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Hurricane Helene live updates: 43 dead across the South

Flash flood emergencies are ongoing in multiple states.

ByEmily Shapiro, David Brennan, Leah Sarnoff, Julia Reinstein, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: September 27, 2024, 5:46 PM 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 and is now post-tropical, but its remnants will continue to produce dangerous weather. The center of the storm is now over Kentucky with heavy rain and gusty winds across a large area from Missouri to Ohio to the Carolinas.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
2 hours ago

Over 4.6 million without power across the South

More than 4.6 million customers lost power across the South Friday in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Officers drive through rubbles left behind by Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Fla., Sept. 27, 2024.
Cristobal Herrera-ulashkevich/EPA via Shutterstock

Douglas Gajus and his wife Tara watch the news as they wait for the arrival of Hurricane Helene at Lincoln High School which was opened as a shelter in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024.
Kathleen Flynn/Reuters

More than 1.2 million are without power in South Carolina and nearly 900,000 are without power in North Carolina.

Nearly 940,000 customers are without power in Georgia and nearly 760,000 are without power in Florida.

More than 50 health care facilities are operating on generator power across Florida, officials said.

2 hours ago

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

2 hours ago

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 those 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.

3 hours ago

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-eight 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.