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Cleanup and repairs continue in wake of Hurricane Helene

Despite widespread power outages, Kentucky largely spared from storm’s deadly destruction

Nine Kentucky counties – Boyd, Boyle, Clay, Greenup, Harlan, Lee, Magoffin, Owsley and Wolfe – declared written states of emergency in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the category 4 storm that caused historic, catastrophic damage across the southeastern United States.

According to the National Weather Service, Helene made landfall late Thursday, Sept. 26. By midday Friday, wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour were reported across Kentucky.

The heavy rainfall and high winds resulted in thousands of downed power lines and hundreds of broken utility poles, leaving more than 250,000 Kentucky homes and businesses without electricity. Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities described Helene as the fourth-largest weather event to impact their customers over the past 20 years.

Still, much of Kentucky was able to recover relatively quickly. Power was restored to most of the state by Monday. Crews continue to make repairs and clear roadways of fallen trees and limbs.

Devastation across the region

The situation for residents in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida is much more dire. More than 160 storm-related deaths caused have been reported as of Oct. 2, and that number is expected rise.

Hundreds of roads and bridges, including parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 26, were washed away. Entire communities were wiped out or left unrecognizable by the devastation caused by Helene. 

On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that personnel from the Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management and Kentucky State Police were deploying to North Carolina to help with storm recovery efforts.

“In Kentucky, we know the pain of being hit by natural disasters far too well,” Beshear said. “This is our time to stand with [storm victims] and help them through the coming weeks and the coming years.” 

Relief funds were established following the December 2021 deadly tornado outbreak in western Kentucky and July 2022 flooding in eastern Kentucky. Those funds received millions of dollars in donations from across the country.

Similar funds have been established for hurricane victims:

  • Click here for the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
  • Click here for the East Tennessee Foundation’s Neighbor to Neighbor Fund.
  • Click here for the Florida Disaster Fund
Photo caption: Storm damage in Harlan County caused by remnants of Hurricane Helene

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