How many people were killed by Hurricane Helene? How could Milton compare?

As Florida braces for the arrival of Hurricane Milton, residents are haunted by the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, which struck the United States mainland on September 26. In total, Helene claimed over 200 lives across six states, making it the deadliest storm in the region since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While the clean-up from Helene is still in full swing, officials are already warning that Milton could bring even more destruction to areas barely recovering.

Milton can’t be ignored like Helene

Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes, but the memory of Helene is particularly fresh – and painful. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri lamented that too many people ignored evacuation orders during Helene, leading to 12 deaths in the county alone. Those numbers might have been lower if more had listened, but complacency had its cost. And now, just as schools cancel classes and hospitals evacuate patients, the state is staring down another potentially catastrophic storm.

Will Hurricane Milton be worse than Helene?

Milton has strengthened significantly as it makes landfall, possibly reaching Category 4 or even 5. That’s enough to cause widespread catastrophic flooding and amplify the destruction already wrought by Helene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is urging all residents to take evacuation orders seriously this time. As he put it, “This is all hands on deck.”

The concern isn’t just about Milton’s wind speed. With debris still scattered from Helene, there’s a real fear that flying objects could increase damage exponentially. And, as St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch warned, Milton is heading straight for them – unlike Helene, which passed 100 miles to the north.

The ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene

North Carolina, Florida, and much of the southern US are still grappling with the aftermath of Helene. Over 1,500 federal troops were deployed to assist in recovery efforts, with billions of dollars in economic damage already projected. President Joe Biden has promised additional aid, but for many, the relief can’t come fast enough.

And now, with Milton lurking on the horizon, it seems the South’s hurricane season is far from over. The question remains: will people heed the warnings this time, or will Milton leave behind a tragic echo of Helene’s destruction? Only time, and preparedness, will tell.