At least 43 people were killed, and millions were left without power on Friday as Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern US.
Rescue operations continued, with officials using boats, helicopters, and heavy vehicles to save those trapped by rising floodwaters. Among the stranded were about 50 staff and patients who sought refuge on the roof of a flooded hospital in Tennessee.
The storm, the strongest ever recorded in Florida’s Big Bend, pushed north into Georgia and the Carolinas after making landfall late Thursday night.
Experts predict the storm’s damage could cost billions, according to insurers and financial analysts.
On Friday, roads and homes were inundated, with one family recounting to BBC News how they had to swim to safety from their submerged residence. Although Hurricane Helene has weakened considerably, forecasters caution that high winds, flooding, and the risk of tornadoes may persist.
Helene, which had been classified as a category four storm, made landfall on Thursday night and maintained hurricane status for six hours post-landfall, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that storm surges, primarily caused by strong winds pushing water toward the coast, reached over 15 feet (4.5 meters) above ground level in certain areas along Florida’s coast.
While the surge is expected to decrease before the weekend, the threat of high winds and flooding remains, with potential landslides also being a concern. Some regions could still see up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rainfall.
Hurricane Helene ranks as the 14th most powerful hurricane to strike the US since records began, spanning approximately 420 miles (675 km) in width. It is surpassed only by two other hurricanes: Ida in 2017 and Opal in 1996, both measuring 460 miles wide.
Due to its vast size, the effects of strong winds and heavy rain have been felt across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
At least eight fatalities have been reported in Florida since Friday, including five deaths in Pinellas County, according to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. This county encompasses the city of St. Petersburg on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mentioned that one individual died when a road sign fell on their vehicle, while another fatality occurred when a tree collapsed onto a house.
After making landfall in Florida, the storm continued its deadly advance north into Georgia, claiming at least 15 lives, including a first responder, according to Governor Brian Kemp.
A suspected tornado in Wheeler County, central Georgia, resulted in two fatalities when it lifted and overturned a mobile home, authorities confirmed.
To aid in rescue operations statewide, Kemp mobilized 1,000 National Guard troops. He noted on Friday that over 150 roads have been closed, 1,300 traffic signals are down, and many individuals remain trapped in buildings.
In South Carolina, CBS News reported at least 17 deaths, while neighboring North Carolina experienced two fatalities—one from a vehicle crash and another when a tree fell on a house in Charlotte, as stated by Governor Roy Cooper.
North Carolina also recorded two confirmed tornadoes, which damaged 11 structures and injured 15 people, according to the National Weather Service.
Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin reported one death in his state during a news conference on Friday.
Throughout the southeastern US, more than three million homes and businesses were without power late Friday, as tracked by poweroutage.us.
First responders have been actively conducting rescues using helicopters, boats, and large vehicles to assist those stranded in flooded homes. In North Carolina alone, over 100 rescues have been carried out, Cooper noted.
In Tennessee, 58 patients and staff were trapped on the roof of a hospital in Erwin on Friday. Swift waters from the Nolichucky River hindered boat rescues, while high winds grounded helicopters.
The group was ultimately rescued with the help of helicopters from the Tennessee National Guard and Virginia State Police.
In Pasco County, north of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast, 65 individuals were rescued. Guests at a Ramada Inn in Manatee County also needed assistance as floodwaters surged into the hotel.
Authorities reported “extreme destruction” in Suwannee County to the north, with trees crashing onto homes.
