Hurricane Helene | More than 110 dead, management takes a political turn

(Valdosta) With a preliminary toll of more than 110 deaths and devastation in the southeastern United States, the hurricane Helene was invited into an acrimonious presidential campaign on Monday, with Donald Trump attacking the Biden administration’s management of the disaster.

Four days after the hurricane made landfall in northeast Florida, the extent of the damage remains difficult to establish, with several areas remaining inaccessible and lacking telephone networks and electricity.

Helene struck Florida on Thursday evening as an “extremely dangerous hurricane” of category 4 on a scale of 5, then crossed other American states while losing intensity.

At least 118 people have lost their lives and 600 people are still missing, according to President Joe Biden, who warned that the toll could still seriously rise.

This is one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent decades, according to American media.

And for Joe Biden, there is “no doubt” that these devastations are due to climate change which, by warming the waters of the seas, makes, according to scientists, the rapid intensification of storms more likely and increases the risk of more powerful hurricanes.

“Not responsive”

Georgia and North Carolina, two states particularly affected by this natural disaster, are among the seven pivotal states that could swing the presidential election on November 5.

Donald Trump visited Valdosta, a disaster-stricken town in Georgia, on Monday. The Republican presidential candidate in November pledged to “bring lots of relief supplies, including fuel, equipment and water” to those in need.

“The federal state is not responsive,” the former president lambasted on the spot, after earlier accusing the government and Democratic authorities in North Carolina of “deliberately not helping people in Republican areas.”

“He’s lying,” retorted a virulent Joe Biden. “What makes me angry [c’est qu’il] implies that we are not doing everything possible. […] It’s wrong and it’s irresponsible.”

Wearing his usual red cap, Donald Trump also directly attacked his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, accusing her of being “on the move, campaigning” before asserting himself that it was not the time to “talk politics”.

The vice-president, however, canceled campaign events to hold a meeting on Monday on the disaster and announced that she would go there soon.

Outgoing President Joe Biden has brushed aside criticism from Republicans over his management of the crisis. “I spent at least two hours on the phone yesterday, as well as the day before,” he retorted, assuring that the federal authorities would be “there as long as necessary.”

The Democrat also announced that he would travel to North Carolina on Wednesday. He had previously indicated that he would not travel as long as it could disrupt relief operations.

Neighborhoods wiped off the map

In the affected states, rescuers continued to work on Monday to try to find survivors and bring food to residents hit by the disaster, sometimes cut off from the world.

In the southern Appalachian Mountains, Helene caused flash floods with impressive damage.

Images from around Asheville, North Carolina, show neighborhoods wiped off the map here, roads destroyed by a flooded river there. Due to lack of access by road, the authorities are sending relief supplies, water and foodstuffs by air.

In North Carolina, the death toll stands at at least 49, including 40 in Buncombe County alone where Asheville is located. At least 25 people also died in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to a report compiled by AFP from statements by local authorities.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 1.7 million homes and businesses were still without power, according to the poweroutage.us website.

Donald Trump announced that he had asked Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX to whom he is close, to deploy his Starlink satellite internet service in the region.