With 17 deaths in a population of more than 5.25 million, hurricane Florence might have saved lives over the past three days due to the lack of regular traffic accidents because of people staying put in their house I did a bit of research and found that traffic accidents, regular accidents, and suicides are among the top 5 causes of death in the U.S., which are all likely reduced during this time in NC and SC. This is not intended to be an insensitive post, just a curious thought. Of course this statement doesn't take into account the homes lost, quality of life impacted, etc. Additionally, the victim count will likely rise significantly once the waters recede. It's hard to tell how many people have lost their lives in their homes from drowning or medical conditions. ​ EDIT: Hurricane Florence has affected more than 10 million, not only 5.25 million.