live icon
Updated

At Least 64 Dead, Millions Without Power as Helene Remnants Leave Southeast

| Published | Updated
At Least 64 Dead, Millions Without Power as Helene Remnants Leave Southeast
A rooftop of a Sunoco gas station destroyed by Hurricane Helene after making landfall is seen in Perry, Fla., on Sept. 27, 2024. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
Here is the latest
At Least 64 Dead, Millions Still Without Power, Western NC Cut Off
Death Toll From Hurricane Helene Rises to at Least 44
Waterville Dam Failure a ‘False Alarm’
Hurricane Helene Downgraded to ‘Post-Tropical Cyclone’
South Carolina: Over 1.2 Million Residents Without Power
At Least 64 Dead, Millions Still Without Power, Western NC Cut Off
T.J. Muscaro

The estimated death toll of Hurricane Helene has risen from 44 in the morning to at least 64 as of the evening of Sept. 28, and millions of people across 10 states are still without power as the storm’s remnants leave the south behind and push into the midwest.

As of Saturday morning, more than 1 million utility customers in South Carolina are without power, according to poweroutage.us. More than 775,000 are without power in Georgia, and more than 717,000 in North Carolina.

Florida’s power outage numbers are down to nearly 470,000, from a high of more than 1.2 million on Friday.

Death Toll From Hurricane Helene Rises to at Least 44
Caden Pearson

The death toll resulting from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 44 across four states, as it rampaged its way through the southeast United States.

Rescue operations continued in several locations as people became trapped by rising floodwaters, and millions were without power across multiple states.

Some hospitals in southern Georgia lost power because of the storm. Gov. Brian Kemp said rescuers used chainsaws to clear debris and open up roads.

Waterville Dam Failure a ‘False Alarm’

Reports of Tennessee’s Waterville Dam failure on Friday afternoon were a “false alarm,” according to officials at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and Duke Energy, the dam’s owner.

An hour before the retraction, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis had ordered downtown Newport evacuated, citing a “catastrophic failure” in the dam.

Despite the retraction, officials at the city of Newport are asking residents to remain sheltered, and have opened Parrottsville Elementary School as a refuge for those who are stranded.

Hurricane Helene Downgraded to ‘Post-Tropical Cyclone’

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded Helene to a post-tropical cyclone.

The storm was a Category 4 hurricane as it tore through Florida on Thursday night, and as of 5 p.m. ET, it had reached southeast Louisville, Kentucky.

Although the storm has been downgraded, the NHC warned that heavy rains, flash flooding, and major landslides remain a risk.

South Carolina: Over 1.2 Million Residents Without Power

Hurricane Helene has caused power outages in South Carolina affecting around 1.2 million residents, according to state officials. The outages have hit around 40 percent of that state’s homes and businesses.

Officials warned at a press conference on Friday that restoring power may be a lengthy process, noting that in some places, workers are forced to cut through debris.

“Life’s not going to be back to normal until probably the middle of next week,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina.

Tennessee Dam Suffers ‘Catastrophic Failure,’ Thousands Told to Evacuate

The failure of eastern Tennessee’s Waterville Dam has prompted authorities to order the evacuation of 7,000 residents in the area.

Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis took to social media to warn that the dam has experienced a “catastrophic failure,” ordering residents in downtown Newport to flee immediately.

Earlier on Friday, he had warned residents to move to higher ground if they were near French Broad or Pigeon Rivers.

Georgia Power Co. Will Make Emergency Dam Release Near Lake Rubin

Georgia Power Co. is warning residents that it needs to make an emergency water release from a dam near Lake Rubin in northeast Georgia.

Gov. Brian Kemp says residents in the area should evacuate now, if possible. The release will not flood homes but will likely make roads and bridges in the area inaccessible “for at least a day or multiple hours,” Kemp said at a press conference.

The water release is necessary to prevent the dam from failing. The National Weather Service warned earlier today that North Carolina’s Lake Lure dam is in imminent danger of failing.

Hurricane Helene Death Toll Rises to at Least 35

At least 35 people have lost their lives due to hazardous conditions, flooding, and motor vehicle accidents resulting from Hurricane Helene.

South Carolina has reported 17 deaths, two as a result of trees crashing into homes.

In Georgia, where the hurricane has been downgraded to a tropical storm, Gov. Brian Kemp said that at least 11 people have died.

2 Dead in North Carolina as Hurricane Helene Prompts Floods, Landslides

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on Friday that 2 residents have perished due to hazardous conditions caused by Hurricane Helene: One was killed in a crash in a flooded area and another died when a tree fell onto a house.

Cooper urged residents to shelter in place unless seeking higher ground. Rains are expected to continue for the next 24 hours, he said, but flooding will continue through the weekend.

The governor said the storm systems had resulted in 290 closed roads in western North Carolina and warned residents to use caution in avoiding flooded areas.

4.4 Million Outages Due to Hurricane: FEMA

WASHINGTON—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said in a press call that there are 4.4 million outages in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The agency could not say when the outages will be fixed.

More than 50,000 utility personnel from 27 states are being sent to the affected areas, according to FEMA.

The American Red Cross has 143 shelters holding 9,400 evacuees from Florida to North Carolina, said Jennifer Pipa, the organization’s vice president of disaster programs.

Dam Failure Imminent in North Carolina After Helene Hits State: National Weather Service
Jack Phillips
Dam Failure Imminent in North Carolina After Helene Hits State: National Weather Service
Flood waters wash over Guy Ford Road bridge on the Watauga River as Hurricane Helene approaches in the North Carolina mountains, in Sugar Grove, N.C., on Sept. 26, 2024. Jonathan Drake/Reuters

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an urgent flash flood emergency warning that a North Carolina dam is at imminent risk of failure as Tropical Storm Helene dumped heavy rainfall on the region. Officials later on Friday said that the dam is holding for now.

“Urgent: flash flood emergency for the Lake Lure Dam! Dam failure imminent! Rsidents [sic] below the dam need to evacuate to higher ground immediately,” NWS’s office in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, wrote in an all-caps message on social media.

By Friday afternoon, officials said that dam’s wall is holding, but they warned that the Broad River is overtopping its boundaries and support structures are compromised.

11 People Have Died in Georgia

At least 11 people have died as a result of the hurricane in Georiga, Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed.

“This has been a deadly storm,” the governor said at a press briefing. He said that a first responder was among those to have died.

Georgia experienced wind gusts of more than 90 mph during the morning of Sept. 27, he said.

Biden Approves Emergency Requests in Florida, Other States

President Joe Biden announced on Sept. 27 that he has approved emergency requests from Florida and other states in light of the Category 4 Hurricane Helene.

“I've approved emergency requests in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and deployed 1,500 response personnel—my Administration stands ready to provide more support as needed,” Biden wrote in a post on X.

“As we mourn the lives of those who were taken by this storm, I urge folks to heed the direction of local officials and take every precaution to keep themselves and their families safe.”

Tampa Experiences Flooding

TAMPA, Fla.—It was the worst storm surge on record for the city of Tampa.

While Hurricane Helene was making landfall in the Big Bend, its tail bands threw wind and seawater onto Florida’s Gulf Coast to catastrophic effect.

The Category 4 hurricane hit Florida on Sept. 26 with maximum winds of 140 mph. Almost 4 million homes are without power in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Six people have died in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Tampa Mayor Surveys Damage

Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor posted a video on X of her surveying the damage to her town in the aftermath of Helene.

She flew alongside the Tampa Bay Police Department. The footage shows widespread flooding.

“We’re seeing extensive damage on Davis Islands and waterfront areas. The National Guard has activated to help with rescue efforts,” Castor wrote.

DeSantis Confirms 2nd Death in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that a second person has died as a result of Helene, which hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26.

The death was in Dixie County, in the northern part of the Sunshine State.

“I pray that’s it,” said DeSantis at a press conference. “But I also know these were very hazardous conditions.”

A boat is stuck to the dock after breaking loose during record storm surge in Tampa Bay, Fla., on Sept. 27, 2024. (T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times)
A boat is stuck to the dock after breaking loose during record storm surge in Tampa Bay, Fla., on Sept. 27, 2024. T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times
Ron De Santis Says Helene Saw ‘Historic Storm Surge’
Chris Summers

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has given a press briefing about how the Sunshine State fared during the night after being struck by Hurricane Helene.

Helene, which has now weakened to a tropical storm, made landfall on the west coast of Florida and then passed north into Georgia, where it is currently located.

DeSantis said parts of Florida had seen a “historic storm surge” and that more than 1.2 million people were without power on Friday morning.

A boat is stuck to the dock after breaking loose during record storm surge in Tampa Bay, Fla., on Sept. 27, 2024. (T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times)
A boat is stuck to the dock after breaking loose during record storm surge in Tampa Bay, Fla., on Sept. 27, 2024. T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times
Flash Flood Emergency Warning for Atlanta
Chris Summers

Tropical Storm Helene, which has been downgraded from a hurricane, is dumping rain on Atlanta, but the center is passing to the east of the city, after weakening as it crossed Georgia overnight.

At 8:00 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) published an update, warning that a flash flood emergency was in effect for metropolitan Atlanta.

The NHC said Tropical Storm Helene was 80 miles east northeast of Atlanta and was producing “damaging gusty winds and life-threatening flooding” over parts of the southeast and southern Appalachians.

Power Outages Reach Virginia, FEMA Chief Heads to Florida
Chris Summers

PowerOutage.us says properties as far north as Virginia have been hit with power cuts.

They say 1.2 million customers in Florida are without power, 900,000 in Georgia, 697,000 in South Carolina, 237,000 in North Carolina, and 11,000 in Virginia.

Insurance broker Gallagher Re said preliminary private insurance losses could be as high as $6 billion, with losses to federal insurance programs adding up to $1 billion.

Valdosta in Southern Georgia Battered For Third Time
Chris Summers

Hurricane Helene, which has now weakened to a tropical storm, battered Valdosta—a city of 55,000 people—in southern Georgia overnight.

Helene is the third storm to strike Valdosta in just over a year, following Hurricane Idalia in Aug. 2023 and Tropical Storm Debby in Aug. 2024.

Fermin Herrera, 20, his wife, and their 2-month-old daughter told The Associated Press they took shelter in the lobby of a hotel in Valdosta because of fears trees might fall on their home.

Helene Downgraded to Tropical Storm
Chris Summers

Hurricane Helene has weakened as it moves inland across the state of Georgia.

At 5:00 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said the eye of Hurricane Helene was 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, and 40 miles east of Macon, Ga. but it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.

It said the maximum sustained winds had decreased to 70 mph, with stronger gusts.

2 Killed by Tornado as Helene Crosses Into Georgia
Chris Summers

The center of Hurricane Helene has crossed over from Florida into Georgia, while a tornado has claimed two lives in Wheeler County in the center of the state.

The Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, has written on X: “Marty, the girls, and I are saddened to learn of the loss of two lives in Wheeler County this evening. As we join their families in mourning their deaths, we urge all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant, and pray for all those affected.”

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center reports Hurricane Helene has crossed into Georgia, and at 2:00 a.m. ET. was 30 miles north of Valdosta, Ga.

Over 1.2 Million Households Without Power in Florida
Caden Pearson

More than 1.2 million customers in Florida are without power as Hurricane Helene sweeps through the state, according to PowerOutage.us.

Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are also impacted, with 126,220 customers out in Georgia, 16,072 in South Carolina, and 14,262 in North Carolina as of 1:15 a.m. ET.

Flood waters wash over Guy Ford Road bridge on the Watauga River as Hurricane Helene approaches in the North Carolina mountains, in Sugar Grove, N.C., on Sept. 26, 2024. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)
Flood waters wash over Guy Ford Road bridge on the Watauga River as Hurricane Helene approaches in the North Carolina mountains, in Sugar Grove, N.C., on Sept. 26, 2024. Jonathan Drake/Reuters
Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall in Florida as Category 4
Caden Pearson

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm at approximately 11:10 p.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The eye crossed the coastline just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, located about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida.

Hurricane Helene brings life-threatening winds and storm surge, the National Hurricane Center warned in its latest public advisory at 11 p.m. ET.

Satellite image shows Hurricane Helene churning through the Gulf of Florida on Sept. 26, 2024. (Screenshot via NASA/ Reuters)
Satellite image shows Hurricane Helene churning through the Gulf of Florida on Sept. 26, 2024. Screenshot via NASA/ Reuters
1 Death Reported as Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall: DeSantis
Caden Pearson

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday night press conference in Tallahassee that one person has died due to the dangerous conditions brought on by Hurricane Helene.

The governor said a sign fell and struck a car on Interstate 4 near Ybor City in the Tampa area, resulting in the fatality.

“So that just shows you that it’s very dangerous conditions out there,” DeSantis said. “You need to be, right now, just hunkering down. Now is not the time to be going out.”

Millions Without Power, Authorities Warn: ‘Take Cover Now’
Caden Pearson

Millions are without power in Florida as authorities warn residents to take shelter in the strongest part of their homes as Hurricane Helene is set to hit.

As of the latest update, nearly 700,000 households are experiencing an outage, according to reports from local electric providers.

Outages are increasing amid ongoing efforts to restore power following widespread disruptions.

Florida Official Fears Fatalities as People Ignore Evacuation Orders
T.J. Muscaro

TAMPA—With more than 1,000 first responders ready to enter areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Florida’s State Fire Marshal and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said that he is concerned about the people in the landfall vicinity who ignored evacuation orders.

“In the case like St George Island, I think they've identified 70 people that refuse to leave, and this is going to be one of the hardest hit places, and unfortunately, that stubbornness is going to lead to some number of loss of life,” he told The Epoch Times.

“It's going to be unfortunate.”

Vehicles drive through a flooded street as Hurricane Helene churns offshore in St. Pete Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Vehicles drive through a flooded street as Hurricane Helene churns offshore in St. Pete Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Hurricane Helene Likely to Make Landfall as Category 4
T.J. Muscaro

TAMPA—Hurricane Helene is maintaining its Category 4 status as it closes in on Florida’s Big Bend region, bringing catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds.

The National Hurricane Center said “It seems likely that Helene will be at or very near Category 4 strength when it makes landfall.”

As of 8 p.m. ET, Helene still had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Its center was tagged just 80 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key and 115 miles south of Tallahassee.

Satellite image of Hurricane Helene as it closes in on the Florida Panhandle at 8:10 p.m ET on Sept. 26, 2024 (NOAA/NESDIS/STAR - GOES-East)
Satellite image of Hurricane Helene as it closes in on the Florida Panhandle at 8:10 p.m ET on Sept. 26, 2024 NOAA/NESDIS/STAR - GOES-East
Helene Strengthens to Category 4
T.J. Muscaro

TAMPA—Hurricane Helene is now a Category 4 Hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center announced, "A NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft currently investigating Helene recently found that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph.”

At this time, the storm’s center is 120 miles west of Tampa, and 165 miles south of Tallahassee. It is pushing toward the Big Bend region of Florida’s Panhandle at 23 mph.

Biden, Harris Comment on Hurricane
T.J. Muscaro

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the impending impacts of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26.

“The President and I, of course, are monitoring the case and the situation closely, and we urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously and please follow the guidance of your local officials,” said Harris.

"I've directed FEMA to work with the state partners to take proactive measures to ensure the communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and other states have to support the resources they need,” Biden said.

Hurricane Helene Nears Cat 4 Strength
T.J. Muscaro

TAMPA—Hurricane Helene is getting even stronger as it closes in on the Florida Panhandle.

The National Hurricane Center announced Helene had sustained winds of 125 mph 175 miles south of Tallahassee and 130 miles west of Tampa, as of 5 p.m. ET on Sept. 26. Hurricane-force winds were recorded 60 miles out from its center and Tropical storm force winds extend out 310 miles.

A Category 4 hurricane has winds of at least 130 mph.

Gov. Kemp Briefs Georgia Ahead of Helene’s Arrival

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp addressed residents and members of the press in preparation for Hurricane Helene’s arrival as all 159 counties are under a state of emergency.

As of 1:30 p.m. ET, the governor said the storm will hit South Georgia as early as sunset tonight through sunrise tomorrow morning. Middle Georgia will be hit roughly between 10 p.m. tonight and 10 a.m. tomorrow, and then North Georgia will start to be affected around midnight through noon.

Hurricane-force winds and wind gusts of 80–100 mph are expected, and the risk of tornadoes forming is also a concern.

Gov. Cooper Prepares North Carolina for Hurricane Helene
T.J. Muscaro

North Carolina’s Gov. Roy Cooper addressed residents on Sept. 26 as his administration also prepares to brace for Hurricane Helene.

"This is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring heavy rain and potentially catastrophic flooding tonight and tomorrow for Central and particularly Western North Carolina," he said. "When tropical weather crosses into our mountains, it can be deadly."

Tropical storm conditions could also appear in Charlotte, he added.

Hurricane Helene Will Be ‘Multi-State Event’: Here’s Which States Will Be Impacted
Jack Phillips
Hurricane Helene Will Be ‘Multi-State Event’: Here’s Which States Will Be Impacted
A map provided Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, shows the rainfall forecast across the southern United States. The orange and red areas are where the most rain is slated to fall. National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, is projected to slam Florida’s northwestern coast on the evening of Sept. 26. It is also forecast to bring heavy rains across much of the southern United States over the coming weekend.

A map from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Sept. 26 shows Hurricane Helene hitting the Florida Panhandle, with the state’s capital Tallahassee being at or near the center of the storm’s forecasted path. The storm is expected to strengthen further before making landfall, according to the NHC.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned on social media that a “catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves.”

Helene Now Major Category 3 Hurricane
T.J. Muscaro

TAMPA—Hurricane Helene is now a major hurricane looking to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Thursday evening, according to The National Hurricane Center. Afterward, its center is expected to be within the Atlanta-Marietta metro area by 8 a.m. Sept. 27.

“The Air Force Hurricane Hunters found that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near-120 mph,” the National Hurricane Center stated in a special update released at 2:25 p.m. ET, making it a Category 3 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Maximum sustained winds were only just recorded at 110 mph as of 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 26.