Tropical Storm Helene knocked out power for millions in the southeastern United States on Friday, killing at least four people after making landfall on Florida’s coast as a hurricane.
As it weakened to a tropical storm, Helene swept inland across Georgia and South Carolina, flooding roads and homes. Officials warned of life-threatening flash floods, landslides, and up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain.
The National Hurricane Center predicted “catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash flooding” along with record river flooding, particularly across the southern Appalachians, where landslides are likely.
By Friday, four people had died due to storm-related incidents: one in Florida, one in North Carolina, and two in Georgia. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported that one person was killed by a fallen sign on a highway. In Georgia, a man and a woman died after a tornado lifted their trailer, according to Governor Brian Kemp. In North Carolina, a fallen tree claimed a life in Charlotte.
Images circulating in US media showed torn billboards and sparks from damaged power lines. More than 3.4 million homes and businesses across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
