Flash flood emergencies are in effect in Georgia and the Carolinas.
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 storm and is now pushing through Georgia and the Carolinas, bringing catastrophic rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding as the storm moves toward Tennessee.
More than 4 million customers are waking up without power across the South Friday morning in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
More than 1.1 million customers are without power in Florida and another 1.3 million are without power in South Carolina.
More than 1 million lost power in Georgia and another 600,000 are without power in North Carolina.
A flash flood emergency has been issued in Atlanta, where 4 to 6 inches of rain has fallen so far.
Flooding from Helene prompts water rescues in Georgia
More than 25 people have been rescued from life-threatening floodwaters in Atlanta, officials said.
Unexpected swift currents trapped a family of two adults and an infant on top of their car, and crews used a rope and a boat to help them to safety, Atlanta Fire Rescue said.
Another 1 or 2 inches of rain is possible, and the rainfall rate is expected to be 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour, the National Weather Service said.
Residents are urged to seek higher ground.
Atlanta Public Schools are closed on Friday.
Flash flood emergencies are also in effect in Asheville, North Carolina, and Clemson, South Carolina.
-ABC News' Faith Abubey
JoAnn Martino told ABC News the water reached 2 feet inside her home in St. Pete Beach, Florida, just outside of St. Petersburg.
"The water came in from everywhere all at once," she said.
"After using all our funds to rebuild after [Hurricane] Ian [in 2022], we just don't know what we will do this time," she said. "We've lost everything again."
-ABC News’ Helena Skinner
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa, Florida, released dramatic video showing the moment one of its deputies rescued a teenage girl who was trapped in her car in rising floodwaters. The deputy lifted her out of her car and drove her to safety.
