The hours after Helene made landfall in Florida, the storm was downgraded from a four to a "strong two" – and then to a one – on the five-grade hurricane scale, according to AP. However, the storm still brought catastrophic winds.
Helene is the worst storm to hit Sarasota, south of Tampa, in a century, according to the county mayor, as reported by CNN. Even in Clearwater, the mayor has described the water levels as historic.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says that the damage after Helene appears to be greater than the storms Idalia and Debbie, which ravaged Florida in the fall of 2023 and August this year, combined.
It's depressing, he says according to AP.
After the storm passed on Friday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says that tens of people are still trapped in buildings damaged by the storm.
The five people reported to have lost their lives in Florida as a result of the storm were in areas where people were urged to evacuate. The rescue services faced too great obstacles to be able to rescue the people, according to the police.
Deaths have also been reported in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Helene made landfall on Florida's coast late on Thursday, local time, with winds of over 60 meters per second.
More than four million people were without power on Friday morning, local time, in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
