On Monday, emergency crews in North Carolina airlifted vital food and water supplies to remote towns ravaged by Tropical Storm Helene. The storm, which initially made landfall as a hurricane on Florida's Gulf Coast, has left a trail of destruction across several southeastern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. With communications down and hundreds of people still unaccounted for, authorities fear the death toll could rise beyond the 128 already reported.

In North Carolina alone, over 100 people have died, with the storm’s destruction particularly severe in western regions. Among the hardest hit is the tiny hamlet of Bat Cave, where the Broad River surged to unprecedented levels, washing away homes and obliterating roads. The National Guard has been deployed to fly in essential supplies, while more than 7,000 people in the state have applied for federal assistance.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp confirmed at least 25 deaths in his state, including tragic losses like a firefighter and a mother with her infant twins. North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper, following an aerial survey of the damage, described the devastation as "beyond belief," noting that significant resources would be required for both immediate recovery and long-term rebuilding.

As thousands remain stranded without electricity or running water, President Joe Biden is expected to visit the impacted areas starting Wednesday. The president emphasized the connection between climate change and the severity of the storm and hinted that Congress may be called back to pass supplemental aid.

Rescue and recovery operations continue, but for many, like Bat Cave resident Aaron Smith, the prospect of returning to normalcy seems distant. “There’s no roads, no trees, just water and debris,” Smith said, as he and his family grappled with the complete loss of their home.

Officials warn that full recovery could take months, if not years, in the wake of this catastrophic event.