Death toll rises as Helene unleashes catastrophic flooding across Southeast, knocks out power to millions (2024)

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Helene continues deadly onslaught across Southeast as Atlanta sees first-ever Flash Flood Emergency

Deadly Tropical Storm Helene continues to unleash its fury across the Southeast, dumping torrential rain across the region prompting the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency for Atlanta. The monster storm made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday night as a major Category 4 hurricane.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The remnants of Helene continued its onslaught across the Southeast Friday, with nearly 4 dozen dead across multiple states and hundreds rescued from floodwaters.

The Category 4 hurricane made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday with estimated sustained winds of 140 mph.

Post-landfall, the hurricane quickly weakened, but its torrential rains and gusty winds continued hundreds of miles inland, with feet of rain being reported over the Appalachians.

At least 45 deaths have been reported so far, including 19 in South Carolina, 15 in Georgia, eight in Florida, two in North Carolina and one in Virginia.

INTERSTATE 40 PARTIALLY COLLAPSES AFTER CATASTROPHIC RAINS IN NORTH CAROLINA

In the southern Georgia town of Blackshear, a part-time assistant fire chief was killed when a tree fell onto his vehicle while responding to the storm.

"When we ask people to stay off the roads and be patient, it’s because when we are trying to get to people, it is a very dangerous environment and one of our finest has lost his life trying to save others," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday.

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'Never seen anything like it:' Mike Seidel is hammered by Hurricane Helene's eyewall as Category 4 storm makes landfall in Florida

FOX Weather's Mike Seidel is in Perry, Florida, where he says the amount of power flashes from Hurricane Helene is unlike anything he's ever seen.

Other deaths illustrated the power of hurricanes to kill by a variety of means. Two people in Georgia were killed during a tornado and several drowned in Florida. In North Carolina, a 4-year-old child died in a weather-related car crash.

Kemp warned there are still many who remain in peril. In Valdosta, officials have identified 115 structures heavily damaged by Helene that they know have multiple people trapped inside.

Hurricane Helene damage in Valdosta, Georgia

"(We are) trying to get to multiple structures that we know have individuals inside that we are unable to communicate with," Kemp said. "We’re going to have to literally cut our way into situations like this."

FIRST-EVER FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY ISSUED IN ATLANTA AS HELENE'S FURY PROMPTS WATER RESCUES, RISING DEATH TOLL

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Boats piled against Florida homes after Helene

Video from Treasure Island, Florida, shows boats tossed around like toys by the fury of Helene, leaving them piled against homes.

There were 28 Flash Flood Emergencies – the most dire flood alert issued by the NWS – spread across Georgia, western North Carolina from Asheville to the Charlotte area, and portions of South Carolina and Virginia. That included the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency in Atlanta, where the city broke a 138-year-old record for two-day rainfall at 11.18 inches. The 26 Flash Flood Emergencies issued on Friday are the most in a single day across the country.

VIDEOS: HURRICANE HELENE PRODUCES RECORD STORM SURGE ALONG FLORIDA'S GULF COAST

In North Carolina, record rains have flooded the Broad River to levels that have overtopped the Lake Lure Dam, threatening its failure. Officials have issued emergency evacuation orders downstream concerned about deadly flash flooding. As much as as 20 inches of rain could fall in the area by the end of the weekend.

The Asheville Fire Department said on X that a mandatory evacuation of the Swannanoa River Valley was underway because of the flooding. According to a post on X from Haywood County Emergency Services, residents in portions of Waynesville, North Carolina, were told to evacuate because of the potentially deadly situation that's unfolding.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation warned drivers "all roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed" and part of I-40 was washed out near the border with Tennessee.

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Hundreds of water rescues take place in Florida, Georgia

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Water rescues ongoing at flooded Atlanta apartment complex from Helene's relentless rains

Water rescues were ongoing Friday morning at Peachtree Corners Apartments in Buckhead, Georgia, as flood waters caused by drenching rains have risen from Hurricane Helene's arrival in metro Atlanta.

Countless emergency crews from Florida to Georgia are responding to those trapped in homes and cars as rivers and streams swell.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reports first responders have so far responded to more than 200 water rescue calls and have rescued at least 65 people with additional water rescues ongoing.

FLORIDA POLICE GIVE MORBID ADVICE TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T EVACUATE FOR HELEN'S HISTORIC STORM SURGE

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Infant, mother rescued from flooding in Atlanta live on FOX Weather

A woman carrying an infant strapped to her chest was rescued live on FOX Weather early Friday morning after numerous rivers and streams in the Atlanta area overflowed their banks due to the torrential rain from deadly Tropical Storm Helene.

Atlanta Fire Rescue Department has responded to numerous weather-related calls overnight.

Several boats were deployed to transport people andpetstosafety, while some residents were forced to wade through deep water to reach rescue crews.

FOX Weather cameras were rolling when several of those rescues were underway, and the video shows a woman with a baby strapped to her chest being led from the water.

WATCH: FOX WEATHER METEOROLOGIST RESCUES WOMAN FROM RUSHING FLOODWATERS IN ATLANTA

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FOX Weather's Bob Van Dillen rescues woman from Atlanta floodwater

FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen bravely rescued a woman who had driven into floodwaters in Atlanta early Friday morning. Carrying her on his back through chest-deep water, watch as Van Dillen, a towering 6-foot, 1-inch man, demonstrated incredible strength and courage during Hurricane Helene coverage.

FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen found himself in the middle of a harrowing rescue as Helene slammed the Atlanta area. While covering the storm's aftermath, Van Dillen, a journalist from the area, heard a woman's desperate cries for help along Peach Tree Creek. She had driven into floodwaters and was trapped in her car before sunrise.

Van Dillen waded into the chest-deep water, battling strong currents to reach the woman. He pulled her to safety, carrying her through the floodwaters to a nearby dry area.

Power outages top 4 million without across Southeast

Helene's combination of 70-100 mph wind gusts with saturated grounds left more than 4 million without power across the Southeast as of Friday afternoon, with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all reporting over a million customers with outages during the peak of the storm.

In Florida, Helene produced a 99-mph gust in Perry, a 75-mph gust near Jacksonville and a 72-mph gust at Jacksonville International Airport. In neighboring Georgia, a gust reached 100 mph in Alma, while an 88-mph wind gust was reported in Valdosta and a 75-mph gust in Savannah.

In Florida, Helene produced a 99-mph gust in Perry, a 75-mph gust near Jacksonville and a 72-mph gust at Jacksonville International Airport. In neighboring Georgia, a gust reached 100 mph in Alma, while an 88-mph wind gust was reported in Valdosta and a 75-mph gust in Savannah.

15-foot storm surge submerges Florida's Big Bend

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Treasure Island battles for recovery after Hurricane Helene's destructive storm surge

An aerial view of Treasure Island, Florida, at first light post-Hurricane Helene paints a stark picture of devastation on Friday.

The massive size of Helene combined with its Category 4 strength and forward speed, racing up the Gulf of Mexico at over 20 mph led to a massive storm surge along the Big Bend and Florida's northern Gulf Coast.

According to NOAA, preliminary indications show storm surge reached at least 15 feet along the Big Bend region near Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee and Horseshoe Beach. A camera in Cedar Key, Florida, at a height of 6 feet, was swamped by storm surge early Friday morning. Surge levels eventually reached 10 feet.

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Hurricane Helene makes landfall between Tampa and Tallahassee

Hurricane Helene made landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday evening.

Clearwater Beach reported its highest surge since at least the Superstorm of 1993, with a level of nearly 7 feet.

Storm surge even brought floodwaters into Tampa, where gauges near the water showed a surge of more than 6 feet.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor reported "extensive damage" across the city, including Davis Islands and other waterfront areas. Footage taken from a Tampa Police Department helicopter showed flooded residential roads.

Helene's bands produce tornadoes

The hurricane is believed to have produced several tornadoes, with most occurring in the Carolinas.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, it received initial reports of more than a dozen twisters in the bands associated with Helene.

According to officials in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, outside of Raleigh, a significant tornado is believed to have injured 15 people on Friday.

Photos showed businesses that were significantly damaged, with windows blown out of vehicles.

The city's mayor declared a local state of emergency and pledged to rebuild following the disaster.

Tornado damage in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

(City of Rocky Mount, NC / FOX Weather)