The southeastern United States continues to grapple with the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene, as the death toll climbs and millions remain without basic services. As of Tuesday morning, at least 133 fatalities have been confirmed across six states, with North Carolina bearing the brunt of the loss at 56 deaths. South Carolina follows with 30, Georgia with 25, Florida with 11, Tennessee with 6, and Virginia with 2, according to recent reports from CNN.

The full extent of the tragedy is still unfolding, with hundreds of individuals unaccounted for. In Asheville, North Carolina alone, over 600 people are missing. White House Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall grimly suggested that the final death toll could potentially reach 600.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, speaking from Steinhatchee, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “As devastating as property damage is, the loss of life is irreparable.”

The Tampa Bay area has seen its share of heartbreaking stories. Among the victims was 79-year-old Marjorie Havard of St. Pete Beach, who perished when storm surge inundated her home. In Indian Rocks Beach, 66-year-old Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher, lost her life despite her friend’s desperate rescue attempts. Patricia Mikos, 80, of Dunedin, died when floodwaters and a possible electrical fire engulfed her home, with rescue efforts hampered by rising waters.

As of Tuesday morning, over 1.5 million customers across the affected states remain without power. South Carolina leads with 618,000 outages, followed by Georgia with 465,000, North Carolina with 372,000, Virginia with 73,000, and Florida with 68,000.

Extensive Infrastructure Damage

The storm’s impact extends beyond immediate human toll and power outages. In Tampa, overwhelmed sewage systems released more than 8.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater into local waterways, primarily affecting the Hillsborough River and south Tampa areas. St. Petersburg reported an additional 407,000 gallons of spillage.

Coastal communities have been particularly hard-hit. Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island has been declared a “catastrophic area” by state officials, with 90-95% of the area destroyed. While Pinellas County plans to reopen its barrier islands to the public on Tuesday afternoon, officials warn of widespread utility outages and impassable roads.

Federal assistance is now available through FEMA for individuals and businesses in 17 Florida counties. Affected residents can apply for aid online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at 1-800-621-3362, or via the FEMA App. Available assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans for uninsured property losses, and other recovery programs.

As the region begins its long journey to recovery, the full impact of Hurricane Helene continues to unfold, leaving communities to face the daunting tasks of search and rescue, rebuilding, and healing in its wake.