Flooding Archives - Page 2 of 7

Spain flood survivors hurl mud at the royals and top government officials

PAIPORTA, Spain (AP) — A crowd of enraged flood survivors pelted the Spanish royal couple with mud and rocks during their first visit to the epicenter of the nation’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory. Officials rushed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from the scene soon after his contingent started to walk the mud-covered streets. Over 60 people perished in the town of Paiporta and thousands of lives were shattered.‘ Get out! Get out!’ and ‘Killers!’ the crowd shouted, among other insults. Bodyguards opened umbrellas to protect the royals and officials from the barrage of muck. Police had to step in, with some officers on horseback, to keep back the crowd of several dozen who hurled mud and wielded shovels and poles threateningly.… Continue Reading

Crashing waves in a hilltop village, a night of terror from Spain’s floods

CHIVA, Spain (AP) — Irene Cuevas says she has the roar of the waves produced by a flash flood burned into her memory. The resident of Chiva spent a night of terror when the gorge of her village in eastern Spain quickly filled with rushing water and unleashed a wave of death and destruction. She says that it was terrifying to hear the crashing waves just below her first-floor balcony during that fateful night. Chiva has so far accounted for seven of the over 200 dead from Spain’s worst natural disaster in living memory.… Continue Reading

‘It is all in ruins.’ The shattered lives of Paiporta at the epicenter of Spain’s floods

PAIPORTA, Spain (AP) — Four days have passed since tsunami-like floods swept through the southern outskirts of Valencia city, covering many communities with sticky, thick mud. The clean-up task ahead remains gargantuan, and the hunt for bodies continues. Authorities say at least 62 people died in Paiporta of the 213 confirmed deaths from flash floods in Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday. The majority of those deaths happened in the eastern region of Valencia. Local media have labeled Paiporta the “ground zero” of the floods, where many streets remain impassable to all vehicles but bulldozers, stacked as they are with piles of sodden furniture and household items and countless wrecked cars.… Continue Reading

Rescuers find body of worker swept away from Tennessee factory by Hurricane Helene flood

ERWIN, Tenn. (AP) — Rescue workers in Tennessee have recovered the body of the final person still missing after massive flooding from Hurricane Helene hit a plastics factory there. Twenty-nine-year-old Rosa Andrade was one of six employees killed after they were unable to escape the rising waters in Erwin, a small town in East Tennessee. Surviving workers have stated they were not allowed to leave Impact Plastics until water had flooded the plant’s parking lot and the power went out. The company’s owner has disputed that claim. The raging waters swept away 11 workers on Sept. 27 and only five were rescued. More than 200 deaths have been attributed to Helene.… Continue Reading

Georgia officials agree to spend $100 million on Hurricane Helene aid for farms and forestry

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s state government is diverting $100 million to spend on loans to farmers and cleanup after Hurricane Helene. The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission voted unanimously Friday to spend the money. It had been set aside for construction projects or paying off existing debt. Of the money, $75 million will be used to provide disaster relief loans to farmers and associated businesses in the agricultural industry. The other $25 million will be spent to clean up timber losses and other debris. A state agency that lends money to farmers will begin working on a plan to spend the $100 million on Monday.… Continue Reading

In Asheville, high school seniors make key life choices under the stress of Helene recovery

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — High school seniors in Asheville are grappling with several important life decisions as they still recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on their region. Schools across North Carolina’s Buncombe County have been canceled for over a month, but are now set to resume within the next week. Some seniors have tried to make the most of their time off by hanging out with friends or volunteering. But many say they feel the stress of college applications weighing on them. Some seniors are also disappointed that they’ve missed a month of their last year of high school.… Continue Reading

Russia amplified hurricane disinformation to drive Americans apart, researchers find

WASHINGTON (AP) — New research shows Russia has worked to amplify false and misleading claims about the U.S. government’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton as part of the Kremlin’s efforts to manipulate Americans before the Nov. 5 election. The research comes from the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Researchers found that posts linked to Russian state media and online accounts spread English-language content that was designed to reduce American confidence in the federal response to the storms. It’s an approach consistent with past Russian disinformation campaigns.… Continue Reading

North Carolina government calculates Hurricane Helene damages, needs at least $53B

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials say the catastrophic flooding and destruction from Hurricane Helene likely caused at least $53 billion in damages and recovery needs in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration generated the preliminary figure in a report released Wednesday that also includes Cooper’s request to the General Assembly for $3.9 billion. The request was disclosed the day before the legislature planned to meet for a one-day session to advance additional Helene recovery legislation. Cooper says the previous record for storm damage in North Carolina was $17 billion after Hurricane Florence in 2018.… Continue Reading

What to know about Biltmore Estate reopening after Hurricane Helene

North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate will soon reopen after being forced to close when floodwaters pushed by Hurricane Helene devasted the area. The popular tourist destination announced over the weekend that they plan to open and “celebrate the joy of the holiday season” on Nov. 2. According to the Biltmore Estate, the 8,000-acre property was impacted very little by Hurricane Helene. Along with the Biltmore house, the estate includes a conservatory, winery, gardens and overnight properties, which did not receive much damage. Some of the property’s more low-lying areas were the most impacted by the storm. Notably, the estate’s entrance experienced flooding and is currently undergoing “extensive repairs.”… Continue Reading

Marion community rallies to rebuild after Hurricane Helene

Two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, the community is still reeling from its unexpected destruction. Many residents were caught off guard by the severity of the storm, leaving homes and businesses unprepared for the devastating floodwaters that followed. In the wake of heavy winds and thunderstorms that preceded the hurricane, rivers and streams overflowed, inundating mountain towns. The deluge swept away trees, cars, and homes, leaving a trail of devastation. Now, relief organizations and local businesses are coming together to help the community start the long process of rebuilding.… Continue Reading