OAN Staff James Meyers and Sophia Flores
Friday, September 27, 2024
Update 4:55 PM – At least 40 individuals have been reported to have been killed after Hurricane Helene rampaged though the south eastern United States.
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Garrison Douglas, the spokesperson for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R-Ga.), announced that at least 15 people were killed in The Peach State. WRDW TV reported that among those deaths were a four-year-old girl, a seven-year-old boy and a first responder.
In South Carolina, 17 people died as a result of the storm. Two of the individuals were firefighters on duty.
Countless others have died in North Carolina and in Florida.
Most of the reported deaths have occurred by falling trees or are due to individuals drowning in the water.
10:23 AM– As Hurricane Helene continues to ravage Florida, at least 26 people have died due to the Category 4 storm pounding multiple areas with “unsurvivable” conditions.
Helene has since been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still hitting with “life-threatening” conditions as it caused Atlanta, Georgia, and all the way up to Appalachia, Kentucky, to issue flash flood emergency warnings for the area as they deal with heavy rains and landslides.
Meanwhile, hurricane-force wind gusts were still occurring Friday in parts of Georgia and the Carolina’s and heavy rainfall was ongoing for much of the U.S. Southeast.
The damage has been catastrophic as the storm has left several homes underwater to the roofline, and boats destroyed. Damaged trees, power lines and other debris were causing trouble for emergency responders to rescue people who were left stranded.
Meanwhile, almost four million people were without power from Florida up the east coast to Virginia.
The massive hurricane ruined Florida’s Big Bend region after 11pm local time on Thursday with 140 mph winds and 15 foot storm surge.
Mandatory evacuations are in place for residents of Asheville in western North Carolina as severe flooding has hit the region due to “catastrophic rain.”
Over 100 people have been rescued from the rising waters and numerous landslides have been reported during the “fierce storm,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) said Friday.
“People in western North Carolina should consider all roads closed unless you are seeking higher ground,” he said.
Meanwhile, flash flood emergencies are in effect in five states: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
However, water levels are beginning to recede in Florida’s Gulf Coast after Hurricane Helene’s intense storm surge.
Furthermore, over 800 flights have been canceled across the country as of Friday morning.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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