Hurricane Helene has unleashed unprecedented flooding across East Tennessee and western North Carolina, resulting in tragic loss of life and extensive damage. Reports indicate at least 43 fatalities linked to the storm, with over 100 people still unaccounted for. In East Tennessee, floodwaters overwhelmed areas, leading to harrowing rescues, including over 50 individuals trapped on a hospital roof. Emergency responders, including the National Guard, have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts and assess the devastation. This disaster has drawn comparisons to historical floods, prompting officials to describe it as a 'thousand year flood'. As the waters begin to recede, communities are bracing for a long recovery process amid mounting loss and damage estimates.