Hurricane Helene Disrupts Presidential Campaigns as Death Toll Rises

Hurricane Helene has led to adjustments in the presidential candidates' schedules. Kamala Harris is returning to Washington for briefings, while Donald Trump visits Georgia to assess the storm. Over 100 lives have been lost, primarily in North Carolina, highlighting the political challenges of handling natural disasters.

Hurricane Helene is upending the plans of presidential candidates this week. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is cutting short her campaign visit to Las Vegas to return to Washington for briefings. Meanwhile, Republican candidate Donald Trump is heading to Georgia to witness the storm's impact firsthand.

The hurricane's death toll has surpassed 100, with much of the devastation stemming from inland flooding in North Carolina. This disaster poses not only a humanitarian crisis but also a political challenge for officials, especially with the presidential campaign in its final stages.

Normally, presidents avoid rushing to disaster zones to prevent obstructing recovery efforts. The White House stated that Harris would visit the affected areas as soon as it is feasible without disrupting emergency response operations. President Joe Biden discussed his administration's response and announced plans to visit impacted regions later this week.

(With inputs from agencies.)