Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation in the southeastern US, with a death toll rising above 40 people. At least 15 were killed in Georgia, including a first responder and two young children. South Carolina reported at least 17 storm-related deaths, with two firefighters among the casualties. In Florida, five people were killed, two by drowning. Additionally, a 70-year-old woman was found in a flooded house in Tampa.
The storm also caused widespread power outages, with more than 200,000 utility customers in Ohio without power, along with customers in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. Tennessee faced a potential dam failure, prompting evacuations. In Rocky Mount, North Carolina, a tornado spawned by the storm left four people critically injured.
Rescue efforts were underway in Tennessee, with helicopters arriving at Unicoi Hospital to rescue 50 staff and patients trapped on the roof due to flooding from the nearby river. Weather experts warned that the effects of Hurricane Helene would continue to be felt in the coming days, with catastrophic flooding expected.
The storm has caused significant damage and destruction, with homes washed away in Florida’s Big Bend and storm surge setting new records in the Tampa Bay area. Ballad Health, which runs Unicoi Hospital, confirmed the evacuation of patients and staff to the hospital roof due to rapid flooding. The storm is expected to result in tens of billions of dollars in damage and economic impacts.
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