Hurricane Helene, which struck in September, resulted in a surprising 200+ deaths, marking it as the deadliest tropical cyclone hitting the mainland U.S. since 2005. Research reveals that flooding from rainfall was the primary cause of fatalities, followed by wind damage. Disturbingly, a significant 78% of those who perished were in regions previously classified as low-risk by FEMA. This trend signals a shift in the dangers posed by hurricanes, emphasizing the rising threat of freshwater flooding over traditional indicators like storm surge and high winds.
Hurricane Helene has proven to be the deadliest tropical cyclone to strike the mainland United States since 2005, with over 200 casualties attributed to it.
The storm's most lethal aspect was not its winds but the rainfall-induced flooding, which led to catastrophic outcomes in areas previously deemed low risk.
The National Hurricane Center indicates a shifting trend, where freshwater flooding due to heavy rainfall has overtaken other causes as the primary fatal hazard during cyclones.
An alarming 78% of the deaths from Hurricane Helene occurred in counties identified as low risk for deadly hurricanes, highlighting a troubling inconsistency in risk assessments.
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