Hurricane Helene Leaves at Least 30 Dead as President Approves Emergency Aid | Latest US News
At least 30 people have been killed as Hurricane Helene barrelled its way across southeastern US.
It generated a massive storm surge and knocked out power to millions of customers in Florida and neighbouring states.
Emergency crews are racing to rescue people trapped in flooded homes after Helene struck the coast of Florida as a highly destructive Category 4 storm.
It struck with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) in the rural Big Bend area, the northwestern part of Florida.
The National Hurricane Center said preliminary information shows water levels reached more than 15ft above ground in that region – but the damage has extended hundreds of miles north.
Helene, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, is now over North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45mph (72kph).
US President Joe Biden approved emergency declaration requests from the governors of several southern states affected by Helene.
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina will receive help from more than 1,500 emergency response personnel including search and rescue teams, medical support staff and engineering experts.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the damage from Helene in the area appears to be greater than the combined damage of Idalia and Hurricane Debby in August. “It’s demoralizing,” he said.
Many of the stranded in places like Tampa could only be reached by boat, with officials warning the water could contain live wires, sewage, sharp objects and other debris.
More than four million properties are without power across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas according to the logging website, PowerOutage.
Prior to the hurricane making landfall, officials in Florida begged residents to evacuate. The sheriff’s office in rural Taylor County issued a chilling warning to those who refused to leave.
“Please write your name, birthday, and important information on your arm or leg in a permanent marker so that you can be identified and family notified,” the post on Facebook said.
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