The effects of Hurricane Helene continue to be seen across the Southeastern United States, a week after the historic storm leveled communities, knocked out power and stranded many in floodwaters.
More than 200 people are now confirmed dead across six states, making Helene the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Hundreds of roads remain closed, hampering efforts to send aid to hard-hit communities. And for those who left before Helene, it’s delayed their returns to check on family, friends and the state of their homes. Some areas are so inaccessible that supplies are being delivered by mules and by air.
In Asheville, North Carolina, highways are torn up and power lines strewn like spaghetti. People are struggling to access food, water and electricity. Residents have likened Helene’s aftermath to a “war zone;” officials have described it as “post-apocalyptic.”
Robert Gaudet, the founder and CEO of the Cajun Navy, a volunteer disaster rescue and response team, told CNN that the destruction from Helene has him lost for words. “We’ve done a lot of disasters. We went to Maui for the wildfires. We’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.
