The death toll from the devastating storm Helena, which hit the southeastern United States (USA), is now at least 133, and nearly two million people are still without power. It is feared that the number of dead is even higher, because some places are isolated by the storm and rescuers cannot reach them, and the telecommunication network is interrupted. The search for hundreds of missing people continues.
In North Carolina, which was hardest hit by the storm, about 300 roads were closed. According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), more than 7.000 people have applied for state aid, and around 1.000 tons of food and water are being delivered by helicopter to residents of the affected areas.
Helena caused the worst flooding in North Carolina in a century. Data show that in some areas more than 60 centimeters of rain fell since last Wednesday.
"A lot of people are at risk. When you don't have power, you don't have cell phone signal, you don't have water, it's a catastrophic situation for you," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told MSNBC. "Some places were completely wiped off the face of the earth".
At least 40 people died in the Bancombi mountain area in North Carolina, where the popular tourist destination of Asheville is located.
John Templeton was evacuated from there with his family on Saturday. He also evacuated in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and assisted in rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"I know what happens in those situations and this is much worse than anything I've seen so far," Templeton told Reuters.
Hurricane Helena has killed at least 25 people in Georgia, the governor of that federal state, Brian Kemp, confirmed. The storm first hit Florida, and then hit Georgia, Tennessee, South and North Carolina, and Hurricane.
A stormy topic in the campaign as well
US President Joseph Biden announced that he will visit North Carolina on Wednesday, and then Georgia and Florida. He also hinted that he might ask Congress to hold a special session and pass legislation on additional aid to devastated states.
The US president also accused former President Donald Trump of spreading lies, after the Republican presidential candidate accused the federal government, without evidence, of ignoring the disaster caused by Hurricane Helena and denying aid to his supporters.
"He's lying," Biden said. "I don't know why he's doing it... it's just not true, and it's irresponsible."
Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, when asked about Trump's accusations of ignoring Republican victims, said: "It doesn't matter who you are. If you need help, we're going to give it...And if there's ever a time when we all need to come together and let's put politics aside, it's now".
On Monday, Donald Trump visited Georgia, another epicenter of the destruction. In the city of Valdosta, Trump promised to "bring a lot of relief materials, including fuel, equipment, water and other things" to those in need.
"The federal government is not responding," he told reporters. "The vice president, she's out there somewhere, campaigning, asking for money," he said, referring to his rival in the election, Vice President Kamala Harris.
"We're not talking about politics right now," he said later, wearing a bright red Make America Great Again (MAGA) cap as he stood in the rubble of a furniture store.
Harris canceled campaign events to return to Washington on Monday for a meeting to plan the federal government's response.
"Over the past several days, our nation has suffered some of the worst devastation and destruction we've seen in a long time," Harris said.
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