Christine B. Davis, a Texas resident, survived countless hurricanes and tropical storms throughout her 110-year life, but succumbed to environmental heat exposure after Hurricane Beryl in 2024. She was among the 335 individuals who died in the five hurricanes that made landfall in the U.S. mainland during that year, making it the deadliest hurricane season since 2005. Hurricane Helene resulted in at least 241 deaths, with a significant number of victims in North Carolina due to landslides and flooding.
The season highlighted the devastating impacts of hurricanes beyond just coastal areas, with various states reporting fatalities hundreds of miles away from where the storms made landfall. The deaths underscored the dangers posed by freshwater flooding, which accounts for a significant portion of hurricane-related fatalities. Researchers have linked the extreme rainfall from Hurricane Helene to climate change, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and preparedness for such events.
In addition to environmental heat exposure and flooding, tornadoes associated with the hurricanes caused several deaths. Efforts in mapping, understanding risks, and implementing evacuation plans have helped reduce storm surge deaths, but challenges remain in ensuring effective evacuations and reducing overall storm-related fatalities. Continued research is being conducted to address these complexities and improve decision-making processes in emergency situations.
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