Helene latest: Live updates from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas

Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical depression Friday afternoon after making landfall in northwest Florida as a Category 4 storm and killing dozens of people. 

At least 30 deaths have been reported in four states as floodwaters trapped people and left more than 4 million customers without power across the southeastern U.S.

Catastrophic flooding is wreaking havoc in areas from northern Georgia to the southern Appalachians as of Friday afternoon. Parts of Tennessee are also severely flooded. 

Helene impacts in Georgia

Helene caused at least 15 deaths in Georgia and prompted the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency for downtown Atlanta.

Gov. Brad Kemp announced the deaths during a press conference Friday, but said they are waiting until next of kin are notified before releasing more information. One of the deaths was a firefighter in Pierce County, reports say. 

More flooding is expected in northern Georgia Friday as an electrical utility group warned of "catastrophic" damage to Georgia’s utility infrastructure by Hurricane Helene.

The Georgia Electric Membership Corp., which represents the state’s electric cooperatives, says that the hurricane damaged more than 100 high-voltage transmission lines and that more than 60 substations were out of service Friday morning.

Without transmission lines and substations, the cooperatives can’t feed electricity to homes and businesses. The group warned Friday that "there will be extensive delays in total restoration" and told customers, especially those who rely on electric power for medical needs, to make temporary arrangements.

Of the more than 1 million Georgia electricity customers without power on Friday afternoon, more than 400,000 were customers of cooperatives. Restoration for customers of those utilities in rural areas can take much longer because customers are far apart.

Helene impacts in Florida

According to FOX Weather, at least seven deaths have been reported in Florida. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said five of those deaths were in Pinellas County, and all five happened in neighborhoods where residents were told by authorities to evacuate, but many chose to stay and then found themselves trapped by 8 feet of storm surge — an unprecedented event in the county.

At least one person was killed in the Tampa, Florida, area after a crash on Interstate 4 that involved a highway sign on top of a vehicle.

Tidal gauges in the Tampa Bay area reached record high levels as Helene came ashore. 

Hundreds of people were rescued from floodwaters in coastal areas of Tampa Bay, FOX 13 in Tampa reports. 

Residents of nearby St. Petersburg said they’ve never seen flooding like this. 

Helene impacts in North Carolina

Evacuations were underway Friday morning in areas of Western North Carolina. The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office west of Asheville said it was helping with evacuations in in Cruso, Clyde, Canton and lower-lying parts of Waynesville.

The Walters Dam in Waterville, North Carolina suffered a "catastrophic failure," according to WBIR, forcing evacuations in nearby Tennessee towns. 

At least two deaths have been reported. In Charlotte, North Carolina, firefighters say a tree fell onto a home, trapping two people inside. One of the victims was taken to a local hospital, and the second victim was found dead inside the home. Details about the other death have not been released. Gov. Roy Cooper said he expects more deaths to be reported. 

Close to 300 roads were closed and over 100 swift-water rescues had occurred so far, Cooper said.

The storm, particularly in western North Carolina, is causing life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides and power outages from downed trees.

A tornado was confirmed Friday in northern Rocky Mount, North Carolina, along U.S. Route 301, city communications specialist Robin Cox said.

There was damage to businesses in the area, but the city did not yet confirm if there were any injuries. Cox said there were emergency workers on the scene as of 2:30 p.m.

Helene impacts in South Carolina

At least 17 people have died in South Carolina. 

The dead included two firefighters responding to calls in Saluda County, Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Friday news conference. They were struck by a tree that hit their firetruck. 

Two additional deaths were reported in Newberry County, according to McMaster, who didn’t provide details.

Coroners reported 13 other deaths — four in Greenville County, four in Aiken County, three in Spartanburg County and two in Anderson County.

"We’re asking keep all of those families and friends in your prayers," McMaster said.

Helene impacts in Tennessee

Catastrophic flooding from Helene forced "dangerous rescue situation" at a hospital in northeast Tennessee Friday. The hospital said on social media that county officials ordered an evacuation of the hospital Friday morning due to rising water in the Nolichucky River, including 11 patients.

Boats ordered up by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were unable to safely evacuate the hospital, which was taking on flood water, the company said.

As of midday, the hospital reported that 54 people were relocated to the roof and seven remained in rescue boats as the hospital was engulfed by "extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water."

"The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and TEMA and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation," the hospital wrote, asking for prayers.

U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger said helicopters were sent to assist with evacuations.

Downtown Newport, Tennessee was also evacuated after the Walters Dam in Waterville, North Carolina, suffered a "catastrophic failure," local reports say. 

Hurricane Helene landfall

Hurricane Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. Eastern time Thursday night about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. That’s in the state’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, about 20 miles northwest of where Hurricane Idalia came ashore last year at nearly the same ferocity and caused widespread damage. 

Helene struck as a Category 4 with sustained winds of 140 mph. 

Flooding along Florida's coast began well before Hurricane Helene made landfall, with rapidly rising waters reported from as far south as Fort Myers on the state's Gulf Coast.

Evacuation orders remained in effect Friday morning across parts of several Florida counties due to storm surge and flooding.

Other storms to watch

Forecasters said Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened on Friday into a hurricane in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and could cause dangerous waves in parts of Bermuda.

Hours after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Tropical Storm Joyce formed over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, becoming the tenth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Two new disturbances are also brewing in the Atlantic, FOX 35 Orlando reports. Both systems are expected to form sometime next week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The system of greatest concern is currently located in the western Caribbean Sea, near the same area where Helene initially formed. Forecasters predict that an area of low pressure could develop there by the middle of next week.

A second area of low pressure is forecast to form over the tropical Atlantic by early to mid-next week. Weather conditions should favor slow development as it tracks northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. This system has a 20% chance of development within the next seven days.