DROWNING AND SLIPPING AWAY: HOW EXTREME RAINFALL AND LANDSLIDES INCREASED MORTALITY DURING HURRICANE HELENE IN NORTH CAROLINA

Hurricane Helene stands as the deadliest storm in North Carolina’s history, with 106 confirmed storm-related fatalities as of February 7, 2025 (“Hurricane Helene Storm-Related Fatalities,” 2025). The storm’s extreme rainfall and subsequent landslides significantly contributed to the elevated mortality rate. Precipitation began on September 24th and persisted through September 27th, resulting in over 12 inches of rainfall across more than 16 of the state's 39 FEMA designated disaster areas/counties. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded approximately 2,000 landslides associated with the storm (“Hurricane Helene Landslide Observations Dashboard,” 2025). Preliminary data indicates a strong correlation between the number of confirmed fatalities in a county and the frequency of landslides, highlighting the severe impact of terrain instability on storm-related deaths.