LIVE UPDATES

Hurricane Helene live updates: 52 dead in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia

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

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.

The remnants of Helene continue to bring rain to areas like Nashville, Paducah, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Detroit.

There are no new flood watches in effect and the overall flood threat is low.

There are still flood warnings in effect for multiple counties across parts of western North Carolina, eastern Kentucky, and western Virginia.


0

Officials describe 'biblical devastation' in Buncombe County

Buncombe County, North Carolina, officials described "biblical devastation" as the storm resulted in multiple fatalities and at least 60 people unaccounted for.

Search and rescue continues in Asheville and in the county, and the call level for emergency services remains high, Ryan Cole, Buncombe County's assistant emergency services director said.

Over 150 rescues were performed in the county, officials said.

The county remains without water, power and cell services. Some rivers are receding, but the threat of devastating landslides continues, as the ground remains saturated, Cole said.

A boil water advisory remains in place for those who still have access to water, officials said.

-ABC News' Victoria Arancio


Biden briefed on Hurricane Helene by FEMA director visiting impacted communities

President Joe Biden was briefed Saturday by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the impacts of Hurricane Helene in states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, according to the White House.

"The President directed them to continue to focus on how the Biden-Harris Administration can speed support to impacted survivors and accelerate recovery efforts, including the immediate deployment of additional search and rescue teams into North Carolina," the White House said.

This comes as Criswell is visiting impacted communities in Florida "at the President’s request," according to the White House.

FEMA says that in her visit to the state, Criswell is "surveying damage and assessing the need for federal resources to support Hurricane Helene response activities." The White House adds that she will also travel to Georgia and North Carolina in the coming days.

A statement from FEMA Saturday said that the federal government has sent "more than 2,300 federal personnel and voluntary agencies across six states." They add that they've sent "1,270 personnel and Swift Water Rescue Capabilities to affected states" to continue with rescue efforts.

-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart


Over 200 rescued from North Carolina floods, governor says

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper provided an update Saturday afternoon on the ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

As of 4 p.m., more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters, he said. North Carolina first responders are being aided by crews from 19 other states and the federal government, according to Cooper.

"This is a historic and catastrophic storm for Western North Carolina and I’m grateful to first responders working right now to save lives and evacuate residents," he said in a statement.

Some areas in the mountain region saw as much as 29 inches of rain, the governor said. More than 700,000 people remain without power.

"We’re bringing in needed supplies by air," Cooper said.


Emergency management teams in Rutherford County, NC, launch air rescues

Emergency management teams in Rutherford County, North Carolina, started an air rescue operation Saturday afternoon to evacuate residents from Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village.

Those airlifted will be taken to RS Central High School for further assistance, officials said.

"As soon as we receive the names of those rescued, we will make every effort to reach out to families and individuals who have inquired about their loved ones," officials said in a statement.

-ABC News' Jason Volack