Florida's Barrier Islands reopen to residents and business owners
Residents and beach business owners can return to their property in Clearwater, Florida, beginning at 4 p.m. today.
"Residents and business owners should proceed with caution. There are a large amount of clean-up and response vehicles on the beach roadways, and vehicles should proceed with caution," Clearwater Public Safety said. "Additionally, a portion of the traffic signals are not operating, and drivers should treat intersections without power as a 4-way stop. Some roads are still impassable."
Public safety officials said residents and business owners must have their Barrier Island re-entry passes or reasonable proof that they reside or have a legitimate business in order to gain entry.
Officials also cautioned the area may still be without power but said the water is "operational and drinkable."
"The stormwater system is working at capacity, and residents are asked to reduce their use of water. Residents are also asked not to drain pools, do loads of laundry, or take baths (short showers are preferred)," public safety said.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency performed multiple rescues in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Downstream Tennessee residents warned dam release could swell waterways
Tennessee communities in eastern Knox County and Sevier County near the North Carolina border were warned today that a dam release could swell nearby waterways and cause flooding.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for areas of both counties near the French Broad River and adjacent waterways through 8 p.m.
The communities of Sevierville, Kodak, and Kimberlin Heights could experience flooding, the weather service said. Evacuations were ongoing at Deerfield Trailer Park near Boyds Creek in Sevier County, it said.
The Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency said in an urgent notice the French Broad River could swell 2 to 2.5 feet and flood adjacent property as a result of the release.
The swelling is projected because Douglas Dam officials were increasing the release of floodwater to relieve the structure, the agency said.
The dam's release rate was to increase from 55,000 cubic feet of water per second to 66,000, a rate expected to be maintained for 2 to 3 days, emergency management officials said.
The agency warned residents to standby for possible news on the river, be packed and ready to evacuate, and avoid driving through floodwaters.
8 missing after flooding in Unicoi County, Tennessee
There are at least eight people missing after flash flooding in Unicoi County, Tennessee, caused by Helene, officials said today.
No deaths have been confirmed. The number of missing had been 33 this morning, but 25 of the people were found safe, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Myron Hughes said.
About 75% of the water in the county has receded, which has allowed search and rescue crews to conduct operations, the agency said.
The Nolichucky River, which flows through parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, swelled about 30 feet with the heavy rain, causing widespread destruction, the agency said.
In Unicoi County, more than 50 patients and staff had to be rescued yesterday from a hospital as water rose around them.
There was also concern the Nolichucky Dam could face an imminent breach, but water levels have been falling and the Tennessee Valley Authority said today the dam is "stable and secure."
Tennessee hospitals suspend some services
Greeneville Community Hospital in Tennessee is suspending services due to water supply issues in the city.
At the direction of the local emergency management agency, inpatients are currently being evacuated and will be transferred to other facilities within the Ballad Health system.
The hospital is also suspending all operations except the emergency room, Ballad Health said in a post on X.
Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, Tennessee, also suspended inpatient services and operations except for the emergency room. Nearly 40 patients were evacuated yesterday.
Flooding caused Unicoi County Hospital to temporarily shut down. All patients and team members were successfully moved yesterday, Ballad Health said.
"The hospital remains closed until further notice," the post on X stated.
Damage from the storm also caused intermittent phone outages for incoming and outgoing calls for all facilities within the healthcare system. As of now, all elective surgery cases at all facilities have been postponed.
Gov. Bill Lee: 'A lot of work that has to be done' in Tennessee
Two days after Helene made landfall in Florida and crept its way northwest, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said at a news conference this afternoon that there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of damage that still has to be assessed in his state.
Lee touted the importance of getting a disaster declaration approved from the federal government Friday, which he said sets the stage for a partnership between the state and federal government to begin clean up and recovery efforts. He said the state is currently working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"There's a great deal of damage, a great deal of heartache, great deal of work to be done," Lee said.
He also spoke about dam failure in his state, after reports that warned that the Nolichucky Dam faced a "potential imminent breach" were lifted earlier today.
"We believe right now is there has been no catastrophic dam failure, and there is no imminent dam failure," Lee said.
He also said the state is working to get the bridges back up and running.
"Certainly, I've never seen a hurricane disaster in Tennessee that has looked like this, not in the years that I've been here," Lee said. "When you see the hospital that basically was underwater, when you see homes and businesses gone, it's heartbreaking."
Lee did not address whether any deaths occurred in Tennessee due to the storm.
The Category 4 Hurricane Helene left Keaton Beach, Florida, in a state of chaos with roofs, docks and boats tossed about. The coastal town was one of the most affected communities in Florida.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park encourages people to stay away after hurricane
Hikers planning trips at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are being urged to stay away after the park suffered “historic flooding” from Hurricane Helene.
The damage to the 522,427-acre national park in North Carolina and Tennessee was still being assessed Saturday.
“Visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips for their own safety,” the park said in a statement. “Hiking and backcountry travel are not recommended due to the unpredictability of creek crossings, potential of downed trees and other hazardous trail conditions. Park staff will evaluate trails once roads are safely assessed.”
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most-visited of all national parks last year, with 13,297,647 visits.
At least 58 people have died from storm
At least 58 deaths have been reported as a result of the storm.
Eleven deaths were reported in Florida, 17 in Georgia, 7 in North Carolina, 22 in South Carolina and one in Virginia.
Video shows destruction of Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island after Hurricane Helene
Video posted to YouTube by user Michael Heller shows the devastation that has struck Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island in Florida after Helene passed through.
In one shot, debris is seen strewn across the beach and small, shack-like structures on the sand are destroyed. A sailboat appears to have washed up on shore, its sail ripped to shreds.
Feet of storm surges caused sand to cover nearby roads, the video shows, and the first story of many homes appear to be demolished. A lifeguard stand was seen overturned on the ground and trees and branches littered the sandy area.
The storm has since passed and all appears calm on Bradenton Beach as of today, but the destruction is apparent.