Helene triggers deadly floods as death toll rises; Tennessee dam break imminent: Live updates
Thousands told to evacuate their homes in North Carolina after storm Helene shifts north
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Residents downstream of two dams on the North Carolina-Tennessee border were told to urgently evacuate after reports that the structures were at risk of failure due to flooding and deluges from Hurricane Helene.
The Waterville Dam in Tennessee, which sits across the state line from Newport, North Carolina, was declared a state of emergency. Residents in Newport, a town of 7,000 people, were ordered to get out on Friday afternoon.
Earlier on Friday in another part of North Carolina, Rutherford County emergency management officials warned residents below the Lake Lure dam to evacuate due to “imminent failure” - but later said the structure was holding.
At least 42 people have died after Helene crashed into Florida as a 140mph, Category 4 hurricane late Thursday, pounding the west coast with “unsurvivable” conditions including 15ft storm surge. Helene has since been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but is still packing “life-threatening” conditions as it plows north.
There were seven deaths reported in Florida, and a total of 15 people died in Georgia, including an emergency responder. Another 19 deaths were reported in South Carolina including two people who died when trees fell on houses Friday morning. North Carolina reported two deaths.
By late Friday, Helene was moving north towards Louisville, Kentucky and threatening more dangerous downpours over the Appalachia region.
First responder among those killed in Georgia
Vernon “Leon” Davis, the Blackshear Fire Department’s assistant chief, died when a tree fell on his city truck shortly before 1.30 am Friday, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Video shows Atlanta firefighters make heroic water rescue
Helene damages historic Georgia buildings
Multiple historic buildings have partially collapsed in downtown Valdosta.
Major North Carolina highway is washed out from Helene
Sections of North Carolina’s I-40 are washed out following impacts from Tropical Depression Helene.
Helene becomes a post-tropical cyclone - but historic impacts continue in southern Appalachians
Helene has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, but severe the National Hurricane Center said historic and catastrophic impacts would continue through Saturday.
“Widespread serious river flooding is ongoing, some of which will be major to record breaking,” the agency wrote on X.
Alligators spotted swimming in Florida streets
In Sarasota, Florida alligators have been spotted swimming through streets amid flooding.
Coast Guard officials release footage of Florida rescue of man and his dog
Several injured after North Carolina tornado tears through city
Four people were critically injured and numerous others sustained minor injuries after a tornado touched down in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Officials said three buildings received significant damage. Images and video posted to social media showed the remains of buildings scattered around city blocks.
The damage appeared to be concentrated on Wesleyan Boulevard and Tiffany Boulevard. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck also flipped over in that area, but the driver was not hurt.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Hurricane Helene surrounds Pinellas County cars with massive amounts of sand
Images from Florida’s Pinellas County show just how destructive water can be.
US mobilizes more than 1500 federal personnel to support impacted communities, VP says
Vice President Kamala Harris gives update on Hurricane Helene while at a news conference in Arizona.
“We have food, water, generators that are ready for deployment,” Harris said. “We are working to restore power to millions of people who currently are experiencing outages.”
Still, Harris said, destruction from the storm is not over. “The storm continues to be dangerous and deadly,” she said.
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