United States - September 27, 2024

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's ferocious landfall as a Category 4 storm, the U.S. Coast Guard has taken to the skies to survey the extent of the destruction left in its path along Florida's west coast. On September 27, 2024, aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater embarked on a critical mission to assess the damage, providing a first glimpse of the hurricane's impact.

Helene, which made landfall late Thursday, unleashed its fury with winds reaching up to 130 mph, causing widespread devastation across the region. The aerial reconnaissance mission was not just about witnessing the destruction but also about strategizing immediate relief and rescue operations. The imagery captured during these flights paints a somber picture of homes flattened, landscapes altered, and communities shattered.

From the air, the scale of the disaster became painfully clear. Roofless houses, uprooted trees, and flooded streets were visible across the affected areas. The storm surge, coupled with the relentless wind, has left a trail of debris that could take months, if not years, to clear.