Devastation and Resilience: Two Hurricanes, Different Stories

As the southeastern United States struggles to recover from the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the devastating impact of these storms is clear. In Florida, Cindy Miller's home in Englewood was left drenched and strewn with debris, including a sofa, doors, and shoes that weren't even hers. Meanwhile, in western North Carolina, Drew Reisinger and his neighbors were without running water for two weeks and counting, forced to use a makeshift shower head fashioned from a grocery bag. The two hurricanes tell a tale of how storms, fueled by climate change, can ravage regions with distinct topographies and varying levels of experience with hurricanes, leaving behind disparate kinds of damage and different trajectories of recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, then plowed through the South, including North Carolina, causing catastrophic rainfall and flooding in western North Carolina.
• The storm left thousands without power, water, or cell service in western North Carolina, with some schools uncertain when they would be able to resume classes.
• Western North Carolina's sloped terrain created hazards such as mud and debris flows and landslides, which will likely require rebuilding with flood-resistant roads in the future.
• In contrast, Florida's building codes helped mitigate the impact of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9.
• The storm spawned a tornado outbreak, including one that tore through a retirement community north of Fort Pierce, killing six people.
• At least 14 deaths have been linked to Milton, but none have been attributed to storm surge, suggesting that the massive evacuation was effective.
• More than 1 million customers were still without power as of Saturday, with Floridians facing an uncertain recovery that has seen some grappling with damage from two storms in two weeks.
• Kim Galloway, a 68-year-old Florida retiree, credited Florida's proactive preparations and alerts for helping her home avoid the worst of the damage.
• Julie Lightner, a Florida resident, said that her family's decision to evacuate for Helene but not for Milton ultimately saved their home from flood damage.
• Patricia Mazzei and Jacob Flannick, two journalists, contributed reporting to the New York Times article on the aftermath of the hurricanes.

Statistics:

• Over 5,400 damaged road sites have been identified in North Carolina due to Helene.
• Officials have no timeline for restoring water in Asheville, where most people are still without it.
• At least 40,000 customers in western North Carolina are still without electricity.
• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 93 storm-related deaths, with at least 234 people killed across six states.
• Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, then plowed through the South, including North Carolina.
• Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9 on the west coast of Florida.
• At least 14 deaths have been linked to Milton, but none have been attributed to storm surge.

Sources:

• "Hurricanes no longer hit the coastline and then die," said Beth Zimmerman, a senior executive adviser with IEM, an emergency management consultant firm.
• "Everybody needs to be looking not to what they experienced in the past, but what is happening now in terms of hurricanes and extreme weather," Zimmerman added.
• A professor of civil engineering, technology and construction management at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Stephanie F. Pilkington, said, "While you have two hurricanes, they're not the same thing — you've got two different types of events."
• A professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at North Carolina State University, Gary Lackman, said, "If the storms are stronger because of climate change, then they're more likely to spread farther inland."
• The New York Times, article by Patricia Mazzei and Jacob Flannick.