The storm has led to numerous fatalities, with individuals seeking refuge on rooftops as helicopters rescue them. Local leaders have urgently advised residents to evacuate, while inmates have been hastily relocated from facilities in danger of flooding.

Helene has caused significant destruction throughout the Southeastern United States. Initially hitting Florida as a hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph, the storm inflicted extensive damage before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone with 25 mph winds. Nevertheless, the torrential rains have turned portions of North Carolina and Tennessee into swamped regions, resulting in approximately 3.8 million power outages by Saturday morning.

As of Saturday morning, about 100,000 residents in Tennessee were advised to find higher ground due to the Nolichucky Dam nearing failure.

The Tennessee Valley Authority issued a warning about an “imminent breach” at the dam. Fortunately, by morning, the river levels peaked and the dam remained secure but required further evaluation; water levels were reported to be 8 feet above record heights, according to TVA.

On Friday, authorities also issued an emergency evacuation for downtown Newport, Tennessee, due to another dam being at risk of “catastrophic” failure; however, this turned out to be a false alarm by Friday afternoon.

The flooding concerns prompted President Joe Biden to approve emergency disaster relief for Tennessee on Saturday.

Heavy rainfall totals were astonishing, particularly in the North Carolina mountains, where totals included 29.6 inches at Busick and 24.2 inches at Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River.

Helene made landfall at approximately 11:10 p.m. ET on Thursday near Perry, Florida, marking it as the first recorded Category 4 storm to impact Florida’s Big Bend region since 1851. The storm continued its journey through western Kentucky on Saturday and is forecasted to move slowly southeast and then east along the Kentucky-Tennessee border throughout the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“It’s devastated,” remarked Jordon Bowen of the Florida State Guard Special Missions Unit to The Palm Beach Post, part of the YSL News Network, regarding the area affected by Helene. “It’s inaccessible, filled with debris, many hazards exist, downed power lines, and homes have been severely damaged.”

At least 43 fatalities have been reported due to Helene’s devastation as of late Friday, with officials suggesting that the death toll could continue to rise as they carry out door-to-door checks in the aftermath.

Key Updates:

∎ Residents in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria city near Sarasota, Florida, have been granted permission to return to evaluate damage and begin cleanup efforts starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The John Ringling Causeway has also reopened for residents and business operators in Bird Key, St. Armands Key, and Lido Key.

∎ East Tennessee continues to experience scattered wind and flash flood warnings, which are compounded by gusty winds, making conditions hazardous, according to forecasters.

Damage estimates projected in the billions

Helene’s destructive winds and flooding are anticipated to result in damages and economic losses between $95 and $110 billion, establishing it as one of the most expensive storms in recorded history, as per initial estimates from AccuWeather.

This projection encompasses damages to homes, businesses, roads, vehicles, disruption from power outages, alongside lost wages, flight cancellations, disruptions in the supply chain, and more, according to a release from AccuWeather.

Previous catastrophic storms include Hurricane Ian in 2022, which incurred damages between $180 and $210 billion; Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017 with a combined total of around $270 billion; Hurricane Sandy in 2012 which caused $210 billion in damages; and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with damages reaching about $320 billion. AccuWeather’s figures have been adjusted for inflation.

What caused the massive rainfall from Helene?

A combination of weather systems over the eastern United States created the severe flooding, prompting midnight evacuations for those near the Nolichucky River in Tennessee as officials issued alerts regarding potential dam failures and powerful floodwaters that battered communities.

Earlier in the week, meteorologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated that a moisture band preceding Helene contributed to the heavy rainfall. These “predecessor events” have been known to cause substantial rainfall before the arrival of tropical storms and hurricanes.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, preliminary data showed nearly 10 inches of rain in Asheville and 8 inches in Tryon over Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, about six inches fell in Bristol-Johnson, Tennessee, and more than four inches in Knoxville within the same timeframe.

As Helene’s large circulation merged with these factors, more rain followed, culminating in its transition into a post-tropical cyclone. Recent studies have revealed that some hurricanes…

Moisture from the warming Gulf of Mexico is contributing to increased rainfall totals.

By Friday evening, some areas in the Southeast experienced record-breaking rainfall, surpassing a foot of rain in parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia also saw significant rainfall, with amounts ranging from 4 to 7 inches.

Heavy rain flowing into rivers in mountainous regions led to severe flooding, setting a new record on the Pigeon River at Newport, Tennessee. Asheville also recorded high levels on both the French Broad River and the Swannanoa River near the Biltmore estate.

At least three of the records broken on Friday dated back over a century to a series of tropical systems in July 1916 that caused extensive rainfall.

‒ Dinah Voyles Pulver, YSL News

Increasing Death Toll

The dangerous weather caused by Helene has led to reported fatalities along its path, with officials anticipating the death toll will rise. At least 43 deaths have been confirmed so far.

In Florida, seven deaths have been linked to the storm. In Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater and St. Petersburg, five storm-related deaths were reported, according to Cathie Perkins, the emergency management director. Earlier Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis reported a fatal incident in Dixie County when a tree fell on a house. Additionally, a storm-related traffic accident in Ybor City, Tampa, claimed one life Thursday night, the governor stated.

Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp reported that at least 15 people died due to the storm, including a first responder. “One of our finest lost his life trying to save others,” Kemp said at a news conference.

In South Carolina, local reports indicate at least 19 fatalities due to the storm. Incidents included two individuals killed by fallen trees in their homes, as reported by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and coroner’s office. Governor Henry McMaster mentioned the deaths of two firefighters in Saluda County and two other fatalities in Newberry County. In Aiken County, four additional deaths were reported.

In North Carolina, a 4-year-old child lost their life and several others were injured in a crash on Thursday as Helene’s outer bands impacted the state. In Charlotte, one person died and another sustained injuries when a tree fell on their home early Friday morning, according to local fire officials.

Winds Devastate Florida Towns

Helene initially struck Florida’s Big Bend region with wind speeds reaching 140 mph. This area along the Gulf Coast near Tallahassee has faced numerous storms, but none as destructive as Helene.

“It’s total devastation,” stated Scott Peters, owner of a bar that was destroyed in Florida. “I’ve got to start completely over.”

Peters, who owns Crabbie Dad’s bar, is among many in Steinhatchee, located miles from where Helene hit land.

This town experienced an unprecedented 9.63 feet of storm surge, flooding areas that were previously dry with 40 to 50 inches of water, as reported by a state guard official.

Local resident John Kujawski explained that the storm reopened wounds from Hurricane Idalia, which impacted the town in August 2023. Previously repaired roofs were damaged anew, docks were tossed onto shore, and boats were thrown into marina pilings.

The storm severely damaged many homes in Horseshoe Beach, another nearby coastal town. Some homes were moved off their concrete foundations while others had their roofs ripped off by the winds.

Helene removed the staircases from Bill and Debbie Dotson’s home, forcing the couple to live in a tent on the ground beneath it. Their house, like many others in the region, is elevated on concrete footings to withstand floods.

The Dotsons believe Helene caused more damage than Idalia, which destroyed approximately 40 homes. The recent storm also damaged one of their staircases, which had just undergone a $15,000 repair.

This storm is the fourth hurricane the couple has faced since moving to the area in 2021.

“We discussed hurricanes, but you never really expect something like this. You just don’t,” said Debbie Dotson, 63. “We are thankful it’s still standing.”

Heavy Rainfall in Tennessee

As Helene moved into Tennessee and North Carolina, its winds weakened, but it released enough rainfall to nearly inundate a hospital, elevate river levels to record heights, and prompt officials to advise citizens to seek higher ground in anticipation of possible dam failures.

Authorities from Florida to Virginia urged residents to evacuate to safer areas.

The Nolichucky River near the North Carolina border nearly swept away Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee. Rising waters forced 54 hospital staff and patients to the roof, where they were rescued by helicopters and boats.

“The hospital was surrounded by dangerously fast-moving water,” Ballad Health stated in a plea for assistance on social media, shortly before conditions improved enough for rescue vehicles to access the area.

The Pigeon River in Newport surged past previous records, reaching 27 feet. Local officials anticipate that the French Broad River may also reach record heights by Saturday morning.

The rising water levels in downtown Newport led to the evacuation of the jail situated by the Pigeon River, with around 60 inmates being relocated from the Cocke County Jail to the Jefferson County Jail, according to officials.