Tropical Storm Helene barreled across the southeastern United States on September 27, 2024, killing around 20 people and causing widespread destruction and flooding.
Helene crossed Florida's northwest coast as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, with windspeeds of 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour), generating a massive storm surge and cutting off power to millions of homes in multiple states.
Although Helene later weakened to a tropical storm, officials warned that it remained "extremely dangerous" as it moved towards the Carolinas and Georgia. At least 11 people died in Georgia alone. Governor Brian Kemp stated that dozens were still trapped in damaged buildings.
Authorities faced challenges in reaching affected areas, with teams using chainsaws to clear roads. Reports indicated at least six fatalities in South Carolina, two in Florida, and two in North Carolina. Evacuations were urged in North Carolina near Lake Lure Dam due to an impending dam failure.
The US National Hurricane Center warned residents to shelter from "catastrophic winds," storm surge, and rainfall, labeling the situation as "extremely dangerous and life-threatening." Helene was notably large for a Gulf of Mexico hurricane.
Airports in Florida cities such as Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Petersburg remained closed, while hundreds of flights in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, were delayed or canceled. More than 4 million homes and businesses were without power across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Governors of these states, along with Alabama and Virginia, declared emergencies. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mobilized the National Guard, and Georgia Governor Kemp called in an additional 1,000 National Guard troops.
US President Joe Biden urged residents to heed evacuation warnings, stating, "I urge everyone in and near the path of Helene to listen to local officials and follow evacuation warnings. Take this seriously, and be safe." On September 27, Helene was moving north with windspeeds of 45 miles per hour (75 kilometers per hour), and forecasters indicated that it would continue to weaken as it moves into Tennessee and Kentucky, potentially triggering mudslides and flash flooding.
Helene marked the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June.