By Katherine Abayev, Staff Writer
Another deadly hurricane struck the United States on Sep. 26th. Hurricane Helene formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Sep. 23rd, during peak hurricane season. It quickly rose to a category five with 120 mph winds and began its course through northern Florida, tearing up their coast and flooding their streets and beaches. Then, it tore its way through Georgia, bringing heavy rain and flooding homes. After, it hit South Carolina and North Carolina creating catastrophic flooding, breaking multiple dams, levies, and bridges. Lastly, it hit Tennessee inflicting intense flooding there as well. More than 200 people have died and hundreds more are still missing. One million people do not have power, and the estimated damages total 35 billion dollars.
This disaster is akin to Katrina because of the flooding and intensity of the storm. Unfortunately, this was the third hurricane to hit the big bend region of Florida. First, Hurricane Idalia last summer, then Hurricane Debby in August, and now Hurricane Helene presses salt in fresh wounds. Floridians stay with houses destroyed and savings drained, trying to rebuild their lives, but watching all of their hard work get wiped away in yet another hurricane.
Junior computer science major Nodira Kazakova gave her thoughts on the devastating impacts of the hurricane.
“If I was in that situation, I would move states, I would even move countries,” she said.
These sentiments are shared with many people in the communities that were affected. Dealing with the constant threat of these storms whilst trying to live a normal life. Many donations are being made to areas affected and the red cross, military, and multiple charity organizations are going in and helping with what they can. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went to the southeast to see the devastation affecting the area. Biden sent 100 million dollars in relief funding to North Carolina. He also deployed 1,000 active-duty troops to support the state.
Even in N.Y. the effects of the hurricane are experienced with unusual rainy and gloomy days. Junior computer science major Mehvish Hussein shared their experiences with the current weather in N.Y.
“I had trouble driving in this rain as I was commuting to school. As long as this is the worst it gets here, then the hurricane doesn’t bother me,” they stated.
While New Yorkers were lucky this time, it is a matter of when not if, for our next hurricane. This hurricane did something incredible since it reached a landlocked portion of the United States. It had enough power to make it far away from waters and affect areas that have rarely had to deal with these types of weather events before. Hurricanes are usually a coastal issue since the waters are what help keep it alive. Usually, once it reaches land, it starts to die down very quickly. Many believe that being far from the coast will keep them safe from storms like these, but when that is proving to fail, adjustments will be made quickly, in public infrastructure and personal preparedness.
Hurricane Helene was a devastating ordeal that did more damage than anyone could have expected. Long Island University students express strong condolences to all that were lost during the storm.
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