Florida residents are reeling from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on Thursday evening as a Category 4 storm.
Eyewitness Accounts:
Briana Gagnier, from Holmes Beach, described the terrifying moment her family was forced to swim out of their home as seawater flooded their property.
“Everyone was screaming and panicking. Whatever your worst idea of what this storm is – that is what we’re seeing.”
Gagnier and her family rescued two elderly neighbours from a burning home and witnessed widespread destruction, including floating furniture and cars.
“I just can’t believe this is real. The eye of the storm didn’t even hit us straight on. This island is completely devastated.”
Storm Aftermath:
- 11 fatalities reported in Georgia, with 2 in Florida and 2 in North Carolina
- 4 million households without electricity across the southeastern US
- Thousands of water rescues conducted in flooded neighborhoods, including Atlanta, Georgia
- Storm surge of up to 10ft (3m) reported in some areas
Rescues and Evacuations:
- A man and his dog were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their sailboat took on water off Sanibel Island
- An apartment building in Atlanta was evacuated due to flooding
Residents Describe Devastation:
ML Ferguson, from Anna Maria Island, described roads turning into rivers: “Oh my gosh, it’s literally up to the second step.”
Helene has weakened to a tropical storm but continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the southeastern US.
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