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As the sun rose on Friday morning, the southeastern United States was grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a monstrous storm that made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday night.

The coastal town of Perry, Florida bore the brunt of Helene's fury, enduring sustained winds of 140 mph as the storm roared ashore around 11:10 PM local time.The hurricane's impact has been swift and devastating. At least six lives have been claimed across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, a grim toll that officials fear may rise as search and rescue efforts continue. The storm's far-reaching effects have plunged over 3 million homes and businesses into darkness, leaving a vast swath of the Southeast without power.

As Helene trudged inland, it weakened to a tropical storm, but its threat is far from over. The system continues to unleash torrential rains across Georgia and the Carolinas, triggering flash flood emergencies and raising fears of catastrophic flooding. Meteorologists warn that some areas could see record-breaking rainfall totals.

Along the Florida coast, communities are reeling from what officials described as "unsurvivable" storm surge, with some areas experiencing walls of water 15 to 20 feet high. The sheer size of Helene – with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 310 miles – has made it one of the largest hurricanes to strike the Gulf Coast in decades.In response to the crisis, states of emergency have been declared across the region, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. As Helene continues its destructive march through the Southeast, residents are being urged to heed evacuation orders and safety guidance from local officials. The coming days will be crucial as communities begin to assess the damage and embark on what promises to be a long road to recovery.