Hurricane Helene, after landing in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm, has now weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia. The devastating storm has tragically claimed at least 11 lives in Georgia, as confirmed by Governor Brian Kemp.
In Florida, at least five deaths have been reported in Pinellas County alone and at least one in Tampa.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri stated, “I can’t think of a time Pinellas County has ever experienced the kind of surge we experienced last night.”
Read: NHC: Tropical Storm Joyce Forms, Limited Intensification Expected
Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities work to save those trapped by widespread flooding.
Around 1,500 emergency workers in Florida are focusing on search and rescue missions. Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged residents to stay clear of impacted areas, stating, “As those sorts of rescue missions happen today, and continue, please do not go out and visit the impacted areas. I beg of you, do not get in their way.”
The storm’s impact extends beyond Florida and Georgia.
Read: Helene Brings Catastrophic Flooding To Southeastern US
In South Carolina, a person was killed when a tree fell on their home in Anderson County. North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper also reported two storm-related deaths in his state, with expectations of more to come. One of those deaths in Charlotte was caused by a tree falling on a home.
Additionally, millions of people across the southeastern U.S. are experiencing power outages in the wake of Helene’s destructive path.
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