalGuard#GAARNG#GeorgiaStateDefenseForce#GSDF#Swainsboroga
Sources: Georgia State Defense Force – South Carolina State Guard – Virginia National Guard – NPR – AP News
