At least 43 people have died and millions are without power as Hurricane Helene swept through the southeastern US on Friday.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with officials using boats, helicopters, and heavy vehicles to assist those trapped in floodwaters, including around 50 workers and patients stranded on the roof of a flooded hospital in Tennessee.
Helene, the most powerful storm recorded to hit Florida’s Big Bend, made landfall overnight on Thursday and moved north into Georgia and the Carolinas. Damage estimates from the storm could reach into the billions, according to insurers and financial institutions.
Roads and homes are submerged, with one family recounting how they had to swim to safety. Although Helene has weakened, forecasters warn of ongoing high winds, flooding, and the potential for tornadoes.
The storm, which reached category four strength, remained a hurricane for six hours after landfall, as reported by FEMA. A storm surge exceeding 15 feet (4.5 meters) impacted parts of the Florida coast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) anticipates that the surge will decrease by the weekend, but threats from winds and flooding will persist, including possible landslides, with up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain still possible in some areas.
Helene is the 14th most powerful hurricane to strike the US since records began, measuring about 420 miles (675 km) wide—only two hurricanes in history were wider. Its extensive size has led to widespread effects across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
In Florida, at least eight fatalities have been reported, including five in coastal Pinellas County. Governor Ron DeSantis noted one death involved a road sign falling on a car and another occurred when a tree struck a home.
After hitting Florida, the storm continued its path north, claiming at least 15 lives in Georgia, including that of a first responder. A suspected tornado in Wheeler County resulted in two deaths when it overturned a mobile home. Governor Brian Kemp has mobilized 1,000 National Guard troops to assist with rescues, as over 150 roads have been closed and 1,300 traffic signals are out.
In South Carolina, at least 17 people have died, while North Carolina has reported two fatalities, one from a vehicle collision and another from a fallen tree. The state also experienced confirmed tornadoes, causing damage to buildings and injuries to residents.
One person died in Virginia as well, according to the state governor.
Across the Southeast, more than three million homes and businesses lost power late Friday. First responders have conducted numerous rescues, with over 100 in North Carolina alone.
In Tennessee, 58 patients and staff were stranded on a hospital roof due to swift waters, requiring rescue by helicopters from the Tennessee National Guard and Virginia State Police.
Reports of severe damage continue, with residents in Florida recounting harrowing experiences as floodwaters rapidly engulfed their homes.
FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks urged communities to heed local officials’ advice, stating that the storm’s impact is not yet over. Officials also emphasized the importance of vigilance as the region faces exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures that can fuel further storms.
The official hurricane season does not end until November 30, and NOAA has warned that up to 25 named storms could develop in 2024, with several already forming.
