Hurricane Helene made landfall in northwest Florida as a Category 4 storm, causing widespread damage and leaving more than 3 million customers without power across the southeastern U.S. The storm weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland over Georgia, with at least four storm-related deaths reported.
Rescue operations were underway in flooded areas, with first responders using boats to reach those trapped by rising waters. Authorities warned against attempting to tread floodwaters due to potential hazards such as live wires, sewage, and debris. The storm’s maximum sustained winds decreased to 70 mph as it moved toward Tennessee and Kentucky, with heavy rain expected to continue over the Appalachian Mountains.
Significant damage was reported in Valdosta, Georgia, where residents sought shelter in a hotel lobby amid strong winds and power outages. Reports of storm-related deaths in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were confirmed, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressing concern over potential loss of life and property.
Helene prompted hurricane and flash flood warnings extending beyond the coast into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. The storm’s impact was felt in multiple states, with schools and airports closing, and widespread power outages reported. Forecasters warned of possible landslides and flooding in the southern Appalachian Mountains as the storm continued to move inland.
Helene, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is part of an above-average season predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to record-warm ocean temperatures. Residents in the affected areas were urged to take precautions and heed warnings from authorities.
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