Emergency workers in Florida and Georgia have been working tirelessly to rescue hundreds of people from boats, homes, and cars as Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc in the Gulf of Mexico and coastal areas. The Category 4 storm made landfall on the Florida coast late Thursday, causing widespread flooding from storm surge.
In Florida, over 1,500 search-and-rescue personnel are focused on stabilizing affected communities and conducting rescue missions as needed. Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, saw the sheriff’s office rescue over 300 people from storm surge overnight, including a 97-year-old woman and her daughter, as well as a young woman whose car got stuck in rising waters.
Coast Guard teams also conducted rescues, including saving a man and his dog stranded 25 miles offshore on a sailboat. In North Carolina, more than 100 swift-water rescues have been carried out due to massive flooding caused by Helene’s rains, with Gov. Roy Cooper urging residents to stay off the roads unless seeking higher ground.
In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp reported crews are working to rescue people trapped in over 115 homes. Flooding in Atlanta forced emergency personnel to rescue residents from their homes. The efforts of emergency workers in these states have been crucial in saving lives and providing assistance to those affected by the storm.
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Photo credit wtop.com
