Hurricane Helene leaves nearly 100 dead and a million without power | Hurricane Helene

As the southeastern United States continues recovery efforts from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the storm's death toll continues to rise. At least 90 people were killed in several states.

In the Carolinas and Georgia, more than a million Americans are still without power.

Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida last Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane. And although it weakened to a tropical storm before moving through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, the storm's winds, rainfall, storm surge and flooding destroyed entire communities in its path.

On Monday morning, the Associated Press reported that at least 90 people had died in several states as a result of the storm. Thirty of those deaths were reported in the western North Carolina city of Asheville, which remained isolated Saturday due to damaged roads and a lack of power and telephone service due to flooding caused by Helene.

Officials in Buncombe County — which includes Asheville — also said over the weekend that they had received about 600 Missing person reports via an online form. Rescue operations were still underway there on Monday.

On Sunday, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety said supplies such as food, water and other necessities were arriving in Asheville. Officials said the state's National Guard also flew supplies to counties in western North Carolina.

“This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said.

Over the weekend, more than 500 National Guard soldiers helped conduct more than 100 rescue operations in western North Carolina, officials there said. At least 119 North Carolinians and their pets were rescued.

Cooper said North Carolina's death toll could rise as rescuers and other rescue workers reach other remote and devastated areas. More than 50 search teams are looking for stranded people across the region, he said.

He has urged residents in western North Carolina to avoid traveling, especially to keep roads clear for emergency responders.

All roads in western North Carolina are currently considered closed and non-emergency travel is prohibited, the state Department of Transportation website says.

On Monday morning, Cooper appeared on CNN and said that hundreds of roads had been destroyed – and that entire communities had been “wiped off the map.”

“We need to make sure we get there and are smart about how we rebuild and do it in a resilient way,” he said. “But right now we are focused on saving lives and providing care to people who desperately need it.

“Many communities are completely cut off. And by the way, the rivers are still rising, so the danger is not over yet, the flooding is probably not over yet.”

The University of North Carolina-Asheville said over the weekend that classes would be suspended until Oct. 9 due to damage from the storm. The school said parts of the campus were inaccessible and described “significant tree damage.”

“At this time, there is no cellular and internet coverage,” the school said Saturday, adding that they would provide safety, food, water and comfort to students who remain on campus.

The storm triggered the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina, according to the Associated Press.

On Sunday on CBS News, Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) Administrator Deanne Criswell described the flooding in North Carolina as “historic,” adding, “I don't know that anyone could be fully prepared for the extent of the flooding.” “ Landslides that they are currently experiencing.

“We’re sending more search and rescue teams there,” Criswell said.

According to Poweroutage.us, more than 700,000 homes in South Carolina were without power as of Monday morning – including more than 500,000 in Georgia and 400,000 in North Carolina.

In the Tampa Bay region of Florida, the death toll from the hurricane reached nine people on Sunday. All deaths occurred in a mandatory evacuation zone, county officials said in Pinellas County.

In Augusta, Georgia, which suffered extensive damage from the storm, officials are asking residents to limit water use “for essential drinking only for the next 24 to 48 hours” – a temporary measure to help restore water supplies in the area contribute to the region.

State officials in South Carolina have reported 25 storm-related deaths in the state so far, according to the Post and Courier, and many South Carolinians remain without power.

The National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, described the weekend storm as the “worst event in our office's history” in a Facebook post aimed at residents of western North Carolina and northeast Georgia.

“We are devastated by the horrific flooding and widespread wind damage caused by Hurricane Helene in our forecast area,” the post said. “There are no words to express our sadness at the loss of life and the incredible impact on property.”

The American Red Cross said it has opened or supported more than 140 emergency shelters across the U.S. for nearly 9,400 people displaced from their homes by the storm.

And AccuWeather estimates that Hurricane Helene caused between $145 billion and $160 billion in property damage and economic losses.

Joe Biden has stated that he will visit the areas affected by Helene this week as long as it does not affect rescue and recovery work.

The president has pledged federal aid to help with recovery efforts – and said his administration is giving states “everything we have” to help with their response to the storm.

Kamala Harris will also reportedly visit areas affected by Helene this week, as will Harris' opponent in the November 5 election, Donald Trump.