Kirk strengthens into hurricane as North Carolina recovers from Helene

Hurricane Kirk has intensified into a full-fledged hurricane as North Carolina continues its recovery from the recent damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The state is still grappling with the aftermath of Helene, including damage to infrastructure and ongoing relief efforts, while preparing for the potential impact of the approaching Hurricane Kirk, which threatens to further complicate the situation with additional severe weather.

Desperate residents in the storm-ravaged mountains of western North Carolina stood in line for basic supplies like water and food, searched for cellphone signals, and carried buckets of creek water to flush toilets after Hurricane Helene's remnants inundated the region. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to clear roads, restore utilities, and assist those stranded, as the storm's death toll reached over 150 across the southeastern United States.

President Joe Biden plans to visit the area Wednesday to assess the damage.

Two North Carolina quartz manufacturing plants that produce materials essential for semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optic cables—Sibelco and The Quartz Corp—were forced to halt operations due to the storm. Both companies emphasized employee safety, noting that some workers remain unreachable due to power and communication outages.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk intensified in the eastern Atlantic and may become a major storm by Thursday. Currently, it poses no immediate threat to land.

UNC Asheville has postponed classes until October 28 after suffering power, water, and internet outages, despite limited structural damage. Two other nearby campuses—Appalachian State University and Western Carolina University—also canceled classes due to the storm.

On Wednesday, President Biden will visit Raleigh, North Carolina, to meet with emergency officials. Vice President Kamala Harris is also scheduled to visit the affected region soon, with Homeland Security deploying thousands of Army Corps of Engineers staff. Recovery efforts are expected to be a multibillion-dollar undertaking.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper indicated that active-duty U.S. military personnel may be needed for long-term recovery, especially with many water systems offline. More than 20 water plants, including in Asheville, remain out of service, and restoration efforts could take weeks. The National Guard continues to aid with supplies and rescues.

Communication issues persist, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reporting significant damage to infrastructure. The government, alongside private companies, is working to restore service using satellite systems.

South Carolina reported 36 additional deaths from Helene, bringing the storm's total death toll to 152. States across the Southeast continue to struggle with widespread power outages and infrastructure damage.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis deployed resources to North Carolina and Tennessee, where rescue operations continue, with Florida National Guard teams delivering food and conducting rescues in hard-hit communities.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured storm-ravaged neighborhoods, where residents expressed frustration at the lack of assistance. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but communication challenges and road conditions have hindered rapid response.

North Carolina officials assured residents that help is coming, with over 1,100 people in shelters and hundreds of rescues completed. More than 200,000 pounds of supplies were delivered Monday, and residents were encouraged to register for assistance through FEMA.

In Augusta, Georgia, residents queued for water, with some waiting hours due to ongoing power and water outages. Many remain without electricity, though they count themselves fortunate compared to harder-hit areas.

Buncombe County officials have checked on the welfare of approximately 150 high-needs residents but continue to face access challenges due to debris and flooding.

Experts estimate that over 40 trillion gallons of rain fell across the Southeast due to Helene and other storms, an unprecedented amount of precipitation that left the region grappling with extensive damage and recovery efforts.

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Source: fox59‍