As historic floodwaters unleashed by Hurricane Helene recede across the Southeast, the region faces a humanitarian, economic and ecological crisis of staggering scope.

Global semiconductor makers are monitoring supplies of high-purity quartz, a material critical to the industry, after Hurricane Helene halted production at two North Carolina mines.

Cotton growers are facing devastating losses and delays from Hurricane Helene just as harvest was beginning, marking the latest blow to profits in an already weak market.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A crisis unfolded in western North Carolina as officials rushed to get more water, food and other supplies to flood-stricken areas without power and cell service Sept. 30. 

CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Helene roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 storm in Florida, trapping residents in rising floodwaters and knocking out power to millions of customers. 

CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — Fast-moving Hurricane Helene was advancing Sept. 26 across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge in parts of the state.

Hurricane Helene is strengthening as it sweeps past Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on its way to a collision Sept. 26 with Florida, where it has already triggered evacuations.

MORGAN CITY, La. — Hurricane Francine barreled toward Louisiana on Sept. 11, strengthening to a Category 2 storm that could bring deadly storm surge to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Francine is expected to lash parts of the Gulf Coast with powerful winds and heavy rain as it heads for a Sept. 11 landfall as a full-blown hurricane.

Florida has started to dig out from the aftermath of Idalia, which weakened to a tropical storm even as it brought heavy rain across Georgia and the Carolinas.