Washington, United States (AFP) – US President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered deployment of up to 1,000 troops to flood-ravaged North Carolina to boost emergency response efforts including the “fight to save lives” after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of southeastern states.

“At my direction, the secretary of defense has just approved the deployment of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard,” Biden said in a White House statement.

More than 155 people have died, hundreds more remain unaccounted for, and communities across multiple states have been devastated by flooding.

mlm/bgs

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image credit: kjpargeter | Freepik

Image: A reindeer in nature (s. climate change, military)
Growing Arctic military presence worries Finland’s reindeer herdersNews

Growing Arctic military presence worries Finland’s reindeer herders

Rovaniemi, Finland | AFP A fighter jet roaring through the grey sky breaks the tranquillity of a boreal forest in northern Finland, one more sign…
SourceSourceMay 24, 2025 Full article
Image: meeting in a hall (s. Small island states, climate change)
Small island states win key climate case in UN courtNews

Small island states win key climate case in UN court

By Femke COLBORNE | AFP Berlin, Germany (UPDATED) - The UN maritime court on Tuesday ruled in favour of nine small island states who brought…
SourceSourceMay 21, 2024 Full article
Image: a democracy burning neon sign
Extreme weather a growing threat to elections, democracy: reportNews

Extreme weather a growing threat to elections, democracy: report

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Floods, fires and extreme weather increasingly pose a threat to democracy, with at least 94 elections and referendums in…
SourceSourceApril 22, 2026 Full article