Hurricane Helene (heh-LEEN) has made its mark on southern parts of the United States. As of October 4th, Hurricane Helene has caused about 130 casualties across six states. Its devastating destruction has left permanent damage and it is crucial that people all over the country do what they can to help. Over two million people are currently without power. It is estimated to have caused $160 billion in damage. Winds have reached up to 140 miles per hour and the highest rainfall has been over 32 inches in North Carolina. Although it may not affect everyone locally, just by turning on the news, anyone can see just how catastrophic it truly is.
Former CHS student Paige Harrell currently lives in Augusta, Georgia. She explains what she has been through and why it is crucial to be informed on the damage the hurricane has done.
“I’ve talked to residents who’ve been here for 70+ years and they say they’ve never seen anything like this. We were caught completely off-guard. The forecasts told us it would be just a bit of rain and wind, so no one prepared for a hurricane.”
She also describes how despite disaster, a sense of community and resilience was shown.
“But, the community has most definitely come together because of it, with strangers offering meals, hot showers, and even places to stay for anyone still powerless or homeless.”
Not only is Helene affecting southern states, but Hurricane Milton is beginning to take over as well. It is currently a category 4, but it may continue to increase as storms get stronger. It is pivotal for people to be educated about what is happening, regardless whether or not it is local.
Now that Milton has begun to hit Florida, various groups of people are being left behind, including both inmates and staff in local prisons. It has shattered records for other tropical storms and has just begun to calm down after weeks. It is extremely devastating to see the results of both hurricanes back to back.
There are various ways people can help to combat this issue while they still can. There are many GoFundMes and websites that with just one Google search, anyone can find. For example, Americares has a link purely for donations. Likewise, the Red Cross has a link to help people harmed by Helene.An extreme amount of people were ultimately harmed by this hurricane and there may be more to come with Milton, so it is important to help even if it is not a local issue.
Inevitably, hurricanes will continue to harm parts of the world. Being knowledgeable and making efforts to help are crucial to possibly lessen the damage.
