Hurricane Helene Remnants Headed To Kentucky As At Least 30 Dead In Its Wake—Here’s What To Know
by Mary Whitfill Roeloffs · ForbesTopline
The remnants of Hurricane Helene have moved far inland since making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, and was in Tennessee headed toward Kentucky on Friday, bringing "historic and catastrophic flooding" to the southern Appalachians.
Key Facts
The center of Helene, which has been downgraded to a tropical depression, was located about 125 miles southeast of Lewisville, Kentucky, as of 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Heavy rain is falling over portions of the central and southern Appalachians and the region can expect total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches.
Flash flood emergencies are in effect for Atlanta, much of upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina, including the Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina, areas.
Tornadoes are possible Friday through parts of eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Asheville and McDowell counties in North Carolina as rivers and reservoirs are expected to swell from heavy rainfall, and multiple schools in Kentucky and Indiana are closed Friday as winds and heavy rain pelt the region.
Helene is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley tonight and through the weekend.
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Key Background
Hurricane Helene made landfall at around 11:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday near the city of Perry in Florida’s Big Bend area. The storm moved through Florida and Georgia before heading north. At least 30 people have died across four states, according to The New York Times, including two firefighters in South Carolina.
Has Hurricane Helene Caused Power Outages?
More than 4 million people are without power across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Almost 2 million people across North and South Carolina are without electricity, as well as 1 million in Georgia and another 1 million in Florida, according to PowerOutage.US numbers as of 2 p.m. EDT. More than 100,000 people were experiencing power outages in each Tennessee and Kentucky, in addition to 200,000 people in Virginia, 65,000 in West Virginia and 35,000 in Ohio.
Is North Carolina's Lake Lure Dam Going To Fail?
Yes. Officials have said failure of the dam, about 35 miles southeast of Ashville, is “imminent” and have urged any residents to evacuate and seek higher ground. The Rutherford County Emergency Management agency has reported "catastrophic” water flow in the area. Lake Lure is a small town built around the lake and is best known as the home to Lake Lure Inn, where the cast and crew of the 1987 "Dirty Dancing" movie staying during filming.
Is Helene Impacting Airlines?
The Tampa International Airport closed to the public at 2 a.m. EDT Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene but resumed operations Friday morning. The storm didn’t cause any significant damage to the airport. Hundreds of flights have been either canceled or delayed due to the storm, impacting airports like Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport and Asheville Regional Airport, according to FlightAware.
Tangent
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on Sept. 11. Forecasters this year predicted the busiest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecasted—up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes—but the season hasn't been as active as predicted so far.