Death toll hits 41 as Hurricane Helene pounds Florida, 3 other states

Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation across Florida and the southeastern U.S. on Friday, leading to at least 41 deaths across four states.
With winds up to 140 mph (225 kph), the storm toppled large trees, destroyed homes, and sent rescue teams on urgent missions to save people trapped by rising floodwaters.
The Category 4 hurricane also knocked out power in some hospitals in southern Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp noted that authorities had to clear debris and reopen roads using chainsaws.
Helene made landfall late Thursday in the rural Big Bend area of Florida, which consists of fishing villages and vacation spots where Florida’s Panhandle and peninsula meet.
The hurricane’s impact reached as far north as northeast Tennessee, where 54 people were rescued from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital due to rapidly rising floodwaters.
In North Carolina, a lake overtopped a dam, prompting evacuations in nearby areas, though there were no immediate signs of structural failure.
Residents in Newport, Tennessee, were also evacuated due to concerns about a nearby dam, which officials later confirmed had not failed.
Tornadoes were reported in several areas, including Nash County, North Carolina, where four people were critically injured.
Experts pointed out that climate change has intensified storms like Helene, which can strengthen rapidly in warming waters, turning into powerful hurricanes within hours.