Hurricane Helene leaves Florida in darkness with over 1M without power

Over one million homes in Florida were left without power. Governors declared a state of emergency in response to Hurricane Helene's dramatic impacts. In St. Petersburg, Florida, massive sand drifts appeared. The hurricane transported sand from the beach to nearby neighbourhoods.

Hurricane Helene, classified as a Category 4 storm, struck the American states of Florida and Georgia, causing catastrophic damage. Photos and videos began to appear on the internet, showing the scale of devastation brought by the hurricane.

Unfortunately, according to information provided by authorities, three fatalities related to the storm have already been confirmed. In Florida, one person lost their life when an object overturned by powerful winds fell on their car. In southern Georgia, two fatalities were reported due to a tornado that destroyed a mobile home.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, residents encountered an unusual phenomenon – sand drifts, which formed when the hurricane pushed sand from the beach into the local neighbourhoods.

Cars were partially buried in sand, creating a surreal landscape. Residents now face a new challenge: removing the excess sand that has invaded their homes and living spaces, significantly complicating their daily lives and requiring great effort to restore order.

In Florida, over one million homes and businesses lost power, while in Georgia, this number exceeded 50 thousand. In the face of the catastrophic impacts of the hurricane, governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia declared a state of emergency.

Hurricane Helene is one of the most powerful storms to hit the coast of the United States. Wind speeds reached up to 210 km/h. The storm draws its strength from the record warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. According to the portal livescience.com, the hurricane has already reached Category 4 according to the National Hurricane Center.