Cars drive across Tampa bridge as huge waves from Hurricane Helena crash onto road
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At least nine people have died after Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida as a Category 4 storm, pounding the west coast with “unsurvivable” conditions.
Helene has since been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still packing “life-threatening” conditions as it plows across the county with a flash flood emergency issued for metro Atlanta and as far north as Kentucky’s Appalachia on high alert for heavy rains and landslides.
Hurricane-force wind gusts were still occurring Friday in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas and very heavy rainfall was ongoing for much of the US Southeast, causing historic and life-threatening flooding.
As the sun came up in Florida, the damage was widespread and catastrophic. Storm surge has left some homes underwater to the roofline, and boats were smashed together like bath toys in marinas. Downed trees, powerlines and other debris were making navigating roadways treacherous for emergency responders
Around 4 million people were without power from Florida up the east coast to Virgina.
The hurricane hit the state’s Big Bend region just after 11pm local time on Thursday with 140mph winds and 10ft storm surge.
Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed two fatalities in Florida. A driver was killed when a sign fell onto their car in Tampa. Two others died in Wheeler County, Georgia, after their trailer crashed on a highway. Two people died when tree fells on houses Friday morning in Anderson, South Carolina. In North Carolina, a person was also killed by a falling tree in Charlotte.
1727450609Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says more than 2K miles of roadway have been clearedJulia Musto27 September 2024 16:23
1727450169Tropical Storm Joyce forms over the AtlanticTropical Storm Joyce formed Friday over the Atlantic Ocean.
Forecasters said the storm, positioned about 1,325 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, isn’t threatening land, forecasters said.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but Joyce is expected to strengthen gradually through Sunday.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 16:16
1727450150More than 50 swift water rescues conducted in North CarolinaMore than 50 swift-water rescues were conducted in North Carolina’s Buncombe County.
“This is the most significant natural disaster that any one of us has ever seen in western North Carolina,” Ryan Cole, the county’s assistant emergency services director, said.
Dramatic images were also coming out of Watauga County, including the town of Boone.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 16:15
1727449379Helene produces historic, catastrophic flooding over US Southeast, AppalachiansTropical Storm is producing historic and catastrophic flooding over portions of the US Southeast and southern Appalachians.
Impacts will continue through this evening, and the National Hurricane Center said widespread significant river flooding was ongoing.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 16:02
1727449250Georgia power outages expected to rise FridayWith over a million customers reported without power mid-Friday morning, power outages in Georgia are expected to keep rising.
Georgia Power Co. CEO Kim Greene told reporters Friday she feared outages would continue for its 2.6 million customers.
“All of that rain is leading to very saturated ground, and trees, unfortunately, will continue to fall,” Greene said. “So we do expect the number of outages to continue to rise. I assure you that we want to get your power back on just as safely and as quickly as possible.”
Governor Brian Kemp said multiple hospitals in south Georgia are without power after Helene knocked out both primary power and their generators.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Julia Musto27 September 2024 16:00
1727448959Fox Weather meteorologist carries Atlanta woman to safety through floodwatersVideo shows Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen carrying an Atlanta woman through floodwaters after Hurricane Helene.
Fox Weather reporter rescues Atlanta woman from Helene floodwatersJulia Musto27 September 2024 15:55
1727448350Mobile homes in Tallahassee are moved by huge storm surgeMobile homes are seen moved by up to 10 feet of storm surge, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 15:45
1727447760Second tree-related death reported in South CarolinaAuthorities are reporting a second death in South Carolina from Helene.
A person was killed Friday morning by a tree falling on a home in Anderson County, the Coroner’s Office said in a statement.
This brings the tally of total deaths from the storm to nine.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 15:36
1727447450Satellite image shows massive reach of Tropical Storm Helene
A NOAA satellite image shows Tropical Storm Helene on Friday morning (NOAA)Tropical Storm Helene was still producing damaging and gusty winds Friday morning.
The storm is bringing life-threatening flooding for portions of the Southeast and Southern Appalachians.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 15:30
1727447256Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office says Madeira Beach is ‘almost unrecognizable’ after HeleneThe Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office says its Madeira Beach area was hit hard.
“Debris, displaced cars, burst pipes. It is almost unrecognizable,” the office wrote on X.
Florida’s Gandy Bridge was open, but Skway and others remained closed.
Julia Musto27 September 2024 15:27
