Hurricane Helene may have come and gone, but the remnants of the powerful storm — which first made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast — traveled up the eastern seaboard and triggered heavy rains and flooding as far west as Tennessee.

As predicted, Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane just west of Perry, Florida, late Thursday night — and set a new record for the strongest storm to hit the state’s Big Bend region.

While the strong winds were devastating, massive storm surges caused life-threatening flash floods and devastated entire towns. Almost every property saw some damage when the storm surge left Horseshoe Beach, Florida.

Heartbreaking scene as catastrophic storm surge leaves Horseshoe Beach, Florida destroyed. Almost every house sustained damage. @MyRadarWX #Hurricane #Helene pic.twitter.com/LcfXADRnEB

— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) September 27, 2024

The National Hurricane Center warned before Helen hit Florida that conditions were ripe for flooding and landslides in the southern Appalachians. “This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians,” a statement read.

In the days since, that prediction has also proved true as photos and videos of the floods and damages have continued to crop up on social media into the weekend.

“Massive debris flow traveling at lightning speed in eastern TN! The preceding drought conditions followed by days of rain ahead of Hurricane Helene set the stage. This is incredibly rapid for a debris flow,” meteorologist Reed Timmer posted.

Massive debris flow traveling at lightning speed in eastern TN! The preceding drought conditions followed by days of rain ahead of Hurricane Helene set the stage. This is incredibly rapid for a debris flow. pic.twitter.com/LhT2Dzos6B

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) September 28, 2024

Flooding also caused major damage to roads in North Carolina, leaving some major highways — particularly in the western part of the state — impassable.

🚨 REMINDER: 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙍𝙊𝘼𝘿𝙎 in Western North Carolina should be considered 𝘾𝙇𝙊𝙎𝙀𝘿.

I-40 and I-26 are impassable in multiple locations.

⚠️ Travel in this area for non-emergency purposes is hindering needed emergency response.#ncwx #Helene pic.twitter.com/jtK2ZMJW9T

— NCDOT (@NCDOT) September 28, 2024

“All roads in and out of Asheville, NC are still closed! It sounds like Asheville is still only accessible by air unless you head up from I26, and even then you will encounter closures before the city. This is an absolute mega disaster for western NC on the order of Hurricane Katrina,” Timmer posted.

All roads in and out of Asheville, NC are still closed! It sounds like Asheville is still only accessible by air unless you head up from I26, and even then you will encounter closures before the city. This is an absolute mega disaster for western NC on the order of Hurricane… pic.twitter.com/4llZNEx0Ae

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) September 28, 2024

Chimney Rock Village also saw devastating flooding that took out major roads leading in and out.

Chimney Rock village is devastated. It is now “a road to nowhere.” pic.twitter.com/ptBamNJURx

— Nikolias Goninus (@nikoliasgoninus) September 27, 2024

Boone, N.C., was also hit with dangerous flooding and debris flows.

Life-Threatening Major flooding and debris flow in Boone.

Video is from my friend Aidan Haas at App State @spann @JimCantore #ncwx #Helene pic.twitter.com/ybWFEmZPYg

— Ethan Clark wx (@EthanClarkWX) September 27, 2024

Miles of Tennessee farmland were also left underwater as the ground quickly saturated and heavy rains had nowhere to go. “Tennessee farmland and the devastation hard working farmers must face. Pray for the farmers. They work so hard as it is and many can’t afford flood insurance and virtually none have hurricane insurance,” one posted. “#Helene took their livelihood.”

Tennessee farmland and the devastation hard working farmers must face.

Pray for the farmers. They work so hard as it is and many can't afford flood insurance and virtually none have hurricane insurance. #Helene took their livelihood. pic.twitter.com/Dfd8tj0486

— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) September 28, 2024

Video from Afton, Tennessee, showed flood waters taking out the Kisner Bridge over the Nolichucky River.

Powerful floods from Helene collapsed the Kisner Bridge in Afton, Tennessee, into the roaring Nolichucky River. pic.twitter.com/MkE20hm559

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 28, 2024

Some major roads in Tennessee were also rendered impassable due to floods and debris.

Interstate washed away in Tennessee.

So many lives and so much devastation.

I can't recall a hurricane that caused this much inland devastation.#Helene#Hurricane

Photo credit: VA State police pic.twitter.com/aizGmSP0pU

— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) September 28, 2024

The Biden-Harris administration on Friday sent a taxpayer-funded email blast to likely millions of Americans that praised Vice President Kamala Harris.

The email from the Department of Health and Human Services went to everyone signed up to receive updates on the government’s Medicare program, which is used by 66 million people. It featured a letter from President Joe Biden highlighting the administration’s “historic reforms” to the program, attributing the benefits to the work of Harris, the Democratic nominee for President.

Biden’s letter touts the administration “lowering health care costs” for seniors and “save[ing] money for American taxpayers,” for example. It says it’s all thanks to Harris, noting that she cast the tie-breaking vote to give Americans these supposed benefits, and that Biden and Harris believe health care should be “a right,” a common Democrat talking point on the campaign trail.

Screenshot of HHS email / The Daily Wire

Using government resources for campaigning is generally prohibited under the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Several recipients flagged the email for The Daily Wire after they received it on Friday, noting that it was inappropriate.

“It is nothing but a campaign ad for the Biden Administration and Kamala Harris,” one recipient told The Daily Wire, noting that the email “even states that VP Harris cast the tie breaking vote.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Biden emphasizes in the email that Medicare improvements are due to his Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law because of Harris.

“These historic reforms are a result of the Inflation Reduction Act that I signed into law and that Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to secure,” the email reads. “These are just some of the ways my Administration has worked to help you save money on your health care costs and to provide a little more breathing room for you and your families,” the email says.

“Vice President Harris and I believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege,” President Biden continues in the email. “I encourage you to take advantage of these new, lower-cost benefits as part of stronger, better Medicare coverage that you deserve.”

“This new law gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does on behalf of our nation’s veterans and service members.”

The email, which can be read in full at the bottom of this article, is signed by Biden and includes a disclaimer about its funding from HHS:

This message is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was created and distributed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You’re receiving this message because you signed up for email updates from the Medicare Team.

Around 66 million Americans get their health coverage through Medicare. It’s unclear how many Americans received the email from Biden.

The email could raise legal concerns for the Biden-Harris administration. FEC rules generally prohibit the use of taxpayer-funded agencies like HHS, and its employees, for campaign purposes. The Hatch Act bans civil-service employees in the executive branch of the federal government from engaging in some campaigning activity, too.

Back in June, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) raised questions about the Biden administration placing signs near infrastructure projects to promote the president. The signs in question read, “Project Funded By President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

Cruz argued that these are “nothing more than campaign yard signs courtesy of the American taxpayer” in a letter to the Office of Special Counsel.

“I write to refer this to you for investigation as a possible violation of the Hatch Act, federal law that broadly prohibits using taxpayer dollars for campaign activity,” Cruz said. “Congress, not President Biden, wrote [the infrastructure law], and it did not do so to aid the President’s reelection campaign.”

More recently, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in the Biden-Harris era this past week, which was viewed by many as an attempt to boost the economy with less than 50 days before the election.

Some politicos view the move as partially motivated by politics, an effort to get Harris to the White House. Her opponent, former President Donald Trump, suggested the same.

“I guess it shows the economy is very bad to cut it by that much, assuming they’re not just playing politics,” he said. “The economy would be very bad or they’re playing politics, one or the other. But it was a big cut.”

The full content of the HHS-funded email can be viewed below:

A message from President Biden on
Medicare Open Enrollment

Dear [redacted],

With Open Enrollment for Medicare around the corner, I want to make sure you’re aware of historic changes to Medicare that are lowering health care costs and ensuring that every American has the peace of mind that comes with quality, affordable health care.

Because Medicare benefits are getting stronger, it is more important than ever to look at your drug coverage for 2025 during Medicare Open Enrollment and make sure you are enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan that is best for you. You can learn more about these benefits and review your options at Medicare.gov starting in early October. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15th through December 7th.

These historic reforms are a result of the Inflation Reduction Act that I signed into law and that Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to secure. This new law gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does on behalf of our nation’s veterans and servicemembers.

Medicare has been able to cap the cost of insulin for seniors with diabetes at $35 a month for each covered insulin instead of as much as $400 a month. Recommended vaccines, like those to treat shingles, are free for people with Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Starting in January 2025, your total out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 a year, no matter how expensive your prescription drugs are. That means you will not pay more than $2,000 per year on prescription drugs covered under Medicare prescription drug coverage, or Part D— that includes expensive prescription drugs to treat cancer, chronic illnesses, and more.

And if you have had high drug costs in 2024 and have reached what’s called the catastrophic coverage phase, you won’t have to pay any more out of pocket.

These reforms not only save seniors money, they also save money for American taxpayers. In fact, taxpayers are expected to save $160 billion over the next decade because Medicare is now able to negotiate drug prices alongside other reforms — and we’re just getting started.

In addition to these cost-saving benefits that are in effect in 2025, Medicare recently announced that it has reached agreement with pharmaceutical companies for new, lower prices for ten of the most expensive and most frequently used prescription drugs in Medicare. These new, lower prices will go into effect in 2026, and Medicare will continue to negotiate prices for additional drugs each year for the foreseeable future.

These are just some of the ways my Administration has worked to help you save money on your health care costs and to provide a little more breathing room for you and your families.

Vice President Harris and I believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege. I encourage you to take advantage of these new, lower-cost benefits as part of stronger, better Medicare coverage that you deserve.

Joe Biden

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe to stop receiving emails from Medicare.

This message is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was created and distributed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You’re receiving this message because you signed up for email updates from the Medicare Team.