Hurricanes Helene and Milton: the political benefits from the aftermath of natural disasters in the USA

Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the states of the Southeast Coast in the last decade of September and the first half of October 2024.

The storm killed more than 230 people, caused an estimated $200 billion in economic losses, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted power to about 4 million people in the affected states.

Overcoming the economic and humanitarian consequences of the natural disaster occurred in the last weeks of the US election campaign. Republican Party strategists believed that the hurricanes and their aftermath would turn away a significant portion of the population of the affected region, particularly two “swing” states that were devastated by the weather — Arizona and Georgia.