Helen, downgraded from a Category 4 strong storm, made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night and is still causing damage inland, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) calling it “catastrophic and life-threatening” inland. They warn of flash flooding.
The NHC has since downgraded Helen to a tropical storm, but conditions continue to deteriorate in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and even Virginia.
The NHC warned of “damaging wind gusts” in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, “particularly in the highlands of the southern Appalachians.”
“Catastrophic and deadly flash and urban flooding, including numerous significant landslides, is expected in parts of the southern Appalachians through Friday,” the NHC warned, also warning of “widespread significant river flooding.” It warned that it “could be a record”. ”
Various images and videos on social media show some of the destruction caused by Helen so far.
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As of this writing, the storm left more than 3 million people without power across the southeastern United States, with more than 1 million people each in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina without power.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said more than 1 million people in the Sunshine State were still without power, but another million had already had power restored.
“In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helen, hundreds of search and rescue operations were conducted by state personnel, and the state assisted in approximately 1,000 other rescue operations,” he announced Friday morning.
“There are more than 1 million accounts in the state without power, and thanks to resources put in place ahead of the storm, more than 1 million have already been restored,” he continued.
“Operation Cut and Toss has been underway since 3 a.m. with 61 FDOT crews. Over 3,000 miles of road have been cleared and these efforts continue,” the governor added.
