(NewsNation) — After making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, Helene is continuing to track inland as a weakened tropical storm, bringing flooding and leaving millions without power in the Southeast.
There have been at least 44 reported fatalities from the storm across five states after catastrophic flooding and storm surge that left destruction in their wake, according to The Associated Press.
Deaths have been confirmed in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
Multiple deaths have been attributed to drowning, while some were the result of trees falling. State officials say dozens more are still trapped inside their homes, The Associated Press reports.
In Florida, crews have been working to rescue people stuck in floodwaters with some areas experiencing up to 9 feet of flooding. Crews are also dealing with downed powerlines and other hazards from the storm.
As Helene barreled through Georgia, wind gusts over 90 mph were reported with sustained winds at 60 mph. Headed toward the Carolinas, there are flood warnings across the Southeast, including North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and southern Illinois and southern Indiana.
In Western North Carolina, significant flooding and road closures were reported with the Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County at imminent risk of failure. Those in the area were being advised to evacuate immediately.
The flash flood emergency remains in place until 2 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Rising floodwaters and a mudslide washed out the interstate near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. The closure occurred around 12:30 p.m. Friday and is expected to reopen by 5 p.m. Saturday, NewsNation local affiliate WJZY reports.
Millions have also been left without power thanks to the storm.
More than 595,000 people in Florida are left without power, along with 860,000 outages reported in Georgia, more than 1.16 million in South Carolina and more than 812,000 in North Carolina.
As the weakened system makes its way north, power outages are following. Virginia is reporting more than 220,000 without power, while Ohio has more than 315,000.
In Tennessee, Sen. Bill Hagerty posted on social media that as flood waters rise in the eastern portion of his state, more than 50 people have been stranded on the roof of a local hospital.
As of 5 p.m. on Friday, Ballad Health told NewsNation local affiliate WJHL all patients and personnel had been rescued.
NewsNation’s Jeff Arnold, Devan Markham and Anna Kutz contributed to this story.
Damage is severe across several states. Click the links below for coverage from NewsNation affiliates on the ground in each state.
In Florida:
- Water surge hits record levels in Tampa Bay
- Millions left without electricity
- ‘It was bad’: residents shocked at how fast the water rose
- ‘Worst in recent history’ in Hernando County
- Damage survey from the air
- Photos of destruction in Tampa
- 5 dead in Pinellas County
- Holmes Beach damaged
- More than 100 rescued from flooding in Citrus
- Rescue crews find burning home
- No access to Pinellas Barrier islands
- Video: Tampa rescues
- Drone captures video inside Helene
- Apalachicola mostly evacuated
- Gov. DeSantis gives update on effects of Hurricane Helene
In Georgia:
- GALLERY: Local storm damage due to Tropical Storm Helene
- ‘Don’t cut the wire’: Verizon asks that residents call before cutting
- 1 dead in Jeff Davis County amid Hurricane Helene
- Governor gives update after Helene hits
- Massive trees down around Savannah
- 15 dead in the greater Savannah region
- More than 400 gas leaks reported
- 2 killed when mobile home flips
- Photos from northern Georgia
- Photos from Augusta region
In Tennessee:
- Everyone rescued at Unoicoi County Hospital
- Flooding throughout Tennessee
- Photos from eastern Tennessee
- Evacuations in Cocke County due to flooding
- Knoxville braces for deluge
- Roan Mountain evacuated
- Marinas warn boaters
- Interstate 26 closed in Northeast TN
- Sycamore Shoals Hospital evacuated
- Video: Boat ripped below bridge
- Photos: Water covers Hampton High School
In South Carolina:
- Helene’s tornadoes rip through Lowcountry
- Western Carolinas see flooding, damage
- Woman rescued from sailboat in Wando River
- Governor giving updated information
- 6 dead in Spartanburg County
- 4 dead from falling trees in Greenville County
- 2 dead after tree hits home in Anderson County
In North Carolina:
- Flash flood ‘imminent’ at Mountain Island Lake, evacuations underway
- Lake Lure Dam ‘failure imminent’
- Historic flooding in North Carolina
- Video: massive flooding in Surry County
- Mountain Island Lake are evacuated
- Wilkes County 911 center operations knocked out
- Tree falling on moving car kills one person
- Crews rescue family trapped in home
- 1 killed in Charlotte when tree falls on home
- Appalachian State football game canceled
- Video: Family and dog rescued
In Virginia:
