Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern U.S. in late September 2024, caused at least 248 fatalities, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina, with North Carolina alone reporting 107 deaths.

The storm inflicted massive economic damage, with the National Hurricane Center estimating $78.7 billion in direct damages and broader assessments projecting $225–250 billion in total economic losses, including infrastructure destruction and business disruptions.

North Carolina suffered $53 billion in losses, Florida over $21 billion, and Florida’s tourism industry alone faced over $600 million in cancellations and damage, underscoring the hurricane’s widespread and devastating impact.