Storm Helene leaves streets underwater in parts of Georgia, where the National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings and said more than a million people are at risk
Helene, which made landfall in Florida last night as a category four hurricane, has weakened to a tropical storm – but officials warn conditions remain “life-threatening”
One of the biggest storms to ever hit the Gulf Coast, Helene is now barrelling across Georgia towards Tennessee and the Carolinas after devastating Florida with fierce winds and flash flooding
One person was killed in Florida by a falling road sign and two people died in Georgia.
Two people dead in North Carolina, governor says
We’ve just been listening to an update from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who says Helene continues to be a threat in the state despite rainfall having stopped in some areas.
“Our hearts are heavy as we report two deaths,” he says, before giving further details.
One occurred during a motor vehicle collision, he says, and another when a tree fell on a home in Charlotte.
More than 100 swift-water rescues have taken place since Helene landed in the state, Cooper adds.
This is crazy, my neighbours’ cars are underwater – Atlanta resident
Back in Georgia, an Atlanta resident has been describing seeing a creek next to her home overflowing earlier – and the fear she had that her apartment would overflow.
Standing in front of some of her neighbours’ vehicles, submerged in water, Alese McGhee tells Reuters news agency: “You know I just didn’t expect this to happen, like, living over here.”
“It wasn’t something that came across my mind. This is so crazy,” she goes on.
“And I feel so bad for the people’s underwater cars. I’m like oh my gosh. Ugh. I don’t know what I would do.”
While Storm Helene rolls north, leaving Florida to deal with some of its aftermath, we can bring you footage from overnight that shows what emergency responders were dealing with.
In the video, a team is seen approaching a house on fire in South Pasadena during water rescue efforts.
We’ve reached out to city authorities for an update on the blaze – and will let you know when we hear back.
Brian Kemp has issued an executive order authorising 1,000 more Georgia Guard troops to assist with efforts in the wake of Storm Helene.
“As we continue to assess Helene’s impact throughout Georgia, our hardworking response teams across the state are tending to casualties, widespread power outages, property damage, and flooding,” he writes in a post on X.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said earlier that tropical storm conditions are still occurring along much of the Georgia coast, extending north up into South Carolina.
These conditions are expected to continue for “several hours”, it added.
Flash flood warning in central Georgia – authorities
The National Weather Service (NWS) has announced a flash flood warning in central Georgia, including Atlanta and the surrounding area.
More than a million residents are at risk, it warns, with 246 schools and 23 hospitals in the area.
Helene crossed into Georgia early on Friday morning, with wind speeds of 110mph (177 km/h). Two people have already died in the state.
The NWS has also issued a storm surge warning from Altamaha Sound in the south of Georgia to Little River Inlet, at the northern edge of South Carolina.
Helene is expected to turn northwest later today, slowing down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday, into Saturday.
Floridians wake up to the damage caused by Helene
We’re beginning to see images of some of the damage caused overnight by Helene in Florida, where the storm made landfall.
Despite being weakened to a tropical storm, officials warn Helene is still ‘life-threatening’
It’s been a treacherous night for anyone living along the path of Helene, with one person killed in Tampa, Florida and two more in Wheeler County, Georgia.
Now classed as a tropical storm, down from a category four hurricane, the US National Hurricane Center warns Helene continues to bring “life-threatening” conditions, with storm surge warnings in place.
BBC Weather’s Sarah Keith-Lucas says the most destructive feature of the storm will now be intense rainfall as it moves inland and pushes north-eastwards through Georgia, Tennessee and into Kentucky. Up to 20 inches (508mm) is possible in places, which may lead to catastrophic flash flooding, she adds.
As we in DC take over editing this live coverage from our colleagues in London, we’re continuing to speak to people on the ground and will bring you their reaction, as well as analysis and explainers.
Helene leaves more than 3 million without power
Hurricane Helene, which has now weakened to a tropical storm, has left more than 3 million people in the US without power, figures show.
PowerOutage.us, external has the number of people in each state without power as shown below:
Florida – 1.1 million
South Carolina – 1.1 million
Georgia – More than 1 million
North Carolina – 400,000
Source: Leticia Osei