Emergency Responders Archives

When will the power return? Weary Carolinas residents long for relief after Helene’s fury

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Nearly 700,000 homes and businesses in the U.S. Southeast are still without power more than a week after Hurricane Helene blew through the region. Most of the outages are in the Carolinas and Georgia. At least 220 people died in the storm, and crews are still trying to reach people who haven’t been accounted for in some hard-to-reach places. Duke Energy said Friday that it hopes to have the lights back on for many of its customers in the Carolinas by the end of the weekend. But it warns that people in places with catastrophic damage should be prepared to wait weeks or longer. The storm also caused severe damage to many city water systems.… Continue Reading

Rescue efforts continue in western NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Governor Roy Cooper announced Saturday that more than 200 individuals had been rescued from floodwaters. “This is a historic and catastrophic storm for Western North Carolina, and I’m grateful to first responders working right now to save lives and evacuate residents,” Cooper said.… Continue Reading

Rescuers save and assist hundreds as Helene’s storm surge and rain create havoc

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Patients and their caregivers were rescued from a Tennessee hospital’s roof after flooding caused by Hurricane Helene drove them from the building’s interior and conditions made rescue efforts difficult. The dramatic scene Friday afternoon at Unicoi County Hospital near the North Carolina border was one of several that played out across the Deep South in Helene’s wake. Flooding caused by Helene’s storm surge and rain sent thousands of police officers, firefighters, National Guard members and others on rescue missions. Hundreds were saved, but at least 40 died. Five deaths happened near St. Petersburg, Florida, when residents ignored evacuation warnings and got trapped by an eight-foot storm surge.… Continue Reading