The hurricane season of 2024 has recently proven to have a destructive impact in the southern region of the U.S., mostly in Florida. Just after Hurricane Helene had torn through southern states, Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida and is creating further destruction to the already devastated state. The severity of the hurricanes has forced an evacuation to be ordered after reported casualties, flooding, and destroyed properties and homes across the southeastern coast. Efforts to provide aid to the affected regions have struggled recently as the short gap of time between Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton has prolonged the severe weather across the southeast.

Hurricane Helene first formed on September 24 in the Gulf of Mexico before shifting North and making landfall on Florida’s coast on September 26. After making landfall, Hurricane Helene created mass damage across Florida as communities were flooded, powerful winds destroyed structures, and residents were left stranded. Hurricane Helene did not let up as the storm continued North into Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, mimicking the events in Florida with flooding and winds. As Helene began to dissipate on September 28 and 29, efforts for rescue and evacuation began across the impacted states.

The attempts to provide aid were short lived as it wasn’t long before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida just two weeks after Helene had dissipated. Milton swept across the Western coast of Florida near Tampa Bay and prompted the evacuation of citizens in the regions threatened by the storm. Hurricane Milton had been recorded as a category five storm and the destruction left behind proved to be similar to Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton caused additional difficulty for rescue teams with more severe weather in the area and significant increase in citizens who were in need of help due to the evacuation order.

Both storms proved to have devastating impacts on the southeast. It is estimated that the storms left behind billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of casualties. Communities were left submerged in water and millions of residents were left without power. With Hurricane Milton still yet to dissipate, it is unknown how the current statistics will change and when rescue and evacuation efforts will be able to work effectively.