Scores of people in Florida have been sharing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, which hit the west coast of the state late Thursday and early Friday.
Those who didn't evacuate the areas hit the hardest by the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, have posted harrowing footage of their homes. One user showed to ground floor of her house largely underwater, adding the caption "It's all gone and we don't have insurance."
Several other videos shared on social media show similar images following the storm's impact. Millions are without power in Florida and at least five people have died. The two latest casualties took place in North Carolina. One is a four-year-old killed in a car accident resulting from weather conditions and another a person killed by a falling tree. Moreover, one person was killed in Florida and two in Georgia.
Helene weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moves inland, but the National Hurricane Center still issued warnings for Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, "particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."
"Residents in these areas should be prepared for the possibility of long-duration power outages. If you use a generator after the storm, be sure it is placed outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and garages to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning," the body added.
The NHC also anticipated "catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous significant landslides" across parts of the southern Appalachians. "Considerable to locally catastrophic flash and urban flooding is likely for northwestern and northern Florida and the Southeast through Friday," it added.
Practically the entire state is reached by a state of emergency declared by Governor Ron DeSantis, who cited risks associated with the system's development, including concerns about coastal erosion, widespread power outages and damage to roadways, hospitals and schools. Authorities already anticipate hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses and damages.
5am EDT Friday Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Helene:
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 27, 2024
Catastrophic, life-threatening, record-breaking flash & urban flooding. As Helene continues moving inland, damaging wind gusts will continue, particularly over high terrain southern Appalachians. https://t.co/XtkxtGDQLT pic.twitter.com/IayaD7DaAW
Due to abnormally warm waters, some prediction models expected Helene to turn into a Category 4 major Hurricane, and they were right. With this in mind, DeSantis urged Floridians to prepare by filling gas tanks, stocking up on food and becoming familiar with evacuation zones.
Sandbags were also distributed to residents in Tallahassee, Gulfport, and Henrico County ahead of potential flooding. The state has also deployed Florida National Guard soldiers as well as search and rescue teams to help address the aftermath.
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