Hurricane Helene Leaves Dozens Dead in Southeast

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph, wreaked havoc across the southeastern U.S., resulting in at least 64 fatalities and billions in damages. The storm first made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region before moving through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, where it caused extensive flooding and destruction. Over 3 million people were left without power as communities faced significant challenges, including landslides that isolated parts of western North Carolina. Dramatic rescues were conducted, notably in Unicoi County, Tennessee, where patients were airlifted from a hospital surrounded by floodwaters. Many residents expressed shock at the storm's severity, with reports of people trapped and unable to communicate with family. The storm is now a post-tropical cyclone, with ongoing flood warnings and recovery efforts underway.