SUMMARY: Hurricane Helen has caused severe devastation as it transitions into a tropical depression, affecting areas from Florida to Tennessee. The storm has submerged roads, leaving many residents without power and in need of rescue. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has issued an executive order for disaster relief. In East Tennessee, significant flooding has led to road closures, particularly on I-40, and rescue operations were conducted at a hospital in Unicoi County where over 50 patients and staff were trapped. The National Guard has joined efforts to assist the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency in rescue efforts.

Flooding from Hurricane Helene has severely impacted parts of East Tennessee, with Middle Tennessee seeing rain and wind.

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SUMMARY: Rising river and lake levels in East Tennessee are causing concerns, according to TVA officials. While the Tennessee River levels are slightly elevated but manageable, other areas are experiencing significant increases due to recent rain. TVA is managing these levels by holding back water in tributaries and is now releasing it into the river to prevent overflow. Lakes such as Douglas, Watagua, Cherokee, and South Holston are rising above their normal summer pools and are expected to continue doing so throughout the weekend. Residents can monitor local water levels through the TVA app.

According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, they hold water back in their tributaries to keep it out of the main river during flooding.

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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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