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Helene Causes Devastation in Florida and Georgia, Leaving Millions Without Power and Bringing Deadly Flooding. Helene, one of the largest storms to hit the U.S., brought chaos to Florida and Georgia, killing one person and leaving over 2 million homes and businesses without power, Reuters reports. The Category 4 storm hit land with 140 mph winds, overturning boats, felling trees, and flooding streets in Tampa, Naples, and St. Petersburg. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the death of a driver whose car was struck by debris, with concerns that more fatalities could be discovered. Power outages affected over 1.2 million customers in Florida and 800,000 in Georgia as the storm's impact spread across the region. Helene is tied as the 14th most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. and the seventh most powerful in Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm weakened to a tropical storm as it moved into Georgia, but life-threatening storm surges, winds, and heavy rains continued, with up to 20 inches of rain expected in some areas. Residents were urged to evacuate, with officials warning of the destruction that storm surges could cause in coastal areas, including building damage and cars swept away. Some residents, like Ken Wood in Dunedin, Florida, chose to remain at home despite evacuation orders, even as officials warned of severe flooding risks. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Petersburg suspended operations, while agricultural crops in Georgia faced damage in the middle of the harvest season. Preliminary insurance losses are estimated to reach $3-6 billion, with additional federal insurance losses potentially nearing $1 billion as the storm’s aftermath unfolds.
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