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Hurricane Helene live updates: 52 killed, including mom and her twin infant sons

Helene's storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding has been catastrophic.

ByEmily Shapiro, David Brennan, Leah Sarnoff, Julia Reinstein, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: September 27, 2024, 5:27 PM EDT

Rescues are ongoing and the cleanup is underway on Saturday after Hurricane 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.

The storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding from Helene has been catastrophic, impacting Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Dozens have been killed and millions are still without power.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 27, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT

Helene now post-tropical

Helene is now post-tropical and is no longer a depression, but its remnants continue to produce dangerous weather over portions of the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley, the National Weather Service said.

PHOTO: Teresa Elder walks through a flooded Sandy Cove Drive, from Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024, in Morganton, N.C.
Teresa Elder walks through a flooded Sandy Cove Drive, from Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024, in Morganton, N.C.
Kathy Kmonicek/AP

Flash flood emergencies remain in effect for western North Carolina and portions of Tennessee and Virginia.

A tornado watch remains in effect from eastern North Carolina to Virginia Beach back to Roanoke, Virginia. Several tornadoes have been reported on Friday.

The center of Helene is now over Kentucky with heavy rain and gusty winds across a large area from Missouri to Ohio to the Carolinas. Flash flooding and strong winds will continue through Friday night.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

Sep 27, 2024, 5:14 PM EDT

15 injured in tornado in Rocky Mount, North Carolina: NWS

More than a dozen people were injured after a tornado tore through Rocky Mount, North Carolina, early Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Raleigh said.

Among 15 people injured, four had serious injuries, the NWS said. No one has been reported missing, according to Rocky Mount Fire Chief Darvin Moore.

Cars are piled along the side of Hing Ta Restaurant after a tornado hit Rocky Mount, N.C., Sept. 27, 2024.
City of Rocky Mount via AP

Fourteen buildings were also damaged, Moore said.

A second tornado was also confirmed Friday morning near Garland in Sampson County, the NWS said. Downed trees and power lines were reported.

Sep 27, 2024, 4:49 PM EDT

Dozens safely evacuated from Tennessee hospital roof amid flooding

Dozens of people were safely evacuated from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, hospital officials said.

Fifty-four patients and staff became trapped on the roof amid flooding, according to Virginia State Police. They were all safely evacuated via helicopter rescues, officials said.

"I don't think very many people have seen something like this before," Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine said during a press briefing following the rescue. "The most important thing is the safety of our employees and patients. Thank God, thanks to the great work of Tennessee and Virginia partnering to help us get this rescue underway, they're all safe."

The patients were being transported another hospital, he said.

Sep 27, 2024, 3:35 PM EDT

Impact of Hurricane Helene 'looks bad': Biden

President Joe Biden told reporters that the impact of Hurricane Helene "looks bad," citing more than two dozen dead, but that they "don't have enough information."

He was asked by ABC News' Karen Travers about his briefing with his team on the storm effects while on the tarmac in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Friday afternoon.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart