At least 100 people have died since then. A devastating flood Tearing through the American Southeast, officials said Monday, the emergency response effort has quickly become a political football in a region that could decide a presidential election.

Rescue operations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee sought to find survivors and deliver supplies to areas devastated by Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains.

Residents often face power cuts, supply shortages, blocked roads and broken communication lines in mountainous areas.

Republican nominee Donald Trump will visit Valdosta, Georgia – the epicenter of the flood disaster and an important state. Tough election Being held in just five weeks time.

Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democratic opponent of Trump, canceled campaign events to return to Washington for a briefing on the federal response, while President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the White House.

Biden, who has approved federal aid for several states in the wake of the disaster, plans to travel to hard-hit areas this week “as soon as it does not interfere with emergency response operations,” the White House said. said Sunday, adding that Harris would do the same.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday that hundreds of roads have been destroyed and many communities have been “wiped off the map.”

“This is an unprecedented storm,” he told reporters. “We are working to increase supply. The emotional and physical damage here is indescribable.

“The rivers are still rising, so the threat is not over yet.” Long-term reconstruction plans will need to deal with the reality of more severe weather, he said, “but right now, we’re focused on saving lives and getting supplies to people who need them most.”

Scientists say. Climate change This likely contributes to the rapid intensification of hurricanes because warmer oceans have more energy to feed them.

At least 100 people died — 39 in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to local authorities. AFP. This total was expected to increase.

About two million households and businesses remained without power on Monday, according to the tracker. poweroutage.us.

Helen slapped It entered Florida’s northern Gulf Coast late Thursday night as a major Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 225 km/h. Even as it weakened, it tore a path of destruction that stretched more than 804 kilometers inland.