SUMMARY: The Florida Panhandle and Big Bend face clean-up efforts after Hurricane Helen, the third major storm in over a year, following Hurricanes Adalia and Debbie. Residents, though exhausted, remain determined to rebuild. ABC Action News anchor Paula Gro reported extensive damage, particularly in Perry, where homes lost roofs and streets are littered with debris. Power outages impacted all of Taylor County, and structural devastation is significant along the coast, with reports that 80% of coastal structures were destroyed. Cleanup efforts are underway, but the community is yearning for a break after the relentless storms.

Damage from Helene in Perry is widespread.

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SUMMARY: Residents of South Tampa, particularly along Bayshore Boulevard, experienced significant flooding due to record storm surge from Hurricane Helen. ABC Action News reported a substantial cleanup effort, as mud, debris, and damaged furniture cluttered the streets and homes. Many residents reported unprecedented water levels, with some experiencing six inches flooding inside their houses. Community members mobilized quickly, helping each other and hiring cleaning crews to tackle the mess, while expressing gratitude for their relatively safe situation compared to those affected along the beaches. The cleanup efforts were characterized by neighborly support and resilience in the face of adversity.

Flooding from the severe storm surge on Bayshore Boulevard Thursday is all gone but it left behind lots of dirt and debris.

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SUMMARY: Hurricane Helen caused widespread devastation across the Southeast, leaving over 2.8 million people without power from Florida to Ohio. Asheville, North Carolina, faced severe mudslides, while Tennessee and Georgia experienced life-threatening flooding, prompting rescue operations by the National Guard, including airlifting patients from a flooded hospital. In Florida, communities were devastated by storm surge and winds, with ongoing cleanup efforts underway. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place amid continued threats. Local organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, are collecting supplies to support those affected. The storm’s death toll has surpassed 60, marking one of the worst storms in recent history.

Packing 140 mph winds, Helene swept through North Florida after surging onto land about 11:10 p.m. Thursday east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles from the Taylor County community of Perry. But storm surge from the massive storm also caused damage up and down the state‘s Gulf Coast.

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