Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue

A public health emergency was declared in Georgia on Friday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

"We will do all we can to assist Georgia officials respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene," Becerra said. "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support."

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response "has deployed teams to assist in a rapid combined federal and multi-state response to Hurricane Helene," said Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell. “We are on the ground and ready to support local health requests."

The HHS had declared an emergency for Florida on Thursday.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.