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Hurricane Helene live updates: 34 dead across the South

Flash flood emergencies are ongoing in multiple states.

ByEmily Shapiro, David Brennan, Leah Sarnoff, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: September 25, 2024, 11:10 AM EDT

Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night as a massive Category 4 hurricane -- the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend on record.

Helene has since weakened to a tropical depression and is now pushing through Georgia and the Carolinas, bringing catastrophic rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding as the storm moves toward Tennessee.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 25, 2024, 11:10 AM EDT

University of Tampa students ordered to evacuate

The University of Tampa is ordering all students who live on campus to evacuate by 1 p.m. Wednesday, citing mandatory evacuation orders from Hillsborough County officials.

Hurricane Helene is forecast to bring dangerous storm surge to the Tampa Bay area.

"The residence halls will be closed after the evacuation concludes, and there will be no entry allowed into residential buildings until they are reopened following the storm," the university said in a message to students.

The University of Tampa said it plans to resume operations on Monday.

-ABC News’ Alex Faul

Sep 25, 2024, 11:04 AM EDT

Helene strengthens to Category 1 hurricane

Helene has strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph.

Helene -- now located about 500 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida -- is the fifth hurricane to form in the Atlantic Basin this season.

Hurricane Helene is taking aim at Florida, where it's forecast to make landfall along the Big Bend area as a hurricane on Thursday.
NOAA

Sep 25, 2024, 10:44 AM EDT

64 of Florida’s 67 counties under watches or warnings

Sixty-four out of Florida’s 67 counties are under alerts as Helene nears the state, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Only three counties -- Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa -- are not under some type of watch or warning, like tropical storm, storm surge or hurricane, he said.

Helene forecast path.
ABC News

Wednesday is the last day for Floridians to finalize preparations before Helene hits, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned.

All Floridians should be prepared for power outages, DeSantis added.

Kyley Weems bags sand in preparation for possible flooding on Sept. 25, 2024 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

At least 12 health care facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, are evacuating, and more may choose to do so in the coming hours, the governor said.

-ABC News’ Alex Faul

Sep 25, 2024, 9:59 AM EDT

Extreme flash flooding possible in Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, Carolinas

Extreme flash flooding is possible in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

First, a storm system separate from Helene is hitting the south on Wednesday. Up to 6 inches of rain is possible over the next 24 hours, bringing a flash flood risk from Atlanta to Asheville, North Carolina.

Then, Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, Hurricane Helene will bring even more extreme rain and flooding to the southern Appalachians.

Flash flood threat through Saturday.
ABC News

A rare "high risk" alert for heavy rain has been issued. Up to 15 inches of rain is possible in some spots.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo