Helene, One of Largest Storms To Hit US

Helene roared through Florida and Georgia states under darkness on Friday as one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, killing one person, swamping neighborhoods and leaving more than 2 million homes and businesses without power.

The Category 4 storm hit land around midnight, leaving a chaotic landscape of overturned boats in harbours, felled trees, stranded cars, and flooded streets, according to images from Tampa, Naples and St. Petersburg on Florida’s coast.

“When we wake up tomorrow morning, the chances are there will likely have been more fatalities,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, confirming the death of a driver whose car was struck by debris.

More than 1.2 million electricity customers in Florida and 800,000 in Georgia suffered power outages, companies said.

Helene is the joint 14th most powerful hurricane to hit in the U.S. since records began, and the seventh most powerful in Florida, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

Having reached Florida with 140 mph, 225 kph, winds, it weakened to 70 mph, 110 kph, after heading north across Georgia. Up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain were forecast in some places.

As dawn broke, the NHC said Helene had calmed from a hurricane to a tropical storm. “Continued weakening is expected, and Helene is expected to become a post-tropical low this afternoon or tonight,” it added.

However, life-threatening storm surges, winds, and heavy rains continued, the NHC said.

Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq