President Joe Biden will assess the damage in North and South Carolina on Wednesday while rescuers continue to look for those still missing after Hurricane Helene inflicted severe destruction across the Southeast and resulted in at least 166 fatalities. Many residents in both states remain without drinking water, cell service, and electricity as floodwaters recede, exposing further loss of life and devastation caused by Helene. “We need to kickstart the recovery process,” Biden stated on Tuesday, predicting that it will require billions in funding. People are extremely frightened. “This is an urgent matter.” As Biden visits the Carolinas, Vice President Kamala Harris will be in nearby Georgia. Many lives lost and millions left without electricity following Helene’s destructive path through the southeastern United States. Helene, among the most lethal storms in recent U.S. history, disrupted power and cell service for millions. Over 1.2 million customers in the Carolinas and Georgia were still without power early Wednesday. Some residents prepared meals on charcoal grills or climbed to higher areas in hopes of getting a signal to inform their loved ones that they are safe. On Tuesday, search teams and cadaver dogs waded through knee-deep mud and debris in the mountains of western North Carolina searching for additional victims. At least 57 individuals lost their lives in Buncombe County, which includes the city of Asheville, a popular tourist destination famous for its art galleries, breweries, and outdoor recreation. In Swannanoa, a small area near Asheville, the retreating floodwaters uncovered cars piled on top of each other and mobile homes that had been swept away by the storm.
