Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph before weakening to a Category 1 as it moved inland across Georgia. The storm brought threats of life-threatening storm surge, strong winds, and heavy rain. Forecasters warned that Helene could have a wide wind swath of over 400 miles and could bring “unsurvivable” storm surge. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina declared emergencies ahead of landfall, with flooding being a concern in North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. The system originally became a tropical storm in the western Caribbean Sea, causing flooding in the Cayman Islands before intensifying into a powerful hurricane. Monitoring the storm and following updates from the National Hurricane Center is crucial for residents in the affected regions to stay safe and prepared for the impact of Hurricane Helene.
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