Death Toll Increases To At Least 44 Amid Devastating Flooding, Water Rescues In Wake Of Helene

The South Fork River washed out roads near Boone, N.C., on Saturday. "We saw trailers floating by, and cars toppled over," said a person watching debris floating down the river. (Credit: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Helene carved a path of destruction throughout the southeastern United States after making landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, killing at least 44 people, knocking millions out of power, and causing billions in damages amid widespread flooding, according to multiple reports.

Officials carried out hundreds of water rescues as rivers, swollen by heavy rains, poured over their banks, forcing roads to close and stranding cars along roadways.