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(NewsNation) — At least 92 are dead following Hurricane Helene’s sweep across America’s southeast, inundating Florida’s Big Bend Region, trapping thousands in Asheville, North Carolina, and stirring up tornadoes as it moved eastward.
As of Sunday, millions remain without power days after Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, reaching up to 140 mph wind speeds.
The system was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone Saturday, with catastrophic flooding a concern as it continues its march on Sunday.
Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia experienced heavy rainfall and severe flooding on Friday and Saturday. Each governor declared a state of emergency to receive federal assistance.
Multiple deaths across those states have been attributed to drowning, while some were the result of downed trees or other hurricane-related incidents, like carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
Some of the worst destruction occurred in the storm’s center in Florida’s Big Bend region and South Georgia. Inland cities like Atlanta and Asheville were not shielded from the storm’s impact, with flooding trapping residents and leaving them isolated from contact.
Moody’s Analytics, a company that analyzes economic research, estimates up to $26 billion in property damage caused by Helene so far.
Around 2.7 million people still don’t have power as of Sunday, three days after landfall. 3.8 million people were without electricity on Saturday, the majority of which were in South Carolina with just over 1 million. Florida’s emergency services worked speedily, lowering the number of outages.
Helene in Tennessee
One of the hardest hit areas, Unicoi County, was the site of a dramatic rescue on Friday when 54 people were saved from the roof of a hospital.
Officials say, as of Sunday, 73 people remain unaccounted for in Unicoi.
Emergency Management in the county confirmed “deaths” following flooding in the county on Saturday, though Incident Management Team member Myron Hughes clarified during a Sunday press conference that no official flooding deaths have happened.
The county’s wastewater treatment plant is inoperable and adding to the flooding, with wastewater flowing directly into waterways.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In Tennessee:
- Officials confirm 2 weather-related deaths in Unicoi, Johnson counties
- Mayor: 2 dead in Cocke County after flooding
- 73 unaccounted for in Unicoi County as leaders meet for briefing
- President Biden approves Emergency Declaration for TN
- Newport left underwater following extreme flooding
- Ballad : Everyone rescued from Unicoi Co. Hospital
- PHOTOS: Flooding, storm damage in East Tennessee
- Evacuation ordered for mobile park in Sevier County
Helene in North Carolina
In North Carolina, floodwaters have also rendered cell service and local roads useless in the state’s largest mountain city, Asheville. On Sunday, officials reported that 30 people were killed due to the storm.
Supplies are being airlifted to the region, according to AP. Sources tell NewsNation there are no plans yet for public distribution of food and water, due to delays in supply relief. There are hourslong lines for bottled water at the few open grocery stores.
Rescue efforts include saving 41 people in one mission north of Asheville and an infant. The teams were finding people through both 911 calls and messages on social media, North Carolina Adjutant General Todd Hunt said.
“”I’ve seen houses float down the river, I’ve seen campers float down the river, I’ve seen automobiles float down the river,” one resident told NewsNation.
At least five tornadoes across the state have also been confirmed, according to NewsNation local affiliate WNCN. One, an EF-3 that tore through Rocky Mount, injured 15 people and destroyed a shopping center with winds of 140 mph.
“I was looking out over here and I just started seeing like a giant dust bowl. And all the leaves, like, around here started circulating on the ground,” a resident told WNCN.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In North Carolina:
- Apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Helene
- Hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians without power following Helene
- Biden approves NC disaster relief after Helene flooding
- Rocky Mount recovering after 140 mph tornado injures 15
- Gov. Cooper sending supplies by air to Western NC
- Duke Energy dealing with ‘catastrophic damage’
- Elkin neighbors come together after historic flooding
- Teppers committing $3M to support relief efforts
Helene in Georgia
Georgia Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 25 people had died in the state as of Sunday.
Intense flooding has left multiple counties under water boil advisories and without power on Sunday, a constant refrain for the Peach State since Helene’s arrival.
Within 48 hours, Atlanta received a record 11.62 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center’s Weather Prediction Center data. Asheville received 13.15 inches of rain.
Valdosta, Georgia, was directly hit. A 135-year-old shopping mall, which housed over 50 businesses, was torn apart brick by brick. The owner told NewsNation that rebuilding is not an option.
One Georgia resident, Aaron Jameson, told NewsNation’s Mills Hayes that Helene has impacted his community more than 2023’s Hurricane Idalia.
Residents are lining up at the few open gas stations to get fuel, water and, potentially, food.
“Everything is pretty much down. They got a lot of food trucks kicking up, but most everybody I’ve seen is pretty much outdoor grilling and stuff,” Jameson said. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp toured Valdosta on Saturday.
“The winds were really, really strong and picked up a lot of trees … motorcycles, cars were moving around,” said Valdosta resident Vonquez Garland. “Houses were shaking. It’s a lot of oak trees completely out of the ground.”
“When I woke up, there was stuff everywhere. I ain’t never seen anything like this, not since the last time (Hurricane Idalia in 2023), but this one was worse,” said Valdosta-area resident Rodrick Steward.
The Associated Press reports at least two died from a suspected tornado in Georgia.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In Georgia:
- Georgia EMC expects more days of outages
- Boil water advisory issued for multiple counties
- Chatham Co. cooling, charging, shower centers open
- UPDATE: Local school closures due to Helene
- Restoration times updated, Georgia Power
- 1 dead in Jeff Davis County amid Hurricane Helene
- GALLERY: Local storm damage due to Tropical Storm Helene
- Emergency Food Distribution at Memorial Stadium
Helene in Florida
Some residents are returning to their communities on Sunday, three days after Helene first made U.S. landfall in Florida. At least 11 people passed in the state, NewsNation local affiliate WFLA reports.
Many of the reopened communities, like Longboat Key, still have curfews like in, water boil advisories and only partial power. At nearby Anna Maria Island, residents must show proper documentation and ID in order to access their now-destroyed homes.
“It was shocking driving in and seeing all the piles of sand, and seeing how much sediment was moved by the surge. It’s shocking to see what has happened,” resident Chad Bannick said.
“Worst I’ve ever seen. We had sandbags over a foot high, and the water came in up to 2 feet in our house and took everything out,” another neighbor said.
The entire community in Taylor County, Florida, still does not have power. Andrew Morgan, the county’s emergency management public information officer, said crews have worked tirelessly to clear 90% of all major roads, and once the roads are clear, they can begin fixing power lines.
“We’re going to continue to just move forward and clear out the debris and keep searching and we’ll get back to where we were before this,” Morgan said.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In Florida:
- Residents allowed to return to Longboat Key
- Anna Maria Island residents lost ‘everything’ to Helene
- Hurricane Helene: 11 killed across Tampa Bay
- Depression ‘could form,’ appears to resemble Helene
- 9 found dead in Pinellas County after Hurricane Helene
- PHOTOS: Storm damage around Tampa Bay
- Holmes Beach allows some people back onto island
- DeSantis speaks on recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene
- VIDEO: Hurricane Helene brings high surf and destruction
- Holmes Beach allows some people back onto island
Helene in South Carolina
According to NewsNation’s local affiliate WSPA, two dozen deaths across seven counties have been confirmed by local coroner’s offices. Gov. Henry McMaster corroborated that number on Sunday, telling officials there are 25 confirmed deaths so far.
Those include the death of a security officer at the Macon County courthouse and a deputy from Madison. A man in Spartanburg County passed away after running a generator inside his home, while another person died after their vehicle became submerged in the extensive floods.
Affiliate WSPA reports that more than 500 National Guard soldiers have completed 100 rescue operations in the last two days in Western North Carolina, according to Major Gen. Todd Hunt with the North Carolina National Guard.
“As of this morning, our soldiers and airmen have conducted numerous rescues. And a lot of those have been air rescues,” Hunt said. “Of those we rescued over 119 citizens of NC and their pets.”
Search and rescue crews logged 252 hours of flight time on Friday and Saturday. They continued on Sunday.
“Even as the rain and winds have subsided, the challenges for people there increases. People are desperate for help and we are pushing to get it to them, a massive effort,” Cooper said at Sunday’s press conference.
More than 667,000 customers remain without power in the impacted area, with provider Duke Energy warning customers to expect multi-day outages. Many upstate schools have closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In South Carolina:
- 30 storm deaths confirmed in Buncombe County
- Sunday morning update: Cleanup continues, thousands still without power
- Macon County security officer drowned in river
- More than 500 troops have conducted 117 rescues in Western NC
- Upstate water district warns “limited amount” of water remaining
- Four killed by falling trees in Greenville County on Friday
- Upstate schools districts to close Monday and Tuesday
- Helene aftermath: Where to go for help, how to report damage
Helene in Virginia
West Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office reports 70 rescues across the Commonwealth in the wake of Helene, and one confirmed death.
Flooding, dangerous storms and deadly tornadoes have ransacked the southwest portion of the state.
“We’ve immediately started the initial damage assessment process necessary to request a federal disaster relief declaration and I will immediately make that request once this work is completed. The grit, courage, and perseverance of Southwest Virginians will guide us through this difficult time,” Youngkin said during a visit to Damascus on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of work ahead, but together, I know Southwest Virginia will rebuild stronger than ever. May God continue to be with everyone affected, and may we continue to uplift and support one another in this time of need,” he added.
Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground.
In Virginia:
- PHOTOS: Flooding & fallen trees in Grayson County
- Three saved from flood waters by LFD Search & Rescue Team
- NWS confirms EF-1 tornado in Bedford County during Helene
- Gov. Youngkin releases storm damage assessment after Helene
The Associated Press contributed to this report.