Nearly 100 dead, millions in dark across Southeast as region struggles in wake of Helene

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Aid being flown into areas of North Carolina cut off by destruction caused by Hurricane Helene

Dozens of people are confirmed dead in several states in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and many communities remain unreachable because of the storm’s impacts. FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar is in Boone where debris from destroyed buildings and roads litter the area as crews desperately try and get aid to those who remain trapped with no way out. 

BOONE, N.C. – Recovery operations are ongoing across the Southeast as communities across the region grapple with Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic destruction that left at least 97 people dead, whole neighborhoods underwater and millions of people without power.

The Category 4 hurricane made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday night with 140 mph winds that left widespread destruction across the region while hundreds of people needed to be rescued from the flooding and damaged property caused by the storm’s relentless winds and precipitation. 

DEATH TOLL RISES AS HELENE UNLEASHES CATASTROPHIC FLOODING ACROSS SOUTHEAST, KNOCKS OUT POWER TO MILLIONS

As of Sunday, power outages remain across several states affecting nearly 2.5 million customers – a major improvement from the peak of the storm, when 4.7 million were without power.

As communities across the region continue their recovery efforts, President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida and North Carolina, freeing up federal money to help the countless people who have been affected by the disaster.

FOX WEATHER EXCLUSIVE STORM TRACKER RECOUNTS CHASING HELENE

In this aerial view, power crews work on the lines after Hurricane Helene passed offshore on September 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Florida.

(Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Devastating storm surge, near 100 mph wind gusts slam Florida

Helene's storm surge caused catastrophic damage along Florida's Gulf Coast, where more than 200,000 utility customers remained without power Sunday. The Big Bend region experienced surges exceeding 15 feet, while Clearwater Beach and Tampa saw their highest levels in decades. 

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Florida barrier islands experience storm surge with 'insurmountable' impacts

FOX Weather Meteorologist Michael Estime reports from Davis Island, where more than 3 feet of storm surge swept over the Tampa community. Sept. 28, 2024.

BOATS SEEN PILED AGAINST HOMES IN TREASURE ISLAND AFTER HELENE'S SURGE DEVASTATES FLORIDA COAST

The small barrier island of Treasure Island was particularly devastated, with widespread flooding and property damage. Four people died on the barrier island because of Helene's impacts, according to Treasure Island police. 

Wind gusts measured as high as 99 mph in Perry, Florida as Helene made landfall.

Following landfall, the storm quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, uprooting trees, splintering homes and overwhelming rivers and dams.

A catastrophic flood threat was narrowly avoided Saturday along the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee as the remnants of Helene unleashed torrential rainfall, pushing the river to the brink of a critical emergency.  

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a dire Flash Flood Emergency late Friday as the Nolichucky Dam in Greeneville was feared to be teetering on the verge of collapse, threatening imminent danger to communities downstream. However, the dam survived the onslaught and the waters, while still several feet above record flood stage, are starting to recede.

WATCH: TENNESSEE DAM NARROLY AVOIDS FAILURE AFTER HEAVY RAIN FROM HELENE

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Swollen river pours over Tennessee's Nolichucky River Dam.

The swollen Nolichucky River sweeps over a dam in eastern Tennessee after 1-2 feet of rain fell in the nearby mountains. (Video courtesy: Tennessee Valley Authority)

This comes after a record-breaking 28 Flash Flood Emergencies were issued across the Southeast, including Georgia, western North Carolina, parts of South Carolina and Virginia. Friday saw the most Flash Flood Emergencies issued in a single day nationwide.

Even as the storm weakened to a post-tropical cyclone, its devastating effects continued to be felt. 

Local officials across six states have confirmed deaths from Florida to Virginia. 

INTERSTATE 40 PARTIALLY COLLAPSES AFTER CATASTROPHIC RAINS IN NORTH CAROLINA

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Death toll nears 100 across Southeast from Helene

Additional deaths in the Carolinas and Tennessee on Sunday brought the death toll from Hurricane Helene to 95 by Sunday evening. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing across the Southeast after Helene caused historic flooding in six states. 

On Sunday, officials in Tennessee confirmed two deaths due to impacts from Helene. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said 25 deaths attributed to the storm have been confirmed in the state. 

Dozens of water rescues as record floods slam western North Carolina, Atlanta

In North Carolina, the storm's torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in the Asheville area. At least 50 water rescues were reported, and tragically, 30 lives were lost in Buncombe County. The flooding was so severe that parts of the state remained underwater days after the storm passed.

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Blue Ridge Mountains bear brunt of North Carolina's historic flooding

FOX News' Chelsea Torres is live from Asheville providing the latest updates on the devastation and cleanup efforts in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

One group of friends in Boone canoed the flooded South Fork New River for 32 minutes, landing at a washed out road on Friday.

"We saw trailers floating by, and cars toppled over," one of the friends said.

Friends talk after having canoed the flooded South Fork New River for 32 minutes and landing at a washed out road on September 27, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina.

(Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images)

Atlanta experienced its first-ever Flash Flood Emergency, breaking a 138-year-old rainfall record with 11.18 inches in two days. This caused severe flooding that submerged entire neighborhoods.

Rescue crews worked tirelessly to save stranded individuals, including a woman who was rescued by FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen. Hearing her cries for help while reporting nearby, Van Dillen immediately jumped into action to save her from the rising floodwaters.

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FOX Weather's Bob Van Dillen rescues woman from Atlanta floodwater

FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen bravely rescued a woman who had driven into floodwaters in Atlanta early Friday morning.

Helene, which is now post-tropical, will continue to bring the threat of flooding rains as the system meanders across the East, the FOX Forecast Center said. 

Around 2-4 inches of additional rain is likely from Western Tennessee into Ohio. Additional rain is expected in the Northern Appalachian Mountains. Helene's lingering effects should finally exit the Northeast late Tuesday into Wednesday.