Helene Downgraded to Category 3, Threatens SE US

Hurricane Helene, initially a Category 4 storm, has been downgraded to a Category 3 as it approaches Florida's Gulf Coast, with landfall expected Thursday evening. Significant impacts are anticipated across Florida and Georgia, prompting local and state emergency declarations and federal resource availability. Cobb and Douglas counties in Georgia have issued local states of emergency, with officials urging residents to take precautions against expected heavy rainfall, high winds, and flooding. Emergency response preparations include closing county offices, activating emergency operations centers, and increasing 911 operators. Residents in Moulton, Alabama, continue to face flooding issues, exacerbated by previous hurricanes, with local officials seeking federal assistance for flood management studies.