Earth ChangesNatural hazards don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops—they evolve Posted on July 7, 2025 by Administrator Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future. Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion. Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear—they evolve.
