Yesterday, we reported on the significant threat that Hurricane Helene was projected to pose, and now the storm’s destruction is tragically unfolding as predicted. Already, seven deaths have been confirmed due to the hurricane’s violent weather. Three fatalities have been reported in Florida and Georgia, including one individual in Tampa, Florida, who was killed after a sign fell on their car on Interstate 4, and two lives were claimed by a tornado in Alamo, Georgia. The loss of life and damage across the southeastern U.S. is mounting as Helene, now downgraded to a tropical storm, continues to wreak havoc.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a historic Category 4 hurricane—the strongest storm ever recorded to hit the area. As of this morning, more than 3.2 million people across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas are without power, and officials expect that number to rise as the storm moves inland. Low-lying communities have been inundated by storm surges, with areas like Sarasota, Florida, experiencing the worst flooding in over a century. Georgia’s Lowndes County, which sits on the Florida-Georgia border, is grappling with widespread power outages, affecting more than 63,000 residents. Emergency services in multiple states are overwhelmed, with rescues continuing through the night as floodwaters rise to dangerous levels.
Amid the storm’s relentless surge, entire houses were seen floating away, swept from their foundations by the powerful floodwaters. The force of Hurricane Helene’s storm surge was so overwhelming that homes in low-lying areas were carried off like driftwood, leaving behind devastated neighborhoods. Here is a video:
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Helene will likely be a “historic inland flooding event,” with torrential rains causing catastrophic conditions across Georgia and the Carolinas. More than 13 inches of rainfall have already been recorded in some parts of Georgia, and officials fear that many more lives could be lost due to flooding. The hurricane has produced numerous tornadoes, with nearly 20 million people across South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida under tornado watches. As Helene moves northward, Georgia and Tennessee are bracing for additional widespread damage and extended power outages.
In response to this unfolding disaster, multiple State Defense Forces have been activated. The Florida State Guard, a civilian organization, has mobilized nearly 300 troops to perform critical missions such as search and rescue operations, aerial surveillance, and damage surveying. The Georgia State Defense Force has not been activated, currently awaiting orders. Meanwhile, the South Carolina State Guard status has been upgraded to standby, prepared to respond to counties in the western part of the state, where Hurricane Helene passed through, leaving severe damage in its wake. Additionally, the Virginia Defense Force and National Guard had already been activated yesterday and are actively engaged in relief efforts, aiding counties devastated by the storm.
Tennessee has also declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Helene’s impacts. While The Tennessee National Guard have been activated, The Tennessee State Guard has not and is awaiting orders. As the situation develops, we will continue to provide updates on the response efforts and the ongoing devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Here are some Georgia State Defense Force troops seen preparing for the storm yesterday:
··: The state of being prepared
Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldiers keep an eye on Hurricane Helene during a GSDF planning meeting, metro Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25, 2024.
The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.
Join the GSDF at gsdf.link/join
Ready to Serve!
(Georgia State Defense Force phot by Sgt. Taryn Evans)
··: The state of being prepared
A Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldier and a FirstNet technician (wearing an AT&T vest) address communications, north Georgia, Sept. 25, 2024.
The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.
Join the GSDF at gsdf.link/join
We are Georgia’s state guard!
(Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Carson)
Sources: CNN – CNN – USA Today – ABC News – Georgia State Defense Force – South Carolina State Guard PAO – Georgia State Defense Force PAO – Tennessee State Guard PAO
*Update 10/1/2024 – Added Tennessee State Guard Status
