‘Complete Obliteration’: DeSantis Says Hurricane Helene Damage Worse Than Idalia

On By Geri UngureanIn Uncategorized

From theepochtimes.com

More than 64 storm-related deaths have been confirmed among Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

‘Complete Obliteration’: DeSantis Says Hurricane Helene Damage Worse Than Idalia

Officer Nate Martir, a law enforcement officer from the Florida Fish Wildlife and Conservation Commission, holds an American flag that was lying on the ground amid debris, while patrolling from a high water capable swamp buggy, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert.
The governor was joined by the executive director of Florida’s Department of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell. They expressed their shared desire to put everyone affected into a safe, dry living space, whether that is providing assistance through the state housing repair program, or provide full temporary housing in the form of trailer either through the state housing program or FEMA’s federal direct housing program.

Guthrie said that trailers were already on their way to Taylor County and portions of Levy County, but he emphasized that they were a temporary solution. Florida building code does not allow permanent travel trailer construction in these areas, especially on the beach in Taylor County.

“We want to help you get through that temporary [housing] onto what your permanent housing is going to be,” he said.

Thousands of emergency response missions have been undertaken since Sept. 26, and power has been restored to nearly 2 million customers across the state. On Sept. 27, The Epoch Times reported more than 1.3 million customers were simultaneously out of power. As of 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, that number is down to a little more than 425,000.

The governor also confirmed that more than 12,000 miles of roadways have been cleared by more than 800 cut-and-toss crews, and 1,400 bridges have been inspected by 129 inspectors. Major bridges have already reopened, including the Sunshine Skyway and Howard Franklin bridges in Tampa Bay.

However, several roads and areas across the state remain inaccessible, including barrier islands in Pinellas County. Search and rescue missions from Florida’s National Guard, Florida’s State Guard, and local law enforcement are still ongoing.

Other states also received devastating effects from Hurricane Helene. The list of fatalities includes people in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

More than 1 million customers are still without power in South Carolina. Significant power outages had been recorded in the other aforementioned states as well as West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

Historic rainfall of more than 11 inches in less than 48 hours was recorded in Atlanta.

Multiple tornadoes were confirmed in North Carolina, and immense rain and landslides have all but cut off the western portions of the state.

“All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation stated on its website. ”I-40 and I-26 are impassable in multiple locations. Travel in this area for non-emergency purposes is hindering needed emergency response.”

Departing flights out of Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina have been canceled through 4:50 p.m. local time on Saturday.

North Carolina’s Gov. Roy Cooper issued a major disaster declaration request for 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on Sept. 28, specifically requesting federal public assistance and individual assistance in the storm’s aftermath.

“Helene brought pain and destruction to our state and we’re working to get help to people quickly,” Cooper said in a press release. “As waters recede and winds die down, families and communities will need assistance to clean up and recover and this request can help speed up the process.”

The remnants of now-post tropical cyclone Helene are expected to hover over the Tennessee Valley for the remainder of the weekend. source

Pray for those impacted by this monster storm. If you can give toward relief, please consider Samaritanspurse.org. They provide physical relief, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

5 thoughts on “‘Complete Obliteration’: DeSantis Says Hurricane Helene Damage Worse Than Idalia”

  2. Dale Vernon

    Good thing the rescue crews & restoration people reopening the roads for essentials like ambulances, food, water for the injured & stranded etc were mostly using good old fashioned, polluting fossil fueled powered fire trucks, bulldozers, rescue vehicles, saws & boats, generators, pumps, etc. Gee whiz I hope the environment & mommy earth wasn’t hurt too much from those nasty fumes.

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