Hurricane Helene Wreaks Havoc Across the Southeastern U.S., Disrupting Supply Chains and Leaving Millions Without Power

Hurricane Helene, a devastating Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26, bringing widespread destruction and causing at least 52 fatalities as it tore through the southeastern United States. The storm, with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph), quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, uprooting trees, flooding entire neighborhoods, and straining dams. More than 3 million customers entered the weekend without power, and for many, the threat of flooding remains a serious concern.

The impact of Hurricane Helene has been particularly hard on the logistics and transportation sectors. The storm hit at the height of the peak freight season, complicating the movement of goods and leaving key freight corridors impassable. The widespread destruction has led to significant road closures across the affected states, disrupting supply chains and causing logistical bottlenecks. Shippers with deliveries to the impacted regions must confirm that receivers are operational and have open access to their facilities before dispatching cargo. Trucking companies are unable to store undeliverable shipments, and if delivery cannot be completed, shipments will likely be returned to their origin, incurring additional costs for shippers.

Helene caused substantial damage across Florida, with Cedar Key, Tallahassee, and the surrounding areas suffering from severe flooding and property destruction. In Georgia and the Carolinas, power outages were widespread, and over 400 roads in North Carolina alone were closed due to flooding and landslides. Western North Carolina was particularly hard-hit, as landslides and floodwaters forced the closure of Interstate 40 and left the city of Asheville largely cut off. A woman in Atlanta reported that she was unable to contact her sister and son in Asheville, with calls going straight to voicemail due to cell service outages, leaving many families desperate for information.

In East Tennessee, emergency crews executed dramatic water rescues, including airlifting dozens of patients and staff from the rooftop of Unicoi County Hospital, which was surrounded by floodwaters. The storm’s rapid movement across multiple states left communities scrambling to respond. Tornadoes were reported in North Carolina, including one in Nash County that critically injured four people.

The storm’s overall impact on the region’s infrastructure is staggering. Moody’s Analytics estimated that Hurricane Helene could cause between $15 billion and $26 billion in property damage. More than 100 high-voltage transmission lines were damaged in Georgia, and in South Carolina, where more than 40% of residents lost power, officials are still struggling to assess the extent of the damage. Recovery efforts have been hindered by downed trees, live wires, and hazardous floodwaters. Emergency officials have cautioned residents to avoid wading through flooded areas due to the risk of sewage contamination and sharp debris.

In North Carolina, the lake featured in the movie Dirty Dancing overtopped its dam, prompting the evacuation of nearby neighborhoods. A similar evacuation occurred in Newport, Tennessee, due to concerns about a nearby dam. Fortunately, officials later confirmed that the dam had not failed, but the incident added to the anxiety for already struggling residents. Further north, in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin reported at least one storm-related death, and more are expected as recovery efforts continue.

In Tampa’s Davis Islands, where celebrities like Derek Jeter and Tom Brady have homes, residents were stunned by the extent of the storm surge. While no deaths were reported, homes and businesses were inundated by floodwaters. Residents of Cedar Key, a small community along Florida’s Gulf Coast, described entire blocks being washed away. “I don’t know where it’s at. I can’t find it,” said local resident Susan Sauls Hartway, as she wandered the streets near Ezell Beach, searching for what remained of her home. The area, which had taken direct hits from three hurricanes since August 2023, faced yet another blow from Helene.

In addition to the immediate property damage, Hurricane Helene’s impact on the region’s logistics network has been severe. Flooding and washed-out roads have isolated entire communities, preventing truckers from delivering essential supplies like fuel and food. Many gas stations in the affected regions were forced to close due to power outages and depleted fuel reserves. As a result, diesel shortages have spread across Florida and neighboring states, leaving thousands of trucks stranded and hampering the movement of relief supplies.

The timing of the storm could not have been worse. With record-warm ocean temperatures contributing to an above-average hurricane season, Helene rapidly intensified in just a few hours, catching many residents and businesses off guard. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned that conditions like these are likely to become more common as climate change exacerbates the factors that fuel such powerful cyclones.

In the wake of Helene, authorities have deployed thousands of emergency personnel to assist in recovery and conduct rescues. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) dispatched over 1,500 workers to the region, and they had already helped with over 400 rescues by late Friday morning. In Buncombe County, North Carolina, emergency services received more than 3,300 calls in just eight hours as floodwaters inundated homes and triggered mudslides that cut off entire neighborhoods.

For shippers navigating the chaos left by Hurricane Helene, it is vital to stay in close communication with carriers and partners. PNG Logistics Co. is actively working with its network to support clients during this period of uncertainty. If you have urgent shipments, reach out to PNG Logistics Co. to ensure that your deliveries are monitored closely and that your goods reach their destinations safely. Be sure to verify that receivers are able to accept deliveries, as the infrastructure in many areas is still being assessed. PNG Logistics Co. will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as recovery efforts progress.