EBN- Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm Friday morning, as the United States suffered extensive damage after the storm swept through Florida before moving into Georgia.
According to the National Hurricane Center , the storm had sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was moving north at 30 mph (48 kph).
Hurricane Helen made landfall in northwest Florida as a Category 4 storm, packing sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) as it made landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River. According to officials, the storm has killed at least three people, including one who died after a sign fell on his car, and two more deaths were reported in Georgia .
In Valdosa, Georgia, where the area was hit hard, many residents gathered at a local hotel after the power went out. One resident, who was with his wife and child, said he and his family left their upstairs room for fear of trees falling on them: “We heard some noise, but didn’t see anything at first. After a while, the winds got stronger, so we decided to leave.”
The National Hurricane Center issued wind warnings of up to 115 mph (185 kph) in some areas. More than 1.2 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, as well as more than 190,000 in Georgia and 30,000 in the Carolinas. States of emergency have been declared in those states.
Third hurricane to hit Valdosa
Helen is the third hurricane to hit Valdosa in just over a year. Last August, Hurricane Debbie left thousands without power, while Hurricane Idalia damaged about 1,000 homes in the area last year.
The weather service is warning of flooding risks , with rainfall expected to exceed 14 inches (36 cm) in some areas, setting the stage for what could be the worst flooding in a century. Additional tornado warnings have been issued for Virginia, with strong storms expected to continue through Friday morning.
Following the issuance of warnings for these storms , residents began evacuating the threatened areas, classes were canceled in schools and universities, and airports were closed in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater, leading to a wave of flight cancellations throughout Florida.
Hurricane Helene is the eighth hurricane on record during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which authorities expect to be above average due to record-high ocean temperatures.
