Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc in the USA

On 26 September 2024, category 4 Hurricane Helene, generating winds of 225 km/h, heavily struck Florida and other south-eastern States.

At least 93 people lost their lives, including 37 in North Carolina (the hardest-hit state), 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, 2 in Tennessee and one in Virginia. This provisional toll could be even higher as authorities continue their search for missing persons.

The storm, accompanied by violent winds and torrential rains, caused heavy material damage: falling trees, gigantic floods, collapsed homes, roads and bridges destroyed, etc. Nearly 2.5 million homes are still without electricity.

According to Moody's Analytics, the economic losses caused by Helene could range from 20 to 34 billion USD.

CoreLogic Research Center is expecting insured damage of between 3 and 5 billion USD in Florida and Georgia.