Rescuers struggled on Saturday (Sep 28) with washed-out bridges and debris-strewn roads in the search for survivors of devastating Storm Helene, which killed at least 63 people across five states and caused massive power outages.

Rescuers struggled on Saturday (Sep 28) with washed-out bridges and debris-strewn roads in the search for survivors of devastating Storm Helene, which killed at least 63 people across five states and caused massive power outages. Helene slammed into Florida Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane and surged north, gradually weakening but leaving in its wake toppled trees, downed power lines and mudslide-wrecked homes. Federal emergencies were declared in six states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee -- with more than 800 personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) deployed. Now classified as a "post-tropical cyclone", the remnants of the storm are expected to continue inundating the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians through Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). In affected communities across the eastern coast and midwest, storm victims and volunteers toting trash bags, mops and hammers tried to repair what they could and clean up the rest. "There's only a couple businesses open. They have limited supply. So I'm just worried about families that have kids and stuff like that, getting somewhere to stay and have something to eat," said Steven Mauro, a resident of Valdosta, Georgia. At least 24 people died in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, 10 in North Carolina and one in Virginia, according to local authorities and media tallied by AFP. The National Weather Service said conditions would "continue to improve today following the catastrophic flooding over the past two days." But it warned of possible "long-duration power outages." "Main issue is the electrical power," said another man from Valdosta who declined to give his name. "With the whole town down, the traffic lights are out. So driving around... people should just stay home." More than 2.6 million customers were still without electricity across 10 states from Florida in the southeast to Indiana in the midwest as of early Sunday morning, according to tracker poweroutage.us. Watch | Hurricane Helene Aftermath: Destruction and chaos × 'It breaks my heart' Helene blew into Florida's northern Gulf shore with powerful winds of 140 miles (225 kilometres) per hour. Even as it weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, it has wreaked havoc. Record levels of flooding threatened to break several dams, but Tennessee emergency officials said Saturday that the Nolichucky Dam -- which had been close to breaching -- was no longer in danger of giving way and people downriver could return home. Massive flooding was reported in Asheville, in western North Carolina. Governor Ray Cooper called it "one of the worst storms in modern history" to hit his state. There were reports of remote towns in the Carolina mountains without power or cell service, their roads washed away or buried by mudslides. In Cedar Key, an island city of 700 people off Florida's Gulf Coast, several pastel-coloured wooden homes were destroyed by record storm surges and ferocious winds. "I've lived here my whole life, and it breaks my heart to see it. We've not really been able to catch a break," said Gabe Doty, a Cedar Key official, referring to two other hurricanes in the past year. In South Carolina, the dead included two firefighters, officials said. Georgia's 17 deaths included an emergency responder, according to state officials. In the Tennessee town of Erwin, more than 50 patients and staff trapped on a hospital roof by surging floodwaters had to be rescued by helicopters. Also read | Hurricane Helene: Disaster in five US states, millions of homes without power 'Overwhelming' damage In a statement Saturday, President Joe Biden called Helene's devastation "overwhelming." Biden was briefed by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on "the tragic loss of life across the region," the White House said. Criswell, who went to Florida on Saturday to survey damage, will visit Georgia on Sunday and North Carolina on Monday. September has been an unusually wet month around the world, with scientists linking some extreme weather events to human-caused global warming. The North Atlantic hurricane season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November, with most of the severe storms historically forming around the end of August or beginning of September. Forecasters are carefully watching two more named storm systems expected next week: Joyce and Hurricane Isaac. Isaac is expected to weaken into a powerful post-tropical cyclone by Sunday night or early Monday, while Joyce is expected to be a tropical storm for a couple more days, according to the NHC. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Over 60 dead in Hurricane Helene's wake; massive power outages reported across 5 US states

Hurricane Helene, which has weakened to a tropical storm, has destroyed homes and brought life-threatening flooding to wide sections of the United States's south-east.

US: Tropical Storm Helene Causes Massive Destruction in Florida

Forecast shows that Hurricane Helene is strengthening as it moves across the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and will make landfall over Florida's big bent Coast early on Friday morning. Here's a detailed report. Watch in for more details!

Hurricane Helene: Florida Battered By Strong Winds And Heavy Rain

The "extremely dangerous"&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Helene which landed in the US state of Florida on Thursday, causing&nbsp;life-threatening flooding in Atlanta and the Carolinas have taken lives of at least 22 people. Meanwhile, more than 3.5 million homes and businesses remained without power from Florida to the Carolinas and Virginia.

The "extremely dangerous"&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Helene made landfall in the US state of Florida on Thursday, with officials warning of "unsurvivable" conditions and a potentially catastrophic storm surge high enough to swamp a two-story house.

Helene is now a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph as it crosses over central Georgia, according to&nbsp;the National Hurricane Center.&nbsp;

More than a million people were without power and roads were already flooded ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest Gulf of Mexico storms in decades.

Fast-moving Helene strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;Thursday, with the eye hitting near the town of Perry at approximately 11:10 pm local time (0310 GMT Friday), the US National&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Center said.

It was packing winds of 140 miles (225 kilometres) per hour as it passed over the Gulf's warm waters and began hitting the Big Bend area south of Tallahassee.

"EVERYONE along the Florida Big Bend coast is at risk of potentially catastrophic storm surge," the NHC said on social media.

Tampa and Tallahassee airports have closed, with parts of St Petersburg, downtown Tampa, Sarasota, Treasure Island and other cities on Florida's west coast already flooded.

About 1,036,553 homes and businesses were without power, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us.

"We're expecting to see a storm surge inundation of 15 to 20 feet above ground level," NHC director Mike Brennan said. "That's up to the top of a second story building. Again, a really unsurvivable scenario is going to play out here in this portion of the Florida coastline."

The accompanying waves "can destroy houses, move cars, and that water level is going to rise very quickly," Brennan added.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden urged people to heed official evacuation warnings.

"I urge everyone in and near the path of Helene to listen to local officials and follow evacuation warnings," he said. "Take this seriously, and be safe."

<h2>'I'm stuck with them'</h2>

Authorities in Florida's Taylor County asked residents who did not act on mandatory evacuation warnings to write their names on their bodies with permanent marker, to aid in identification if they are killed.

In Alligator Point, a coastal town on a picturesque peninsula in the storm's path, David Wesolowski was taking no chances.

"I just came to button up a few things before it gets too windy," the 37-year-old real estate agent told AFP as he boarded up his house on stilts.

"If it stays on course, this is going to look different afterwards, that's for sure," he said.

Patrick Riickert refused to budge from his small wooden house in Crawfordville, a town of 5,000 people a few miles inland.

Most residents have bolted, but Riickert, his wife and five grandchildren were "not going anywhere," the 58-year-old insisted.&nbsp;

"I am going to hunker down" and ride out the&nbsp;hurricane, as he did in 2018 when deadly&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Michael, a Category 5 mega storm, blew through the Florida panhandle.

At a gas station in Panacea, John Luper said he was reluctantly staying put because his mother and brother refused to flee to higher ground.

"They're not going to leave," he said, filling jerry cans with fuel. "I'm stuck with them"

The NHC warned of up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain in some spots and potentially life-threatening flooding, as well as numerous landslides across the southern Appalachians.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service said the region could be hit extremely hard, with floods not seen in more than a century.

"This will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era," it warned.

Tornado&nbsp;warnings went out across northern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

More than 55 million Americans were under some form of weather alert or warning from&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Helene.

<h2>'Multi-state event'</h2>

"This is going to be a multi-state event with the potential for significant impacts from Florida all the way to Tennessee," Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters.

Vice President Kamala Harris said the White House was watching.

"The President and I, of course, are monitoring the case and the situation closely, and&nbsp;we urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously," she told reporters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mobilised the National Guard and ordered thousands of personnel to ready for search-and-rescue operations.&nbsp;

He warned that the powerful storm would be dangerous and urged everyone to take precautions.

"We can't control how strong this&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;is going to get. We can't control the track of the&nbsp;hurricane, but what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way that's going to be safe," DeSantis said.

Helene could become the most powerful&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;to hit the United States in over a year -- and almost certainly the biggest, at nearly 500 miles across.

Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

The "extremely dangerous" Hurricane Helene which landed in the US state of Florida on Thursday, causing life-threatening flooding in Atlanta and the Carolinas have taken lives of at least 22 people.

The "extremely dangerous" Hurricane Helene which landed in the US state of Florida on Thursday, causing life-threatening flooding in Atlanta and the Carolinas have taken lives of at least 22 people. Meanwhile, more than 3.5 million homes and businesses remained without power from Florida to the Carolinas and Virginia. The "extremely dangerous" Hurricane Helene made landfall in the US state of Florida on Thursday, with officials warning of "unsurvivable" conditions and a potentially catastrophic storm surge high enough to swamp a two-story house. Helene is now a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph as it crosses over central Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center. More than a million people were without power and roads were already flooded ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest Gulf of Mexico storms in decades. Fast-moving Helene strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane Thursday, with the eye hitting near the town of Perry at approximately 11:10 pm local time (0310 GMT Friday), the US National Hurricane Center said. It was packing winds of 140 miles (225 kilometres) per hour as it passed over the Gulf's warm waters and began hitting the Big Bend area south of Tallahassee. "EVERYONE along the Florida Big Bend coast is at risk of potentially catastrophic storm surge," the NHC said on social media. Tampa and Tallahassee airports have closed, with parts of St Petersburg, downtown Tampa, Sarasota, Treasure Island and other cities on Florida's west coast already flooded. About 1,036,553 homes and businesses were without power, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us. "We're expecting to see a storm surge inundation of 15 to 20 feet above ground level," NHC director Mike Brennan said. "That's up to the top of a second story building. Again, a really unsurvivable scenario is going to play out here in this portion of the Florida coastline." The accompanying waves "can destroy houses, move cars, and that water level is going to rise very quickly," Brennan added. US President Joe Biden urged people to heed official evacuation warnings. "I urge everyone in and near the path of Helene to listen to local officials and follow evacuation warnings," he said. "Take this seriously, and be safe." 'I'm stuck with them' Authorities in Florida's Taylor County asked residents who did not act on mandatory evacuation warnings to write their names on their bodies with permanent marker, to aid in identification if they are killed. In Alligator Point, a coastal town on a picturesque peninsula in the storm's path, David Wesolowski was taking no chances. "I just came to button up a few things before it gets too windy," the 37-year-old real estate agent told AFP as he boarded up his house on stilts. "If it stays on course, this is going to look different afterwards, that's for sure," he said. Patrick Riickert refused to budge from his small wooden house in Crawfordville, a town of 5,000 people a few miles inland. Most residents have bolted, but Riickert, his wife and five grandchildren were "not going anywhere," the 58-year-old insisted. "I am going to hunker down" and ride out the hurricane, as he did in 2018 when deadly Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 mega storm, blew through the Florida panhandle. At a gas station in Panacea, John Luper said he was reluctantly staying put because his mother and brother refused to flee to higher ground. "They're not going to leave," he said, filling jerry cans with fuel. "I'm stuck with them" The NHC warned of up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain in some spots and potentially life-threatening flooding, as well as numerous landslides across the southern Appalachians. The National Weather Service said the region could be hit extremely hard, with floods not seen in more than a century. "This will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era," it warned. Tornado warnings went out across northern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. More than 55 million Americans were under some form of weather alert or warning from Hurricane Helene. 'Multi-state event' "This is going to be a multi-state event with the potential for significant impacts from Florida all the way to Tennessee," Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters. Vice President Kamala Harris said the White House was watching. "The President and I, of course, are monitoring the case and the situation closely, and we urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously," she told reporters. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mobilised the National Guard and ordered thousands of personnel to ready for search-and-rescue operations. He warned that the powerful storm would be dangerous and urged everyone to take precautions. "We can't control how strong this hurricane is going to get. We can't control the track of the hurricane, but what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way that's going to be safe," DeSantis said. Helene could become the most powerful hurricane to hit the United States in over a year -- and almost certainly the biggest, at nearly 500 miles across. Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US: Over 20 dead after Hurricane Helene hits Georgia, three million remain without power

The United States Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog when their&nbsp;boat became disabled off the coast of the US state of Florida as Hurricane Helene barreled towards the land. The officials reported that the boat started taking on water 25 miles out to sea as Hurricane Helene approached the duo.&nbsp;

According to the statement of US&nbsp;Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater released on Friday (Sep 27) morning, the sailor and his dog were on a 36-foot-long sailboat on Thursday when the boat became disabled, leaving a man and his pet stranded in the ocean with no help around.&nbsp;

Authorities said, “Coast Guard crews responded to the boater’s distress call and rushed to the man’s location, approximately 25 miles offshore from Sanibel Island near Fort Myers.” They added, “A successful rescue attempt was made and the unidentified sailor and his dog were saved and brought back to land.”

Officials have not made any announcements regarding the reason for the man being out to sea even after&nbsp;warnings were issued in the area as Hurricane Helene was expected to make landfall.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hezbollah-fires-rockets-at-israeli-city-tiberias-in-response-to-israels-savage-beirut-strikes-762478">Hezbollah strikes Israeli city Tiberias after Israel’s 'savage' Beirut strikes</a>&nbsp;

Hurricane Helene landed in Florida’s Big Bend Region, marking a major Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds on Thursday night. The storm has touched down in Perry, Floria, located just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River. &nbsp;

According to powerouttages.us, Hurricane Helene has significantly impacted the electricity supply in and around Florida. More than one million people were without a power supply. The storm also caused power outages in the neighbouring southern states, with more than 46,000 people without electricity in Georgia and over 12,400 people without power supply in North Carolina.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-france-and-us-uk-backs-indias-bid-for-permanent-seat-on-unsc-762496">After France and US, UK backs India's bid for permanent seat on UNSC</a>&nbsp;

Georgia Governor&nbsp;Brian Kemp said&nbsp;two people were killed during the storm’s passage into the US state&nbsp;overnight, raising the total death toll due to&nbsp;Hurricane Helene to three.&nbsp;

Kemp said that he and his family were "saddened to learn of the loss of two lives in Wheeler County this evening. As we join their families in mourning their deaths, we urge all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant and pray for all those affected."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said one person lost his life on the I-4 highway near Tampa when a sign fell on a car.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog when their boat became disabled off the coast of the US state of Florida as Hurricane Helene barreled towards the land.

The United States Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog when their boat became disabled off the coast of the US state of Florida as Hurricane Helene barreled towards the land. The officials reported that the boat started taking on water 25 miles out to sea as Hurricane Helene approached the duo. According to the statement of US Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater released on Friday (Sep 27) morning, the sailor and his dog were on a 36-foot-long sailboat on Thursday when the boat became disabled, leaving a man and his pet stranded in the ocean with no help around. Authorities said, “Coast Guard crews responded to the boater’s distress call and rushed to the man’s location, approximately 25 miles offshore from Sanibel Island near Fort Myers.” They added, “A successful rescue attempt was made and the unidentified sailor and his dog were saved and brought back to land.” Officials have not made any announcements regarding the reason for the man being out to sea even after warnings were issued in the area as Hurricane Helene was expected to make landfall. Also Read | Hezbollah strikes Israeli city Tiberias after Israel’s 'savage' Beirut strikes Hurricane Helene landed in Florida’s Big Bend Region, marking a major Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds on Thursday night. The storm has touched down in Perry, Floria, located just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River. According to powerouttages.us, Hurricane Helene has significantly impacted the electricity supply in and around Florida. More than one million people were without a power supply. The storm also caused power outages in the neighbouring southern states, with more than 46,000 people without electricity in Georgia and over 12,400 people without power supply in North Carolina. Also Read | After France and US, UK backs India's bid for permanent seat on UNSC Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said two people were killed during the storm’s passage into the US state overnight, raising the total death toll due to Hurricane Helene to three. Kemp said that he and his family were "saddened to learn of the loss of two lives in Wheeler County this evening. As we join their families in mourning their deaths, we urge all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant and pray for all those affected." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said one person lost his life on the I-4 highway near Tampa when a sign fell on a car. (With inputs from agencies)

Hurricane Helene: US Coast Guard rescues man and his dog lost at sea as hurricane barrels toward land

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Centre. Watch in for more details!

Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall in Florida Big Bend

Hurricane Helene strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Thursday morning, hours before the unusually large and rapidly intensifying storm was forecast to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a monster Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Helene Packs Major Storm Surge, High Winds, Flooding Rain

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening, catastrophic, dangerous storm is surging and flooding is forecast to smash into Florida's gulf coast. Thousands of residents have evacuated towns along the US State's shoreline.

Florida Braces for Hurricane Helene, Threatening Deadly Winds and Storm Surge

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

Helene strengthened into a hurricane mid-morning Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico and is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the Southeastern United States," the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts, as the storm moves north at 12 mph.

"Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening," the NHC added.

The storm now has the potential to roar ashore as an intensely powerful Category 4 hurricane, on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, potentially with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the center said.

"A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet (six meters) above ground level, along with destructive waves," according to the NHC.

The storm also has potential to "penetrate well inland," it added. Several states are in the warning cone, and Atlanta, a Georgia metropolis hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast and whose region is home to five million people, is forecast to experience close to tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain into Friday.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm Wednesday. "The entire Biden-Harris Administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, as needed," the White House said in a statement.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida's 67 counties, including Miami-Dade. He has mobilized the National Guard and positioned thousands of personnel to prepare for possible search and rescue operations and power restoration.

"The impacts are going to be far beyond the eye of the storm," DeSantis said as he urged Floridians to rush preparations to completion and evacuate if ordered.

Helene earlier lashed Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, home to multiple tourist hotspots, including Cancun. By Wednesday afternoon, the storm's outer bands were buffeting the southern Florida Keys.

Sixteen Florida counties have announced mandatory partial evacuation orders, while two have ordered the evacuation of all residents. DeSantis said at least 62 health care facilities, from hospitals to nursing homes, have already begun evacuations.

- Whole state bracing -&nbsp;

A "direct impact" was likely in the Tallahassee region, where coastal communities already looked like ghost towns by Wednesday afternoon. 
In Crawfordville, potentially in the storm's direct path, wheelchair-bound residents of the Eden Springs Nursing and Rehab Center were being placed on coach buses for evacuation.

Other locals were seen loading up on gas and supplies, filling sandbags and boarding up homes and businesses. Communities across a wide swath of northwest Florida -- including Tampa Bay, an area of more than three million residents -- faced the dangerous threats of storm surge, heavy rain and fierce winds.

In St. Petersburg, adjacent to Tampa, cars lined up at supply donation or distribution centers while people filled sandbags. Teacher Lorraine Major, seen making her own preparations, has lived in Florida her whole life. "You get used to it," she said of the multiple storms and hurricanes that batter her state every year.

"But these last couple of years, the hurricanes are getting really, really bad," the 44-year-old told AFP in St. Petersburg.

In nearby Clearwater, resident Jasper MacFarland laid sand bags at his house entrance. "I expect the water to come up and I just don't want it to get in the house," he said.

A 250-mile stretch of coastline, essentially from Tampa Bay to just shy of Panama City, on the Florida panhandle is under hurricane warning. If forecasts are confirmed, Helene would become the most powerful hurricane to hit the US in more than a year.

Category 3 Hurricane Idalia hit northwestern Florida in August 2023. Researchers say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms, because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline.

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline. Helene strengthened into a hurricane mid-morning Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico and is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the Southeastern United States," the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts, as the storm moves north at 12 mph. "Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening," the NHC added. The storm now has the potential to roar ashore as an intensely powerful Category 4 hurricane, on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, potentially with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the center said. "A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet (six meters) above ground level, along with destructive waves," according to the NHC. The storm also has potential to "penetrate well inland," it added. Several states are in the warning cone, and Atlanta, a Georgia metropolis hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast and whose region is home to five million people, is forecast to experience close to tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain into Friday. President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm Wednesday. "The entire Biden-Harris Administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, as needed," the White House said in a statement. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida's 67 counties, including Miami-Dade. He has mobilized the National Guard and positioned thousands of personnel to prepare for possible search and rescue operations and power restoration. "The impacts are going to be far beyond the eye of the storm," DeSantis said as he urged Floridians to rush preparations to completion and evacuate if ordered. Helene earlier lashed Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, home to multiple tourist hotspots, including Cancun. By Wednesday afternoon, the storm's outer bands were buffeting the southern Florida Keys. Sixteen Florida counties have announced mandatory partial evacuation orders, while two have ordered the evacuation of all residents. DeSantis said at least 62 health care facilities, from hospitals to nursing homes, have already begun evacuations. - Whole state bracing - A "direct impact" was likely in the Tallahassee region, where coastal communities already looked like ghost towns by Wednesday afternoon. In Crawfordville, potentially in the storm's direct path, wheelchair-bound residents of the Eden Springs Nursing and Rehab Center were being placed on coach buses for evacuation. Other locals were seen loading up on gas and supplies, filling sandbags and boarding up homes and businesses. Communities across a wide swath of northwest Florida -- including Tampa Bay, an area of more than three million residents -- faced the dangerous threats of storm surge, heavy rain and fierce winds. In St. Petersburg, adjacent to Tampa, cars lined up at supply donation or distribution centers while people filled sandbags. Teacher Lorraine Major, seen making her own preparations, has lived in Florida her whole life. "You get used to it," she said of the multiple storms and hurricanes that batter her state every year. "But these last couple of years, the hurricanes are getting really, really bad," the 44-year-old told AFP in St. Petersburg. In nearby Clearwater, resident Jasper MacFarland laid sand bags at his house entrance. "I expect the water to come up and I just don't want it to get in the house," he said. A 250-mile stretch of coastline, essentially from Tampa Bay to just shy of Panama City, on the Florida panhandle is under hurricane warning. If forecasts are confirmed, Helene would become the most powerful hurricane to hit the US in more than a year. Category 3 Hurricane Idalia hit northwestern Florida in August 2023. Researchers say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms, because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Hurricane Helene strengthens, threatens ‘catastrophic’ storms in Florida

A major thunderstorm system which is strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea will soon turn into Hurricane Helene and make landfall on the US Gulf Coast. The system has been currently declared "Potential Tropical Storm Nine" by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) Even though the system has not fully formed yet, the NHC has alerted that this storm is likely to make landfall as a major hurricane.

A major thunderstorm system which is strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea will soon turn into Hurricane Helene and make landfall on the US Gulf Coast. The system has been currently declared "Potential Tropical Storm Nine" by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) Even though the system has not fully formed yet, the NHC has alerted that this storm is likely to make landfall as a major hurricane. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings have already been issued by Cuba and Mexico. The weather officers have placed parts of the Florida Keys along with Dry Tortugas region of Florida under a tropical storm watch. According to the forecast, the hurricane will hit Florida or the northern Gulf Coast later this week. Also Read: India weather: Yellow alert issued for Delhi, rainfall to continue; check IMD prediction here A state of emergency has been declared by Florida Governor Ron Desantis in 41 of the state's 67 counties, as per the press release. The Governor's office has also issued a warning of rainfall and potential winds which can lead to widespread power outages because of gusty winds and fallen trees. Where is the tropical storm currently? The authorities have issued tropical alerts in parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Greater Antilles, and Florida. As of now, tropical storms and hurricanes are expected in these areas in the next 36-48 hours. Watch: China’s weather extremes threaten the country with flooding and heat The system is currently in the far western Caribbean Sea and is likely to lead to heavy rains in parts of Central America, Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica before turning into a tropical storm. There are chances that the storm's path may change course however the National Hurricane Centre said that currently, the storm is moving north towards the Gulf of Mexico's war waters. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Authorities declare a state of emergency as Hurricane Helene set to hit Florida

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