SUMMARY: Hurricane Helene, now downgraded to a tropical storm, made landfall in Florida and is creating severe weather across the Southeast, including tornadoes, heavy rain, and damaging winds. Significant damage has been reported in North Carolina, and two fatalities occurred in Georgia and Florida due to storm-related incidents. Over 1 million people are without power in Florida, with additional outages in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Flash flooding has been reported in Atlanta, prompting evacuations, while Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has deployed 1,500 National Guard troops for assistance. Tornado watches remain in effect across parts of the region.

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SUMMARY: State and local leaders are considering a new site for a psychiatric hospital in East Tennessee, as an archeological review revealed that 73% of the current Chattanooga site contains historic artifacts and may have undiscovered human remains. Governor Bill Lee highlighted that this is the first such review since the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute’s establishment in 1961. Officials emphasize the urgent need for enhanced mental health services. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services plans to adapt its approach while maintaining existing services for the 52-county area. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp supports the search for a new location.

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SUMMARY: Good morning! Today, we’re observing a weather impact alert due to ongoing heavy rain and flooding concerns. Tropical Storm Helen is approaching, bringing gusty winds and further rainfall, particularly affecting North Carolina. The saturated soil increases the risk of catastrophic flooding, especially in elevated areas. Meanwhile, there are risks of strong thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes in some regions. Gusty winds are expected throughout the day, with potential gusts of 30 to 40 mph. While this weekend may see some drier weather, additional rain is likely across East Tennessee. Sunshine is forecast for the middle of next week, bringing a calmer spell.

Here’s the latest forecast update as Helene moves into the area.

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