An Explanation of Hurricane Helene’s Creation, Destruction and Victims' Recovery Plan

By: Lillian Hannan

Tuesday, Sept. 24, tragedy strikes as Hurricane Helene forms in the Southeast of the United States, over the next five days wreaking havoc across six states and killing over 200 citizens. 

How Hurricanes Work

Hurricanes form near the equator over the ocean. They start by collecting rising warm air in a circular motion that then cools and creates a low-pressure system. Therefore, attracting more air and creating dense areas of water droplets that form heavy clouds. These clouds rotate with the rising warm air and increase in wind speed as the hurricane collects more molecules and momentum. 

When answering about the creation of Hurricane Helene, Jonathan DeWolf, the Washington AP Environmental Science teacher, shares how it is currently a La Nina year. This means there are stronger winds and colder temperatures in the South Pacific, which influence Southeastern states to be more hurricane-prone. However, hurricanes cannot only be blamed on natural factors.

Climate Change Effects

Climate change has caused hurricanes to have an extreme rise in intensity over the past 20 years. De Wolf explains how this works by stating, “The air temperatures are warmer as well, and that makes it capable of holding more water vapor... [which] was the big problem with this hurricane... The winds weaken as it goes on shore, but there is still a lot of moisture, and it carries all this moisture to NC.” Continuing on to explain how inertia keeps this momentum and heavy rainfall going, even as winds lessen. 

Timeline 

Due to both climate change and natural factors, hurricanes have become a prevalent threat to those that live in the Southeast. However, Hurricane Helene was a deadly reminder to many citizens of the hurricane’s severity.

Helene starts forming on Tuesday, Sept. 24, spending several days collecting speed as a tropical storm, before both Georgia and Florida declare a state of emergency. Wednesday, Sept. 25, the storm increased to a Category One hurricane, raining over Mexico and flooding tourist beach towns, Cozumel and Cancun. Before making a sharp northern turn, continue to collect water vapor and momentum in the Gulf of Mexico while heading straight for the Florida coast. 

The collection of water vapor and air over the Gulf, which has been increasing in temperature because of climate change, intensified Helene to a category four hurricane on Thursday, Sept. 26, meaning it had winds above 130 mph. 

Florida was officially hit Thursday night, its first victim being Keaton Beach, resulting in residents waking up early Friday morning to major destruction. Including houses blown apart, streets completely flooded, and debris showered everywhere. This widespread devastation only continued as Hurricane Helene swept through Georgia and the Carolinas over the next couple days.

North Carolina being partially affected, with the town of Asheville almost completely submerged in water. However, the hurricane continued all the way into Virginia and Tennessee, bombarding communities with heavy winds and rain, leaving nothing in its wake as buildings were obliterated. After five days of fear and destruction, Hurricane Helene dissipates on Sept. 29 after finally losing its momentum. 

Aftermath and Recovery Plan

The destruction the storm caused in less than a week is catastrophic and heartbreaking. It is estimated over 230 people were found missing or dead because of the hurricane, with the lack of cell phone service in affected areas making it extremely difficult to locate loved ones and find safe places to wait out the storm. 

Kirk Herschell, a resident of Florida, shares, “I thought I was going to die the night of the hurricane.” Recounting how he had woken up from a nap on his porch to extreme flooding and his house in shambles. While he was lucky and found shelter with the Red Cross, many were not so fortunate. 

Karen Denise McCall, a 60-year-old beloved grandmother to five, was found lifeless by a helicopter search team in a flipped Toyota near an extremely flooded area. Her family had reported she was missing after not hearing from her and are currently grieving her death after the funeral. Many others share their pain as loved ones report missing family and friends, and the reality of death sinks in.

While first responders and over 90 recovery teams spent much of last week sailing through towns on boats, looking for missing people, it is not enough. President Biden employed 1,500 federal troops, over 6,000 National Guard, and 7,000 federal personnel to help with recovery. Besides $137 million of federal funding to help with recovery,. 

By the second week of October, Hurricane Helene-related search and rescue was mostly complete. With civilians safe to return to what is left of their homes and communities, which for most is nothing. Leaving the government and citizens alike wondering how they are going to restore their home to what it was less than a week before. 

The devastation caused has impacted many across the country, including our own students at Washington High School. The traditional senior jerseys worn by senior students at rallies are made by a production company in the eastern part of the United States. Hurricane Helene has prevented the shipping of these jerseys, causing seniors to go without them at this year’s fall rally. 

Hurricane Milton Follows

However, many had little time to plan rebuilding before disaster strikes again with the rise of Hurricane Milton threatening the South Eastern States once more. 

This is not going to be the last hurricane that wrecks these states; as climate change continues to warm the oceans, hurricanes and other natural disasters will only become more prevalent. Additionally, while the destruction caused by Helene and later Milton is heartbreaking, this pain can be used as fuel for the fight against climate change. 

As the effects become more serious, lawmakers and society need to take these disasters as a sign to propose more green solutions as they start to reckon with the gravity of the earth's climate problem. While there is still hope for our planet, action needs to be taken now before more people suffer more than they already have.