Bishop Mark Beckman of the Diocese of Knoxville in eastern Tennessee — an area heavily impacted by the recent Hurricane Helene — said the storm’s “devastation” has led to mounting physical, financial, and emotional needs.
Hurricane Helene made landfall last week, leaving destruction through multiple southeastern states. The storm killed more than 200 people, with hundreds more reported missing. The hurricane was the deadliest storm to reach the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, leaving millions of people stranded without electricity and hundreds of thousands in flooded areas.
“The spiritual and emotional needs are significant,” Beckman said. “And there’s a lot of grief there, a lot of sadness. Those who survived, I think, probably are feeling some of that survivor’s guilt. And there are still people missing.”
When asked how people can help, Beckman said that awareness, support, and prayer are key. Click here to read more from the Catholic News Agency.