Rebuilding after natural disasters

By Payton Counts News-Press NOW meteorologist

Weather is a part of our everyday lives, whether you realize it or not. It can affect us in multiple different ways, from what we wear to the food we put on our plate. So what happens when the weather or a natural disaster takes everything you’ve ever known?

As meteorologists, it is our duty to report everyday weather, and of course, when severe weather events happen. It takes a team of people to get the word out that a natural disaster or severe weather can be possible in your location. The National Weather Service, broadcast meteorologists and emergency management all work together to ensure your safety and prepare you days ahead for disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, flash flooding and more. But there are also teams of people who work on what happens after.

Hurricane Helene was a category 4 hurricane that just hit the east coast of Florida and dumped 33.33 inches of rain over 3 days in Busick, North Carolina, according to North Carolina Forest Service’s RAWS station. Over the past few days, it has been reported that there is millions of dollars of damage reported across the Southeast and only will continue to go up. Homeowners in states such as Tennessee and the Carolinas, a mountainous area, have seen horrendous flooding, causing houses to be flattened, roads to fall apart and multiple power lines down to go down. Some people are still without power or running water, and some can’t even leave to go get groceries.

Hurricane Helene is right up with hurricanes such as Katrina (2005), Harvey (2017), and Ian (2022) when it comes to the category of hurricane, damage that has been done and its death toll. Hurricane Helene will go down in history for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is ruining thousands of peoples livelihoods. Just like there is teamwork to predict the weather, it takes a team to recover from natural disasters. Many volunteers, linemen, firefighters, police and medical personnel travel from all over to provide aid. Of course, other large scale organizations help out like government agencies, military personnel and the American Red Cross.

Weather can be complicated, so with a changing climate and fluctuating conditions, it is always helpful to stay weather aware and have trust in your weather personnel.