Category 2 Hurricane Rafael is drifting westward in the Gulf after making landfall in Cuba on Wednesday. Rafael made landfall in the Cuban province of Artemisa as a Category 3 hurricane with max winds of 115 mph.
Rafael became a tropical storm on Monday, Nov. 4 and strengthened into a hurricane on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
What You Need To Know
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday, Nov. 6
It made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane
Rafael will drift across the Gulf of Mexico into the weekend
Rafael continues to drift westward in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a Category 2 hurricane with max winds of 105 mph. It’s becoming slightly better organized and stronger as it moves over the southeastern Gulf.
As it moves through the Gulf of Mexico, it should gradually begin to weaken because of high wind shear and cooler waters. We expect further weakening over the Gulf, well west of Florida, through the weekend.
The track has shifted and will pose no threat to Florida or most of the U.S. Gulf coast. At this time, a Mexico landfall is possible, but it could also dissipate over water.
Winds and seas will be hazardous in the Gulf of Mexico. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the Eastern Gulf waters through Friday morning with a high risk of rip currents along the Gulf Coast beaches. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect over the open Gulf of Mexico waters.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
A benefit raising money for relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be broadcast Saturday night on CBS and CMT, two divisions of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News. The hourlong “United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief” will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and it will also be streamed on Paramount+ with Showtime, Paramount Global and United Way announced Wednesday.
Brittney Spencer performs at Brooklyn Paramount on Oct. 13, 2024, in New York City.
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
The benefit aims to raise money for relief and recovery efforts following the back-to-back storms that wreaked havoc in the Southeast in September and October and killed scores of people.
While Milton raked across the Florida peninsula in early October, Helene moved deep inland after it made landfall in late September, causing catastrophic flooding in North Carolina.
“Paramount Global and its brands are proud to collaborate with United Way Worldwide on the ‘United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief’ in reaching audiences across the U.S. to help those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Melissa C. Potter, executive director of Content for Change at Paramount Global and a United Way Worldwide board of trustees member, said in a statement.
“I have seen firsthand how United Way rallies local leaders, cross-sector partners and the community to aid people during times of crisis, and the resources raised by this benefit event will help those in need to recover and rebuild,” Potter said.
The benefit was taped Monday and Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee.
Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com. In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
One month after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina, residents of Asheville are still struggling to find clean drinking water. New York Times reporter Christina Morales joins CBS News to explain how it’s affecting families and businesses and what officials are doing to try to fix the issue.
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STILL GOT A COUPLE MORE WEEKS LEFT OF HURRICANE SEASON. THAT’S RIGHT. 34 DAYS, IN FACT, TO BE THE OFFICIAL COUNT HERE. BUT WE ARE TRACKING A BIT OF A DISTURBANCE. A TROPICAL WAVE IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA THIS MORNING. GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE WEEK WITH THIS FEATURE AS IT DRIFTS NORTHEASTWARD IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA. THE CHANCES OF IT DEVELOPING FAIRLY LOW. ONLY A 30% CHANCE OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. HERE’S A LOOK AT THE SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF THE GFS AND THE EUROPEAN MODELS. TWO OF OUR LONG RANGE GLOBAL MODELS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN IS INDICATED BY THE GFS HERE. THE GFS WANTS TO TRY TO DEVELOP SOMETHING BY SATURDAY OF THIS WEEK. EUROPEAN THOUGH NOT SHOWING ANYTHING. SO AGAIN A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES WITH THIS. STILL WAY TOO EARLY TO KNOW EXACTLY IF IT CAN DEVELO
National Hurricane Center tags new disturbance in Caribbean Sea that could develop next week
Updated: 5:56 AM EDT Oct 27, 2024
Video above: Latest coverage about the tropicsThe National Hurricane Center tagged a new area of low pressure that will likely develop over the Caribbean Sea around mid-next week.Southwestern Caribbean SeaAs it moves northeast across the southwestern Caribbean Sea, the gradual development of an area of low pressure could be possible by the end of next week, according to the NHC. Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024The system has zero chance of development over the next two days. However, this likelihood rises to 30 percent over the following seven days. It is still too early to determine the system’s specific track and possible effects on Florida. Hurricane season in Florida ends on Nov. 30. Related: Hurricane KidCast: What’s a hurricane? And more answers to kids’ questionsFirst Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Video above: Latest coverage about the tropics
The National Hurricane Center tagged a new area of low pressure that will likely develop over the Caribbean Sea around mid-next week.
Southwestern Caribbean Sea
As it moves northeast across the southwestern Caribbean Sea, the gradual development of an area of low pressure could be possible by the end of next week, according to the NHC.
NEW YORK, October 24, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– In response to the devastation caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton, Big Interview, a premier online job interview training platform, is offering complimentary access to its comprehensive resources to help affected job seekers restore their career pathways impacted by the storms. This initiative is a testament to Big Interview’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities in crisis by empowering individuals to rebuild their professional futures.
The hurricanes have disrupted countless lives and displaced many from their jobs, leaving families in financial and emotional turmoil. Big Interview aims to assist those impacted by equipping them with the tools needed to secure employment during these challenging times.
Through this initiative, eligible individuals will gain full access to Big Interview’s complete career readiness toolkit, including:
Expert Interview Training: A vast library of video lessons and interactive practice interviews, designed to cater to diverse industries and roles.
Specialized Job-Seeker Resources: Tailored content for transitioning military personnel, ESL learners, individuals with disabilities, justice-involved individuals reentering the workforce, and more.
AI-Powered Feedback: Real-time, AI-driven assessments to help users refine their interview responses and boost their confidence.
ResumeAI: An advanced resume optimization tool that provides actionable insights to craft effective resumes.
Career Coaching: In-depth career advice and guidance to navigate the job market with confidence and clarity.
With trusted partnerships spanning over 700+ higher education institutions, 10 state workforce agencies, and numerous industry leaders, Big Interview’s tools have a proven track record of empowering job seekers to succeed. The platform’s availability in Spanish further ensures inclusivity for non-English speakers.
“We understand the profound impact that disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton have on families, communities, and careers,” said Alex Andrei, CEO of Big Interview. “Our mission has always been to equip job seekers with the skills and confidence to thrive, and in this time of need, we are committed to helping those affected rebuild their careers. We hope this initiative will provide a path toward new opportunities and a fresh start.”
This donation is part of Big Interview’s broader efforts to support disaster-affected communities and promote economic recovery. By offering career development resources, Big Interview is helping both individuals and communities recover and rebuild.
For more information about Big Interview and its disaster recovery initiatives, visit www.biginterview.com.
About Big Interview
Big Interview is a leading online platform dedicated to helping job seekers master the interview process and secure their ideal roles. Through its combination of expert video lessons, AI-powered feedback, and personalized coaching, Big Interview empowers individuals to succeed in today’s competitive job market. The platform partners with state workforce development agencies, educational institutions, and industry leaders to make a lasting impact on job seekers nationwide.
Note to Editors: High-resolution images and interviews with company representatives are available upon request.
SOUTH PASADENA, Fla. — Due to storm surge from Hurricane Helene, a South Pasadena apartment building for seniors had to shut down as the first floor flooded and power was knocked out.
More than 160 residents need to find new homes after their apartment building shut down due to damage from Hurricane Helene
The apartment’s power grid was on the first floor and was destroyed by surging floodwaters
Many residents are now in extended stay hotels covered by FEMA
Management at the apartment estimates it could take six to ten months to restore power and make repairs.
However, residents are now allowed to enter the building and grab what they can carry of their belongings.
“Clothing, personal pictures — things like that,” resident Diane Ludwig said. “Everything else, furniture, dishes, that sort of stuff you have to leave up there.”
Some residents said they are staying at extended stay hotels that are covered by FEMA for up to six months. Others are staying with family.
Management said they are in the process of reimbursing rent for the month of October, as well as deposits. They are still assessing the damage and how to move forward with repairs.
LAKELAND, Fla. — While debris pickup is underway in parts of Polk County, residents living on Pineville Lane are growing weary.
What You Need To Know
Piles of debris still linger on the curb of Pineville Lane in Lakeland
Residents says the debris has taken an emotional toll on him and his neighbors
Polk County has several debris pickup and drop off options to ensure roads are clean
Piles of clothes and furniture still linger on neighbors’ curbs, some just outside of Michael Caudy’s door.
“I have anxiety issues, and this makes it a lot worse because I see that stuff. I just don’t like it,” he said.
Caudy said water from a nearby creek flooded his home during Hurricane Milton, destroying most of his belongings, including his Bibles.
“I had all kinds of religious books, and they’re all gone. It really plays mind tricks on you,” Caudy said.
Now, he and his neighbors must relive their loss every time they step outside.
“It’s about time they come and pick it all up because it hurts all of us to look out there and see all of our stuff out in the road,” Caudy said. “I thought they would pick it up by now.”
Polk County officials say the goal is to have all storm debris picked up by Nov. 24. Their focus is to pick up debris from the most heavily damaged areas first, then move to other parts of the county.
To ensure everything gets removed, they advise residents to separate their debris into the following categories:
Vegetative debris: unbagged leaves, logs, plants, and tree branches
Construction and demolition debris: building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattresses, plumbing, etc.
Appliances: A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.
Electronics: televisions, computers, etc.
Household hazardous waste: cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.
Residents also have the option of dropping off debris at the following locations:
Polk County’s North Central Transfer Station, 3131 K-Ville Ave., Auburndale, Fla., 33823
Polk County Strickland Avenue, 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland, Fla., 33812
Polk County Marigold, 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, Fla., 34759
As for Caudy, he’s unable to travel far or lift much with his walker. In the meantime, he said he’ll just wait at home for crews to arrive.
“If they would just pick that stuff up, everybody would be much happier,” he said.
For additional information on how to dispose of debris and residential waste, visit the Polk County’s website.
Keep track of debris pickup in Polk County with the debris removal map below.
HAVANA, Cuba — Hurricane Oscar weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall Sunday in eastern Cuba on Sunday.
Oscar brought heavy rains and winds to Cuba, an island already beleaguered by a massive power outage, late Sunday after brushing the Bahamas.
It made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening. Oscar had weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 kph) winds by late Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Tropical Strom Oscar path: System weakened after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Guantanamo
The storm was 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Guantanamo moving west-northwest at 6 mph (10 kph).
Thunderstorms and rain, along with moderate flooding in low-lying areas, were reported in the country’s eastern provinces. Cuban media said 2-meter (6.5-feet) swells were hitting the coast and roofs and walls in Baracoa had been damaged. Authorities have set up 20 centers for evacuees.
The system is expected to move across eastern Cuba on Monday. Forecasters said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain are expected across eastern Cuba through early Wednesday, with some isolated locations getting up to 18 inches (46 centimeters). A storm surge of up to 3 feet (almost 1 meter) in some areas of Cuba’s north shore in the area was possible, the center said.
This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken at 6:40pm ET on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, shows Hurricane Oscar.
NOAA via AP
Oscar was expected to weaken over eastern Cuba before making a turn to the northeast and approaching the central Bahamas on Tuesday, the center said.
Oscar made landfall on Great Inagua island in the Bahamas earlier Sunday. A storm surge that could cause coastal flooding was forecast, along with heavy rain.
The hurricane‘s arrival comes as Cuba tries to recover from its worst blackout in at least two years, which left millions without power for two days last week. Some electrical service was restored Saturday.
Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center said it was somewhat unexpected that Oscar became a hurricane Saturday.
“Unfortunately the system kind of snuck up a little bit on us,” Papin said.
Hours earlier Tropical Storm Nadine formed off Mexico’s southern Caribbean coast. It degenerated into a tropical depression as it moved over land.
Hurricane Oscar’s arrival to eastern Cuba Sunday has impacted millions of residents already facing days without power, as fresh attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.In the capital city of Havana early Monday, people were seen outdoors in poor lighting, a few playing dominoes to kill time. Children are opting to sleep outside to cool off from the stifling heat indoors – schools have also been canceled until Thursday.Oscar made landfall near Baracoa along Cuba’s eastern shores around Sunday afternoon as a Category 1 storm with winds of 80 mph. By Sunday night, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Oscar had weakened to a tropical storm and was moving toward the west-southwest of the country at 6 mph.“Through Wednesday morning, rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated amounts of 18 inches are expected across eastern Cuba,” the NHC said, adding that as much as 8 inches of rain will appear in isolated amounts in the southeast Bahamas.Earlier Oscar made landfall on Inagua Island in The Bahamas, with maximum estimated sustained winds of 80 mph, the NHC said.On Sunday afternoon the Cuban Electrical Union announced that more than 216,000 people in Havana, a city of 2 million, had power restored. The power grid collapsed again later in the day — for the fourth time since Friday.Some Cubans have taken to the streets, to protest the three-day-long blackout — many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticized demonstrators for causing public disorder, saying in a video posted on X that “we are not going to allow acts of vandalism and much less alter the tranquillity of our people.”Cuba descended into darkness on Friday, when one of the country’s major power plants failed, according to the Energy Ministry. Since then, most people in the 10 million-strong country have had their access to power interrupted, while also struggling to maintain fresh food and a steady supply of water.Havana residents queue for breadSome people began flooding WhatsApp chats with updates on which areas had power, while others arranged to store medications in the fridges of those who briefly had power – or were lucky enough to have a generator.In Havana, residents waited for hours to buy a few loaves from the handful of locations selling bread in the capital. When the bread sold out, several people argued angrily that they had been skipped in line.Many wondered aloud where Cuba’s traditional allies were, such as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico. Until now, they had been supplying the island with badly needed barrels of oil to keep the lights on.Meanwhile, tourists were still seen circling Havana’s main avenues in classic 1950s cars, although many hotel generators had run out of fuel.One foreign visitor told CNN that Havana’s José Martí International Airport was operating in the dark on emergency power only, adding that printers did not work to issue tickets and there was no air conditioning in the terminal.Reuters reporters witnessed two small protests overnight into Sunday, while videos of protests elsewhere in the capital have also surfaced.The Cuban government is cancelling classes for students from Monday until Wednesday, having previously cancelled them on Friday. It has also instructed non-essential workers to stay home. The U.S. Embassy in Havana will be open only for emergency services on Monday.Cuban officials have blamed the energy crisis on a confluence of events, from increased U.S. economic sanctions to disruptions caused by recent hurricanes and the impoverished state of the island’s infrastructure.In a televised address on Thursday that was delayed by technical difficulties, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said much of the country’s limited production was stopped to avoid leaving people completely without power.“We have been paralyzing economic activity to generate (power) to the population,” he said.The country’s health minister, José Angel Portal Miranda, said Friday on X that the country’s health facilities were running on generators and that health workers continued to provide vital services.
HAVANA, Cuba —
Hurricane Oscar’s arrival to eastern Cuba Sunday has impacted millions of residents already facing days without power, as fresh attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
In the capital city of Havana early Monday, people were seen outdoors in poor lighting, a few playing dominoes to kill time. Children are opting to sleep outside to cool off from the stifling heat indoors – schools have also been canceled until Thursday.
Oscar made landfall near Baracoa along Cuba’s eastern shores around Sunday afternoon as a Category 1 storm with winds of 80 mph. By Sunday night, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Oscar had weakened to a tropical storm and was moving toward the west-southwest of the country at 6 mph.
“Through Wednesday morning, rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated amounts of 18 inches are expected across eastern Cuba,” the NHC said, adding that as much as 8 inches of rain will appear in isolated amounts in the southeast Bahamas.
Earlier Oscar made landfall on Inagua Island in The Bahamas, with maximum estimated sustained winds of 80 mph, the NHC said.
On Sunday afternoon the Cuban Electrical Union announced that more than 216,000 people in Havana, a city of 2 million, had power restored. The power grid collapsed again later in the day — for the fourth time since Friday.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets, to protest the three-day-long blackout — many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticized demonstrators for causing public disorder, saying in a video posted on X that “we are not going to allow acts of vandalism and much less alter the tranquillity of our people.”
Cuba descended into darkness on Friday, when one of the country’s major power plants failed, according to the Energy Ministry. Since then, most people in the 10 million-strong country have had their access to power interrupted, while also struggling to maintain fresh food and a steady supply of water.
Havana residents queue for bread
Some people began flooding WhatsApp chats with updates on which areas had power, while others arranged to store medications in the fridges of those who briefly had power – or were lucky enough to have a generator.
In Havana, residents waited for hours to buy a few loaves from the handful of locations selling bread in the capital. When the bread sold out, several people argued angrily that they had been skipped in line.
Many wondered aloud where Cuba’s traditional allies were, such as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico. Until now, they had been supplying the island with badly needed barrels of oil to keep the lights on.
Meanwhile, tourists were still seen circling Havana’s main avenues in classic 1950s cars, although many hotel generators had run out of fuel.
One foreign visitor told CNN that Havana’s José Martí International Airport was operating in the dark on emergency power only, adding that printers did not work to issue tickets and there was no air conditioning in the terminal.
Reuters reporters witnessed two small protests overnight into Sunday, while videos of protests elsewhere in the capital have also surfaced.
The Cuban government is cancelling classes for students from Monday until Wednesday, having previously cancelled them on Friday. It has also instructed non-essential workers to stay home. The U.S. Embassy in Havana will be open only for emergency services on Monday.
Cuban officials have blamed the energy crisis on a confluence of events, from increased U.S. economic sanctions to disruptions caused by recent hurricanes and the impoverished state of the island’s infrastructure.
In a televised address on Thursday that was delayed by technical difficulties, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said much of the country’s limited production was stopped to avoid leaving people completely without power.
“We have been paralyzing economic activity to generate (power) to the population,” he said.
The country’s health minister, José Angel Portal Miranda, said Friday on X that the country’s health facilities were running on generators and that health workers continued to provide vital services.
Tropical Storm Oscar brought heavy rains and winds to Cuba, an island already beleaguered by a massive power outage, late Sunday after brushing the Bahamas.It made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening. Oscar had weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 kph) winds by late Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.Related video above: Hurricane Oscar strengthens in the Greater Antilles, while Tropical Storm Nadine makes landfall in BelizeThe storm was 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Guantanamo, moving west-northwest at 6 mph (10 kph).Thunderstorms and rain, along with moderate flooding in low-lying areas, were reported in the country’s eastern provinces. Cuban media said 2-meter (6.5-feet) swells were hitting the coast and roofs and walls in Baracoa had been damaged. Authorities have set up 20 centers for evacuees.The system is expected to move across eastern Cuba on Sunday night and Monday. Forecasters said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain are expected across eastern Cuba through early Wednesday, with some isolated locations getting up to 18 inches (46 centimeters). A storm surge of up to 3 feet (almost 1 meter) in some areas of Cuba’s north shore in the area was possible, the center said.Oscar was expected to weaken over eastern Cuba before making a turn to the northeast and approaching the central Bahamas on Tuesday, the center said.Oscar made landfall on Great Inagua island in the Bahamas earlier Sunday. A storm surge that could cause coastal flooding was forecast, along with heavy rain.The hurricane’s arrival comes as Cuba tries to recover from its worst blackout in at least two years, which left millions without power for two days last week. Some electrical service was restored Saturday.Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center said it was somewhat unexpected that Oscar became a hurricane Saturday.“Unfortunately, the system kind of snuck up a little bit on us,” Papin said.Hours earlier, Tropical Storm Nadine formed off Mexico’s southern Caribbean coast. It degenerated into a tropical depression as it moved over land.
MIAMI —
Tropical Storm Oscar brought heavy rains and winds to Cuba, an island already beleaguered by a massive power outage, late Sunday after brushing the Bahamas.
It made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening. Oscar had weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 kph) winds by late Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Related video above: Hurricane Oscar strengthens in the Greater Antilles, while Tropical Storm Nadine makes landfall in Belize
The storm was 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Guantanamo, moving west-northwest at 6 mph (10 kph).
Thunderstorms and rain, along with moderate flooding in low-lying areas, were reported in the country’s eastern provinces. Cuban media said 2-meter (6.5-feet) swells were hitting the coast and roofs and walls in Baracoa had been damaged. Authorities have set up 20 centers for evacuees.
The system is expected to move across eastern Cuba on Sunday night and Monday. Forecasters said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain are expected across eastern Cuba through early Wednesday, with some isolated locations getting up to 18 inches (46 centimeters). A storm surge of up to 3 feet (almost 1 meter) in some areas of Cuba’s north shore in the area was possible, the center said.
Oscar was expected to weaken over eastern Cuba before making a turn to the northeast and approaching the central Bahamas on Tuesday, the center said.
Oscar made landfall on Great Inagua island in the Bahamas earlier Sunday. A storm surge that could cause coastal flooding was forecast, along with heavy rain.
The hurricane’s arrival comes as Cuba tries to recover from its worst blackout in at least two years, which left millions without power for two days last week. Some electrical service was restored Saturday.
Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center said it was somewhat unexpected that Oscar became a hurricane Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the system kind of snuck up a little bit on us,” Papin said.
Hours earlier, Tropical Storm Nadine formed off Mexico’s southern Caribbean coast. It degenerated into a tropical depression as it moved over land.
In Florida, residents are, once again beginning the slow process of recovery. Milton was the second hurricane to take aim at the state in as many weeks.
Just 13 days earlier, Hurricane Helene hit Florida, then carved a 500 mile path of destruction north…killing more than 240 people. The deadliest storm to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina.
One of the areas hardest hit was western North Carolina…a region unaccustomed to hurricanes. Residents were caught off guard when the Appalachian mountain range that hugs the border of Tennessee acted like a funnel for the remnants of Helene… devastating the communities below.
Tonight, you will hear from survivors and about the enormous effort to bring relief to North Carolina.
With the force of a tidal wave, water tore down the Appalachian Mountains, knocked over bridges and sent homes and people downstream.
We made our way… 45 miles north of Asheville… snaking around the washed out roads and into the communities Helene tried to wipe off the mountain.
Two thousand feet up, we saw what is left of Green Mountain. A town tucked above the gurgling North Toe River until the remnants of Helene came roaring down the mountain with enough power to snap their concrete bridge in half.
Jane Whitson Peterson: It sounded like you was at the ocean. And it looked like the ocean except it was dirtier, muddier.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Was there stuff in it?
Jane Whitson Peterson: We saw a house float down.
Sharyn Alfonsi: In front of here?
Jane Whitson Peterson
60 Minutes
Jane Whitson Peterson: Yes. That way. If you’ve never been through it, somethin’ I never want to see again. And I hope and pray nobody has to.
Jane Whitson Peterson, her husband and 96-year-old mother, were trapped inside the general store the family has run for more than 60 years.
She took this video from the second floor.
Jane Whitson Peterson: We have– two doors down that way outside. And then we have this back one. And we tried to block ’em. And you don’t stop water. And it busted through the back door. And then it started comin’ in the front door. And–
Sharyn Alfonsi: So the water’s coming through the store–
Jane Whitson Peterson: It come three different ways. So when we got up there and we stood on the steps and watched it come in. And all we could do is just sit and watch it and pray that it didn’t get no higher.
Jane Whitson Peterson: It came up to the… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7th step.
This is what those answered prayers look like today. Only the skeleton of the family’s store is left. Her father’s old cash register is clogged with mud and her mother’s home was destroyed.
Jane Whitson Peterson:. She’s 96. She’s raised seven kids and worked 16, 18 hours a day. It’s really hard for her. But my mom got up the next mornin’ singin’.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Singing?
Jane Whitson Peterson: Singin’.
A hymn about the expectations of a home in heaven. On her front lawn, 96-year-old Parzady Whitson shared it with us, surrounded by what’s left of her home on Green Mountain.
For so many, this was their slice of heaven. Living in “the Hollers”…the communities built in the valleys of the Appalachian mountains.
Sharyn Alfonsi: What do you do next as a family?
Jane Whitson Peterson: We keep goin’. It’s what we’ve always done. I’ve not been a whole lotta places. But– I would never go nowhere else to live. Everybody knows everybody. And if you need a hand, we’re there. We’ll do anything we can to help you.
Sharyn Alfonsi: This is home.
Jane Whitson Peterson: This is home.
Jeff Howell: I call it God’s country. I know everybody says that because where they live. But– this– this little piece of west North Carolina is just the– the mountains are just– th– they’re magical.
Jeff Howell
60 Minutes
Jeff Howell’s family has lived in the area for seven generations. Howell is the emergency management coordinator for Yancey County… an area that was hit hard by Helene.
The devastation caught most residents by surprise. Western North Carolina hasn’t seen anything like this since the Great Flood of 1916… when two storms converged and pushed rivers over their banks.
Forecasters say this time…the stage was set for disaster well before Helene roared in.
Days earlier, a weather front stalled over the mountains. Some areas got more than a foot of rain.
When Helene arrived… these mountains were already saturated. There’d been three days of rain. Creeks and streams rerouted and grew bigger and stronger. There was nowhere for all of that water to go but down…And it took everything in its path with it.
Jeff Howell: We started getting the entrapments– the landslide calls. And the– the most worrisome thing about it is when the calls stopped, because we had no radio communication. We had no cell phone. We had no internet. You couldn’t talk to anyone. And it was– that was terrifying.
45 miles to the south, Asheville, which sits in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains , acted as a catch basin for the water that funneled down the Appalachians…triggering landslides along the way.
The two rivers that intersect with the city swelled to the highest levels in history. The water was so strong it pushed homes off their foundations… and lifted a 10,000 pound tractor trailer into the treetops.
Rescue crews wound through the city on boats.
Radios, cellphones and the internet were knocked out.
Up in Yancey County… they couldn’t call for help or wait for it.
A damaged road in North Carolina after Helene
60 Minutes
Jeff Howell: We basically just abandoned the– the emergency operations center and the sheriff’s department, they were already out doing rescues. But we would just go in. “Give me another name.” And we’d take off and– and try to find these people and get them.
A local firefighter and his wife were among those rescued.
Jeff Howell: He and his wife were asleep in their house when the flood washed it off the foundation and they were floating down where the river became. And it shoved them through the wall of their house. They hung on to a tree for two or three hours until they were found. But then the next day, he was at work. His face was scratched all to pieces, bandaged up. But that’s the kind of people we have.
More than 70 search and rescue teams from across the country were dispatched to North Carolina. Locals helped guide them up the treacherous mountain terrain to look for survivors.
Forest rangers and paramedics carried a man, who broke his back in a landslide, three miles down a steep slope in the dark.
In the week after the storm, hundreds of people were reported missing. Some families couldn’t reach their loved ones for days. Others couldn’t reach them at all.
Desperate to connect, some people posted messages on the porch outside the hotel NuWray… a cornerstone of the county for nearly 200 years. Boards filled with the names of the missing… and heartbreaking updates.
We are alive. House gone.
The NuWray has been feeding hundreds of weary storm victims warm meals every day.
Donations and relief workers have poured in.
Signs by the NuWray
60 Minutes
FEMA set up more than 40 processing centers and says, so far, it has distributed more than $100 million to North Carolina victims.
Aid is arriving by helicopters, even mules… carrying loads of medicine to areas trucks couldn’t reach.
More than 500 roads remain closed and more than 100 bridges need to be replaced. A patchwork of dusty routes now holds the region together.
Jeff Howell, who fought with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan and Iraq…is now trying to get help to his neighbors.
Jeff Howell: You hear the phrase “you can’t get there from here.” We have a lot of that. Part of the community is– it’s cut off and they have to actually go around through Tennessee to get here. Sixty miles one way.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Did your time in the Reserves prepare you for this?
Jeff Howell: It did. It’s– it’s unlike combat stress because in combat, you can shoot back. I can’t do anything. And that’s very frustrating. But what I can do is, you know, working with the people around here and– keep the miscommunications down is the best thing (laugh) I can do right now. But that’s– that’s a struggle in itself.
Jeff Howell is now dealing with a storm of dis-information.
He told us conspiracy theories and false claims about the government’s response to the flood… have also made their way to the top of the mountain.
Jeff Howell: I don’t even know how they make it up. You know? Stories about FEMA seizing trailers and draining tankers and we’re going, ‘That’s just – that is really not happening.’
Sharyn Alfonsi: How does that impact workers on the ground?
Jeff Howell: It takes their focus away from what they’re supposed to be doing when they’re having to– debunk this sort of stuff and explain to people, “No. The U.S. government did not geoengineer this storm. But like I said, some people, they’re gonna believe it no matter what.
The day after we spoke to Howell, a neighboring county was investigating reports of an armed militia quote “hunting FEMA.”
One arrest was made. FEMA suspended door to door operations in western North Carolina for 48 hours.
But the agency reports all operations have resumed.
This is one of the areas still in need of help. a place curiously…called Relief.
James Warrick
60 Minutes
James Warrick: This is the old post office
Sharyn Alfonsi: You used to play in here?
James Warrick: We did.
James Warrick told us the area was named after a medicine the town doctor sold in the 1800s… that provided relief to its patrons. The main ingredient was alcohol.
Warrick and his mother Jewel have lived in that same doctor’s house for the past 55 years. Today, it is buried in mud.
Less than 1% of residents in the hardest hit areas of western North Carolina have flood insurance.
Sharyn Alfonsi: What was it like before?
Jewel Warrick: Life was wonderful. It was wonderful.
James and Jewel evacuated days before the storm and say they encouraged their neighbors to leave as well. But by the time they tried it was too late.
James Warrick: There was a wall of water that came down the river that engulfed this area. And it’s probably the same wall of water that took our neighbors with it. So we are the only two surviving people here in Relief. Six of our neighbors have– have– have died.
That – is what’s left of the car the couple next door – and her two young boys – tried to escape in. It was crushed by water so powerful…it twisted the train tracks in town.
More than three weeks after the storm, crews are still searching the debris along the rivers. In North Carolina, at least 125 people were killed by Helene. More than 50 are still missing.
Across the Appalachian Mountains, the road to relief will be a long one.
Jewel Warrick: I’m still in shock. I mean I carry on. I laugh, and I joke, I take my times even when I cry, but I’ve not really let loose. But I have a strong family and we have a strong community and we’re all pulling together.
Sharyn Alfonsi: You’ll stay here?
James Warrick: I think so. This is Mom’s home.
Jewel Warrick: Yeah. It’s my family’s home, the girls and James and the grandchildren, great-grand[children]…yeah. We’ll survive. You know. It’s not giving up. We can’t. There’s hope. And when you have hope, you move on.
Donations to support those affected by Hurricane Helene can be made to:
After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar is now a hurricane close to the eastern tip of Cuba. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Oscar is a small hurricane
It will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba
It won’t affect the U.S.
Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving to the west southwest at 7 mph. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are likely in the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the next couple of days.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
BayCare announced it is donating $300,000 for community hurricane relief to Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic.
All three entities are existing partners in BayCare’s Community Benefit efforts to impact public health. The hurricane contributions are in addition to Community Benefit investments.
“At BayCare, we are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Stephanie Conners, BayCare’s president and CEO. “After the recent hurricanes, many in our communities are facing significant challenges. This donation is about helping our communities rebuild and find hope during a difficult time.”
BayCare has strong relationships with Feeding Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries, consistently supporting their efforts to combat food insecurity. Its donation to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic is in response and recognition of the vital role safety net clinics play in the aftermath of a disaster as well as addressing year-round community needs.
The donations come after weeks of BayCare partnering post-hurricanes with organizations to host emergency food and water distributions on its properties for the public; hosting state fuel depots to help health care workers obtain the gas they need to ensure patients have caregivers at the bedside; finding car seats for young families who lost equipment during the hurricane and more.
BayCare has also committed up to $10 million to a BayCare Relief Fund to assist any of its 32,000 team members caring for the community during this crisis, who have also had their homes or lives upended by the hurricanes.
Additionally, BayCare helped connect community members to critical resources through platforms like FindHelpFL, which provides information on available local services.
“At BayCare, we know that our strength as a community is defined by how we come together in times of need,” said Conners. “We are proud to help provide critical resources and support to those affected. Together, we are helping to rebuild lives and foster resilience in our community.”
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions.
The Florida Realtors Relief Fund is offering $500,000 to help hurricane victims.
The National Association of Realtors‘ Realtors Relief Foundation announced a $500,000 grant to Florida Realtors to help Floridians with housing issues resulting from Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
“So many people are struggling from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene in communities across our state,” says 2024 Florida Realtors® President Gia Arvin, broker-owner with Matchmaker Realty in Gainesville. “The crucial first step is often dealing with housing needs. Thanks to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Realtors Relief Foundation and their generous donation to help Florida residents in the wake of these hurricanes, people can find the housing assistance they need to rebuild their homes and their lives.”
As a result, Florida Realtors is handling two charitable relief programs: its Disaster Relief Fund that focuses on housing challenges within the Realtor family after a natural disaster, and these grants through NAR’s Realtors Relief Foundation funding that offers money to any Floridian impacted by the storms and facing-housing related needs. Check online for more information or to apply for RFF assistance.
Qualifications for NAR-funded assistance through the Realtors Relief Foundation:
Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged during Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton in September/October 2024; or
Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton in September/October 2024.
Submit only one application if you were impacted by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene.
Maximum grant amount per household is $1,000.
RRF applications for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton close April 2, 2025. Recipients must be full-time Florida residents and citizens of the United States, or legally admitted for residence in the U.S.
This assistance is for housing relief only; other expenses including second mortgages (home equity lines or loans), clothing, appliances, equipment, and vehicles (purchase, rental or repair and/or mileage) are ineligible for reimbursement under this program.
Type of assistance offered to qualified applicants:
Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged during Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton in September/October 2024; or
Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton in September/October 2024. Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $1,000 per household.
All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds. As a result, aid will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more info, including how to apply and the applications for assistance, go to the Florida Realtors website.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar has now become a hurricane in the western Atlantic. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Oscar is a small hurricane
It will bring rain and wind to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba
It won’t affect the U.S.
Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving westward at 12 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the weekend.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
After quickly becoming a tropical storm Saturday, Oscar has now become a hurricane in the western Atlantic. It’s the 15th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know
Oscar is a small hurricane
It will bring rain and wind to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba
It won’t affect the U.S.
Hurricane Oscar has max winds of 80 mph and is moving westward at 12 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the weekend.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Truist was reminded of the importance of investing in both digital and in-branch offerings following the past month’s hurricanes, Helene and Milton. The need for both in-person and digital capabilities becomes clear after storms like these. “Those economies go to cash” when communities don’t have access to digital channels due to power and internet […]
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