Debris cleanup crews discovered human remains near Jackson Island in Tennessee, prompting an active investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, FOX Weather reported.
FOX Weather reported that officials suspect the person may have died in catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene nearly two years ago. The remains have been transferred to the medical examiner for further analysis.
Helene’s deadly toll and Tennessee flooding
The report said Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph before weakening inland, but it drove heavy rain and damaging gusts far from the coast, dumping feet of rain across the Appalachians.
East Tennessee State University reported that rainfall from Helene’s remnants forced the Nolichucky River over its banks, sending rapid floodwaters through nearby communities as residents rushed to higher ground.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that Helene caused at least 250 deaths in the United States — including at least 175 direct fatalities — making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
Another storm on the map
The National Hurricane Center was monitoring Tropical Storm Norbert in the Central Pacific with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The report said the system could potentially head toward Hawaii.
