New Bern Faces Tragedy as Hurricane Helene Hits Hard
New Bern Grapples with Catastrophe From Hurricane Helene
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has led to three deaths in Tennessee with more fatalities expected, a state official reported today.
“We have more than 100 people that are confirmed missing that we’re working on now. I expect that number will grow,” said Patrick Sheehan, director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
- “When we lose Tennesseans, when we lose friends, families and neighbors, it makes this disaster a tragic disaster.”
- Shelters are overwhelmed as locals seek refuge.
- Sheehan detailed that 59 individuals were rescued from rooftops and flooding by Virginia State Police.
Infrastructure Devastation in New Bern
Sheehan noted that hundreds of bridges were impacted, with many rendered unusable.
- 14 state bridges are closed; 5 are destroyed.
- 13 utility companies reported significant issues, with two systems completely inoperable.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are coordinating to develop rapid solutions. Bottled water is being airlifted by the National Guard to those affected.
Sheehan urged patience from residents as resources are mobilized, acknowledging that recovery will be a long process.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.