Hurricane Helena ravages Florida and Georgia: Three dead, mass evacuations
Hurricane Helena, a Category 4 storm, has hit the American states of Florida and Georgia. Recordings have emerged online showing the extent of the destruction caused by the natural disaster.
Authorities have reported that there are already three fatalities as a result of the storm. One person died in Florida when an object overturned by the wind fell onto their car. In southern Georgia, two fatalities were recorded after a tornado struck a mobile home.
Significant damage occurred when powerful storms swept through much of Florida. Photos and videos of flooded homes and streets have appeared online. Meteorologists predicted storm surges reaching 6 metres.
The Florida authorities had earlier decided to evacuate thousands of people.
State of emergency declared
Over one million homes and businesses in Florida were left without power, and over 50,000 in Georgia were affected. The governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia declared a state of emergency.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis anticipated that when Florida residents wake up the following day, they would likely find additional casualties and property destruction.
Outside of Florida, up to 25 centimetres of rain have fallen in the mountains of North Carolina, with an additional potential of up to 35 centimetres. This may cause floods that meteorologists believe could be worse than anything seen in the past century.
The NWS reported that several counties in Georgia could experience hurricane winds exceeding 177 km/h.
