Hurricane Helene Leaves 52 Dead, Millions Without Power As Storm Moves Through Southeast

At least 52 people have been killed and millions are without power after Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern US. The storm, which made landfall in Florida late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, brought 140 mph winds and caused massive flooding as it moved through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with many areas still unreachable due to flooding and landslides.

Florida’s Big Bend region was among the hardest hit by the storm. In Pinellas County, five residents died after refusing to evacuate and being trapped by rising floodwaters. Many homes in the area were destroyed or severely damaged by the storm surge. Tampa’s Davis Islands saw unprecedented flooding, with residents unprepared for the storm’s strength.

Georgia saw major power outages, with millions left in the dark after high winds and flooding damaged the state’s electrical grid. Three firefighters lost their lives when trees fell on their vehicles during rescue operations. Floodwaters rose quickly, submerging entire neighborhoods and leaving residents stranded.

In North Carolina, mudslides and flooding wreaked havoc on the western part of the state. Asheville was particularly hard-hit, with streets submerged and residents unable to communicate due to downed power lines and cell towers. Emergency services remained on high alert as floodwaters continued to rise, and a tornado critically injured four people in Nash County.

South Carolina faced widespread power outages and debris-filled roads. Emergency crews were working around the clock to restore power and clear roads, but the damage was extensive. Two firefighters were killed in separate incidents involving falling trees, further highlighting the danger posed by the storm’s strong winds.

In Tennessee, helicopters were used to evacuate patients and staff from a hospital in Unicoi County after floodwaters surrounded the building. Landslides and flooding caused significant damage to roads, cutting off some communities from rescue efforts. The state remained on high alert as the storm continued to threaten additional flooding.