3 million without power as ‘life-threatening’ conditions batter south-east US
Shannon Ho
At least 3 million people were without power early Friday, according to poweroutage.us, as Tropical Storm Helene continued to thrash its way through Georgia after making landfall in Florida as a category 4 hurricane.
The millions without power include 1.2 million in Florida, 974,000 in Georgia, 974,000 in South Carolina and 330,000 in North Carolina, according to poweroutage.us.
The National Hurricane Center’s 5am advisory warned of “catastrophic, life-threatening, record-breaking flash & urban flooding.” The storm is expected to continue inland in Georgia.
Key events
A sailor and his dog were rescued from the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday during the storm after their boat became disabled and took on water 25 miles from Sanibel Island, the US Coast Guard said.
Fema chief reports ‘over 600 rescues’
Emergency crews have performed more than 600 rescue operations across the south eastern US, with more still under way, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has said.
Deanne Criswell gave the update to CNN, telling the network that crews were hampered by flooding, fallen trees and storm debris in multiple areas:
We’ve had all of our search and rescue teams engaged throughout the evening. In fact, we’ve done over 600 rescues, not just Fema and federal resources, but the state and local resources as well.
[Teams] are still actively engaged doing search and rescue, helping people get off roofs or get from their homes into a safe area.
This is still a very dangerous situation. If you’re still in the path of the storm… I’m worried about landslides. There’s such a variety of threats coming from the storm. There are reports of tornadoes.
A fifth person reported killed by now-Tropical Storm Helene was trapped inside a home by a fallen tree in Charlotte, North Carolina, authorities said. A second person in the home was rescued. Other fatalities were reported in Florida and Georgia.
At approximately 5:11 a.m., Charlotte Fire responded to an emergency on the 4200 block of Brookway Drive, where a tree had fallen onto a home, trapping two people inside. One person was rescued and transported to a nearby hospital. Tragically, the other person was found deceased.…
— Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) September 27, 2024
Hello, this is Richard Luscombe in Florida picking up our live blog coverage of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the south eastern US.
Daylight here within the last hour has given hundreds of thousands of people their first glimpse of the devastation caused by the category 4 hurricane that swept ashore shortly after 11pm local time last night.
At least five people were killed, a death toll expected to rise; more than three million people are without power; storm watches and warnings have been posted in 12 states; and a flash flood advisory is in place in Atlanta.
Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, is expected to give an update within the next hour. Helene, meanwhile, has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but is still dumping rain and causing havoc over a wide area.
Stick with us for the latest developments.
Shannon Ho
Flash flood emergencies have also been declared in several counties in South Carolina, North Carolina and other parts of Georgia.
The National Weather Service’s X account has been posting counties that are under threat of severe flooding today.
Flash flood emergency issued for Atlanta area
Shannon Ho
A flash flood emergency has been issued for the Atlanta area in Georgia, where tropical storm Helene is now wreaking havoc.
Atlanta-Fulton county posted to social media warning people to not walk or drive in the flooded areas.
A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for central and southern Fulton County, including Atlanta.
**DANGEROUS FLASH FLOODING OCCURRING**DO NOT walk or drive through flooded areas. IF TRAPPED, go to the highest level of your home/building, including the roof. Do not climb into a closed attic. pic.twitter.com/Tcw2ko6WwZ
— Atlanta-Fulton County EMA (@AFCEMA) September 27, 2024
3 million without power as ‘life-threatening’ conditions batter south-east US
Shannon Ho
At least 3 million people were without power early Friday, according to poweroutage.us, as Tropical Storm Helene continued to thrash its way through Georgia after making landfall in Florida as a category 4 hurricane.
The millions without power include 1.2 million in Florida, 974,000 in Georgia, 974,000 in South Carolina and 330,000 in North Carolina, according to poweroutage.us.
The National Hurricane Center’s 5am advisory warned of “catastrophic, life-threatening, record-breaking flash & urban flooding.” The storm is expected to continue inland in Georgia.
Watch footage of swamped neighbourhoods as Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida.
Storm watches and warnings are in place in 12 states, CNN reports.
Six states have declared emergencies.
More than 1.28 million homes and businesses in Florida were without power today, Reuters reported.