The storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding from Hurricane Helene have been catastrophic, flooding neighborhoods, stranding residents, destroying homes and toppling trees in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Dozens have been killed.
Helene, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night as a massive Category 4 hurricane, was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend on record.
Seventy-three people remain unaccounted for in Unicoi County, Tennessee, in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, including those needing welfare checks, county officials said.
Family members hold up photographs of loved ones who have not been found by Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 in the aftermath of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene in Erwin. Tenn.
Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA Today Network
One search and rescue team discovered a casket while navigating a debris field, Unicoi County Mayor Garland "Bubba" Evely said.
"We are working with the William Jenkins Forensic Center for identification and family notification. However, there are no confirmed deaths related to the floods at this time," Everly said.
Rescue helicopters land on the roof of Unicoi Hospital in Erwin, Tenn., Sept. 27, 2024.
Regan Tilson
-ABC News’ Jason Volack
11:40 AM EDT
Rescue and recovery operations ongoing in hard-hit Asheville, North Carolina
In hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina, which encompasses Asheville, Sunday’s clear skies "will help our crews continue intense rescue and recovery operations," county manager Avril Pinder said.
Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, NC, Sept. 28, 2024.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
"We’re still dealing with mudslides, flooded areas and stranded individuals. Our priority remains saving every person we can," she said. "Wellness checks will have to wait."
Ten people in Buncombe County have been killed by Hurricane Helene, Sheriff Quentin Miller said.
"Our hearts are broken," he said. "We’ve lost friends, family and neighbors."
Men inspect the damage from flooding in the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC, Sept. 28, 2024.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Several roads have washed away, hampering the ability for officials to set up food and water distribution sites.
"We’ve got private helicopters dropping food at key locations," said Anthony Penland, fire chief in Swannanoa, just outside of Asheville. "But we still need the community to come together and help one another."
Flood waters from the French Broad River cover the River Arts District in Asheville, NC, Sept. 28, 2024.
Jacob Biba/Citizen Times/USA Today
"We intend to have water services available soon, but we're asking for one more day of patience," Pinder said.
"We’re all going to need to lift each other up to get through this," she added.
-ABC News’Jason Volack
9:33 AM EDT
More than 2 million still without power
More than 4 million customers lost power across the South on Friday in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and on Sunday, more than 2 million are still without power.
In this aerial view, flood waters inundate the main street after Hurricane Helene passed offshore, Sept. 27, 2024, in Crystal River, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Officers drive through rubbles left behind by Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Fla., Sept. 27, 2024.
Cristobal Herrera-ulashkevich/EPA via Shutterstock
More than 900,000 are without power in South Carolina and 600,000 customers are in the dark in Georgia.
Over 200,000 are without power in Florida, another 500,000 customers are without power in North Carolina and more than 100,000 are in the dark in Virginia.
2:40
Hurricane Helene knocks out power to millions of residents across the Southeast
Nearly a half a million customers are still without power. Duke Energy State President in Florida, Melissa Seixas, describes some of the challenges crews face as they try to restore power.
8:16 AM EDT
Death toll rises to 64
At least 64 people have died from Hurricane Helene, according to The Associated Press. Fatalities were confirmed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
A local resident clears boulders that were swept by fast-flowing waters onto a stretch of flooded road as Tropical Storm Helene strikes, on the outskirts of Boone, North Carolina, Sept. 27, 2024.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters
In Georgia, the victims killed include Leon Davis, an assistant fire chief from Blackshear, who died when a tree fell on his car while he was responding to a call, officials said. Also killed in Georgia was a 27-year-old mother and her 1-month-old twin boys, who died when a tree fell on their home in Washington County, officials said.
In Florida, the deaths included a driver struck by a fallen sign while traveling on Interstate 4 near Tampa, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Jamir Lewis wades through flood waters with his two daughters Nylah and Aria due to storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Fla.
Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA via Shutterstock
An American flag sits in the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mike Carlson/AP
At least 17 were killed in South Carolina, including two firefighters in Saluda County, Gov. Henry McMaster said.
In North Carolina, the victims include a man who drove his truck on a flooded road, the governor said.
