Maps indicate the path of Hurricane Helene and the damage it has caused in Florida and Georgia
On Thursday evening, Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region with devastating force as a Category 4 hurricane, resulting in widespread power outages and severe flooding as it traveled into Georgia and the Carolinas.
As Florida assesses the wind and water damage, attention is now turning to Georgia, the Carolinas, and other nearby states.
Reports indicate at least 22 casualties. Over 4.5 million individuals across six states, including Tennessee and Virginia, are without electricity.
Hurricane Helene made landfall with winds reaching 140 mph approximately 10 miles west of Perry, Florida, at around 11:10 p.m. ET on Thursday. This storm marks the first Category 4 hurricane to impact the Big Bend region since 1851, according to YSL News.
States facing power interruptions
Helene rapidly downgraded as it progressed inland. By 11 a.m. ET on Friday, it was classified as a tropical storm with sustained winds of 45 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
At that moment, the storm was located 30 miles southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina, and 105 miles north-northeast of Atlanta.
The flooding caused by Hurricane Helene
At 2:56 p.m. Friday, residents in Newport, Tennessee were ordered to evacuate following the failure of the Waterview Dam due to rising water levels triggered by Helene. Authorities in Cocke County were also evacuating residents alongside the Pigeon and French Broad rivers, as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
In North Carolina, heavy rainfall from Helene is leading to floods, prompting evacuation orders amidst fears of a possible failure of the Lake Lure Dam.
Twenty-two Category 4 hurricanes recorded since 1920
Helene stands as the 22nd Category 4 hurricane in the U.S. since 1920, with only four Category 5 hurricanes documented during the same time frame.
The potential impact of hurricanes
It will take some time before all damages caused by Helene can be fully evaluated. Historical hurricanes have resulted in billions of dollars in losses due to flooding, structural destruction, and power outages.
This story was updated with the latest information.
