Carl Schreck, a climate scientist from North Carolina, has experienced the harsh realities of Hurricane Helene firsthand as it struck his hometown, resulting in significant flooding and the loss of at least 230 lives.

This makes Helene the second deadliest hurricane to hit the continental United States in over 50 years, following Hurricane Katrina.

Having dedicated his career to studying tropical storms from afar, Schreck’s perspective changed dramatically when friends’ homes were flooded and a family he knew perished in the disaster. “It’s really heartbreaking to see,” he remarked, emphasizing the impact on his community.

As Hurricane Milton approached Florida, a report from the World Weather Attribution confirmed that climate change intensified Helene’s destructive power.

Schreck and his colleagues had been analyzing Helene’s development in the Caribbean before it hit Asheville on September 26-27.

The storm not only caused immense property damage but also affected a major climate data center in Asheville, which lost power and access to crucial data.

Schreck noted the irony in this situation, highlighting the importance of the center for weather and climate research.

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Following the storm, Schreck and his team began discussing the implications of Helene on climate change and how they could improve communication about such severe weather events.

He pointed out that the inland rainfall, which is often overlooked, contributed significantly to the flooding and fatalities in the Appalachian mountains, over 500 kilometers from the coast.

Schreck plans to focus more on how hurricanes impact rainfall and flooding in the future, recognizing that these issues are worsening due to climate change.