Power Outage Affects Two Million as Hurricane Helene Hits Florida, Moves Towards Atlanta

Late Thursday night, Hurricane Helene, a potent Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida's Big Bend area. By early Friday morning, it had weakened to a tropical system over Georgia. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) latest data indicates that Helene was approximately 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, moving north at 30 mph. The storm still maintains winds exceeding 70 mph, just four mph under Category 1 status.

NHC Warns of Catastrophic Flooding and Damaging Winds

The NHC issued a warning about "catastrophic, life-threatening, record-breaking flash & urban flooding" as Helene continues its inland journey. The agency also warned of ongoing damaging wind gusts, especially over the high terrain of the southern Appalachians. The NHC highlighted the inland wind hazards of Helene, particularly with the new experimental cone. A broad area of Tropical Storm Warnings remains in effect for North Florida, most of Georgia, all of South Carolina, and Western North Carolina.

Helene's Impact: Three Fatalities and Widespread Power Outages

According to the NHC, Helene made landfall just miles from Perry, Florida, late at night, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The storm moved northwards across Florida into Georgia, resulting in three fatalities and leaving over two million people without power across multiple states. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis informed reporters that 3,500 National Guardsmen are on standby, ready to respond to emergencies in the Big Bend region. FlightAware, a flight tracking website, shows extensive flight disruptions in the southeastern US due to the storm.

NASA's International Space Station Captures Images of the Storm

On Thursday evening, NASA's International Space Station flew over the enormous storm. The station captured images of Hurricane Helene as it approached Florida's Gulf Coast, with winds exceeding 120 mph.

States Declare Emergency as Helene Moves Inland

Georgia, North and South Carolina, and as far north as Virginia have declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Helene. Models predict the storm's future trajectory to be through the Appalachian region, an area in dire need of rain.

Previous Reports on the Storm

Here are some of our previous reports on the storm: - Gov. DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Dangerous Hurricane Threat - Tropic Trouble Brewing In Gulf Of Mexico Could "Slingshot" Towards Offshore Oil Rigs - "Something Brewing In Gulf Of Mexico" As Confidence Grows In Cyclone Formation Next Week - Ports Preparing For Hurricane Helene As Storm Bears Down On Florida - "High-End Cat. 3" Hurricane Helene Forecast To Hit Florida's Big Bend - Hurricane Helene Becomes 'Nightmare' Storm With 'Unsurvivable' Storm Surge Ahead Of Florida Landfall

Bottom Line

The impact of Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature. The storm has already caused significant damage and loss of life, and its trajectory suggests that more areas may be affected. What are your thoughts on this situation? Feel free to share this article with your friends to spread awareness about the ongoing situation. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6 pm.