Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene: A Struggle for Survival

Survivors of Tropical Storm Helene are grappling to rebuild their lives as President Joe Biden planned to inspect the damage. The storm, which hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, killed at least 162 people. High-profile visits ensue as federal agencies brace for a massive recovery effort.

Survivors of Tropical Storm Helene are grappling to piece their lives back together as President Joe Biden on Wednesday planned to survey the damage. The storm has claimed at least 162 lives after tearing through the Southeast.

Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane and subsequently wreaked havoc in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Flash flooding ravaged homes and separated families. Biden is set to visit affected areas in the Carolinas, including Asheville, where at least 57 people died.

Vice President Kamala Harris, currently campaigning against Republican Donald Trump, will visit Georgia and North Carolina—both critical battleground states. Trump had already toured Georgia earlier this week.

The high-profile visits transpire as officials brace for a 'multibillion-dollar undertaking' for recovery, according to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Search-and-rescue operations continue amid severe damage, including washed-out roads and downed power lines.

Jessica Dixon, a resident of Swannanoa, is searching for her father swept away by floodwaters. In Clyde, Matt Hartwiger evacuated with his family only to find their home severely damaged. They now rely on community support to clean up the aftermath.

Experts suggest the event was a 'perfect storm,' with unique conditions leading to extreme precipitation in parts of North Carolina. Tennessee climatologist Andrew Joyner noted that prior weather conditions and Helene's trajectory amplified the devastation.

(With inputs from agencies.)