Rescue operations are ongoing in the southeastern U.S. as the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene continues to be felt, with the death toll rising to **44** across five states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The hurricane struck Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, unleashing storm surges and high winds, particularly impacting Gulf Coast communities before moving into southern Georgia. The storm made landfall just east of the Aucilla River around **11:10 p.m. EST**, approximately **10 miles west-southwest of Perry**. Officials have warned of catastrophic storm surges, reaching up to **20 feet (6 meters)**, especially in Apalachee Bay.
The initial casualties included a driver in Tampa who was killed by a falling road sign, along with two fatalities in Georgia, where high winds reportedly struck a mobile home. As Helene moved through the region, it left destruction from Florida up to Tennessee and North Carolina. Helicopters have been deployed to rescue patients stranded on the roof of a Tennessee hospital due to severe flooding. The rising waters, which began to intrude inside the facility, rendered evacuation attempts by boat unsafe, while high winds made helicopter operations impossible.
Among the tragic losses in Georgia were a **27-year-old mother and her one-month-old twins**, who died when a tree fell on their home in Thomson, near Augusta. Additionally, an **89-year-old woman** was killed in a similar incident in the same county.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing updates on the impact of Hurricane Helene. Stay tuned for more information as this story develops, including photos and videos related to the ongoing crisis. You can sign up for email updates to stay informed about the latest developments and significant news stories.