Gusts of wind, rising waters… What are the consequences of Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeast coast of the United States?

This powerful storm is delivering intense rain and the risk of marine submersion is of particular concern to the authorities. However, on Friday morning, Hélène was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Gusts of rare violence and colossal quantities of water. On the evening of Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region, in northwest Florida, around 11:10 p.m. (5:10 a.m. Paris time), according to the NWS, the American weather service. First classified as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale of five, it weakened to become a tropical storm on Friday. The particularity of Hurricane Helene is that it is very extensive, so even if it has been downgraded, it remains “extremely dangerous”warned the authorities. One person died in Florida, then two others in the state of Georgia, according to the first report from local authorities released Friday morning.

At least three dead, including two swept away by tornado

Two people died in central Georgia, the governor of this state announced. In a message published on the social network “to prepare for further impacts from Helene, to remain vigilant and to pray for all those affected”.

Local media, citing Steve Adams, director of the Wheeler County Emergency Management Agency, reported that the two victims, a man and a woman, died when a trailer was swept away by a tornado. . “The caravan was pushed across the highway by the tornado, hitting two vehicles, before landing in a field.”reported the channel WTOC-TV.

For his part, the governor of the state of Florida declared that a person had been killed while driving in the coastal city of Tampa. “We received a report of a traffic fatality. A car…in Tampa was hit when a sign fell on the highway”declared Ron DeSantis during a press briefing devoted to Hurricane Helene. “This proves that conditions are very dangerous there”he added, emphasizing that “Now is not the time to go out.” out.

A rise in water the height of a two-story building

Hurricane Helene caused intense rains. It surges inland, leaving flooded roads and houses in its wake. The risk of marine submersion particularly worries the authorities. The rise in water levels could reach six meters in places on the coasts of the southeastern United States, the height of a two-story building. This is a “a scenario that is impossible to survive” and which will be accompanied by waves “destructive” could sweep away homes and move cars, warned Mike Brennan, director of the US Hurricane Center (NHC).

The hurricane crossed Florida into neighboring Georgia, the NHC said Friday morning. Tens of millions of Americans are under weather alerts. The NHC also warned of heavy rain in some locations and life-threatening flooding, as well as numerous landslides and mudslides, in the southern Appalachians.

Strong winds cause falling trees

When Hurricane Helene was still classified as category 4, winds blew at 225 km/h. The wind force decreased when the hurricane was downgraded to category 2: the NHC reported maximum winds of 175 km/h. As the hurricane continues to move rapidly over Georgia, the NHC reports that maximum winds are now around 90 mph, with gusts higher at times.

However, these gusts led to falling trees. As a result, authorities are reporting widespread power outages. More than a million homes were still without power in Florida on Friday morning, according to the site poweroutage.us, which also reports power outages in the states of Georgia, California, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Residents holed up in their barricaded homes

More than 55 million Americans are affected by a weather alert with the passage of Hurricane Helene, sometimes with tornado warnings. Thursday evening, the hurricane made precise landfall “just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River”located some 40 km southeast of Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, which has a population of approximately 200,000. On the coast near Tallahassee, many fled, having protected the windows of their homes with wooden planks, and most businesses closed. US President Joe Biden has “urged” residents to take into account the “calls to evacuate” issued by the authorities. “Take this seriously, and be careful,” he insisted.

But some, like John Luper, decided to stay despite evacuation orders, out of solidarity with his mother and brother. “They won’t leave. I’m stuck with them,” he sighs to AFP, regretting their choice. Authorities in Taylor County, Florida, have asked residents who failed to heed calls to leave to write their names on their bodies using permanent markers to help identify them if they were to be killed.

In Crawfordville, a small town located about thirty kilometers south of Tallahassee, Patrick Riickert also decided to ignore the alerts. “I’m staying here. I’m going to retreat. I trust in my faith and that God will protect me”this fifty-year-old, who has his grandchildren with him, told AFP. Thursday evening, the governor of Florida asked residents who still can to evacuate, and others to barricade themselves and not go out until the next morning.

Airports closed and thousands of soldiers mobilized

In Florida, a state of emergency has been imposed across almost the entire state. Some 3,500 National Guard troops have been mobilized and an additional 2,000 are available if needed, according to the governor. Federal funds have been released, with personnel ready to help with search and rescue operations, restoring power or clearing roads. Several airports, including Tallahassee and Tampa, are closed.