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The toll of Hurricane Helene’s fury on Friday stands at a minimum of 43 dead, with millions left powerless as the storm wreaked havoc across the southeastern US.
In response, officials executed daring rescue missions utilizing boats, helicopters, and heavy machinery to assist those trapped in the floodwaters, including roughly 50 hospital staff and patients who had taken shelter on the roof of a flooded facility in Tennessee.
After making landfall in the early hours of Thursday, the storm—now recognized as the most powerful to ever strike Florida’s Big Bend—continued its path northward through Georgia and the Carolinas.
On Friday, roads and homes were swallowed by floodwaters, with one family recounting to BBC News how they swam to safety from their submerged house. Despite Hurricane Helene losing much of its strength, forecasters caution that dangerous winds, flooding, and potential tornadoes remain a concern.
Helene, classified as a category four storm, hit land on Thursday night and maintained hurricane strength for six hours following its arrival, as reported by FEMA.
Helene, which had been a category four storm, came ashore on Thursday night and remained a hurricane for six hours after it made landfall, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said a storm surge – heightened water levels mostly caused by high winds blowing water towards shore – reached more than 15ft (4.5m) above ground level across parts of the Florida coast.
The NHC said the surge should subside before the weekend but the threat from high winds and flooding would persist, including possible landslides.
Up to 20in (50cm) of rain is still possible in places.
The hurricane is the 14th most powerful to hit the US since records began. At approximately 420 miles (675 km) wide, it is behind only two other hurricanes – Ida in 2017 and Opal in 1996, both of which were 460 miles wide.
Because of its sheer size, the impact of strong winds and heavy rain have been widespread across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that Helene, once a category four storm, struck land Thursday night and held onto its hurricane status for six hours post-landfall.
FEMA announced that Helene, originally a category four storm, made landfall Thursday night and retained hurricane force for six hours following its impact.
The county encompasses the city of St. Petersburg, which lies on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
