Bella Hirtzel | Writer
October 3, 2024
On September 26th, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, and few would have predicted it would be remembered as the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
Now making its way towards Florida’s “Big Bend” area, winds are reaching up to as high as 140 miles per hour and deadly floods are continuing to plow through towns. In Tampa Bay, waters rose to at least six feet above ground, causing many buildings, homes, and vehicles to be submerged underwater. Floodwaters are sweeping away rural areas and cutting off many peoples access to transportation, as well as communication, with the outside world.
Further north, in Cedar Key, many historical buildings were demolished by the hurricane along with many brand new homes.
Residents in southern Florida have also been devastated by the vicious storm. Carol Kicinski, a resident of Dunedin, stated that she feels, “utterly devastated” and her “heart is broken” for the people who lost their homes. Carol Kicinki’s son’s beautiful newly renovated home was washed away in a storm surge within hours of evacuation calls. The next morning, 40 of their friends and neighbors showed up, all tasking themselves with various duties to help. Kicinksi and her family were humbled by the gesture.
Overall, Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across many states, not only Florida, but North Carolina and Tennessee as well. Many are critical of local and national emergency response and their inability to help, especially those in rural areas. In fact, hundreds of people are still unaccounted for and that number is only expected to grow.
However, in all tragedies, it’s the stories of communities coming together that you see the light through all this darkness. The American spirit is alive in its unity with folks helping their neighbors survive these unprecedented times.
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