At least 37 fatalities have been confirmed by U.S. authorities following Hurricane Helene’s landfall and subsequent movement inland, characterized by intense winds and heavy rain.
Hurricane Helene was one of the most formidable storms to strike the United States, featuring wind gusts reaching 140 mph (225 km/h). The storm made landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane but weakened to a tropical storm as it moved further inland.
North Carolina emergency management officials confirmed the death toll and issued urgent evacuation warnings for residents below the Lake Lure dam due to fears of an “imminent failure.” However, officials later stated that the dam was stable, although its structural integrity had been compromised and evacuations were still in progress.
Earlier, the county posted a warning on social media in all caps: “RESIDENTS BELOW THE LAKE LURE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY!! DAM FAILURE IMMINENT!!” Despite the alarm, Kat Russell, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Quality, assured The Associated Press that there were no signs the Lake Lure Dam was about to collapse.
Hurricane-force winds persisted in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, with heavy rainfall causing significant and life-threatening flooding throughout much of the Southeastern U.S. As daylight broke in Florida, widespread devastation was evident, with storm surges leaving some homes submerged to their rooftops. Boats in marinas were tossed together like toys, while downed trees and power lines complicated emergency response efforts.
Approximately 4 million people were reported without power, stretching from Florida up the East Coast to Virginia. The hurricane impacted Florida’s Big Bend region shortly after 11 PM local time on Thursday, bringing 140 mph winds and a 15-foot storm surge.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed two fatalities, including one driver killed when a sign fell onto their vehicle in Tampa. Additionally, five deaths were reported by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
In Georgia, 11 fatalities were recorded, including two in Wheeler County who died when their trailer overturned on a highway, with one being an emergency responder. South Carolina reported at least 17 deaths, with two individuals in Anderson County killed by falling trees and several others losing their lives in Aiken County. North Carolina also reported two deaths, including a person killed by a tree in Charlotte.
The storm is expected to weaken further, with Hurricane Helene likely transitioning to an extratropical system later on Friday.
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