Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday evening (Sept. 26) as a Category 4 storm with winds reaching 140 mph in Florida before weakening to a tropical storm. On Friday, the storm continued tearing its way through Georgia.
So far, the storm has damaged homes and businesses amid rising floodwaters and knocked out power for millions, according to the Associated Press. At least six fatalities have been reported.
In Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, more than 4 million homes were reportedly without power as of Friday morning.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp encouraged people to be “very, very, weather weather aware” and to “be prepared at home.” In addition to the wind, heavy rain is expected to take its toll on the impacted areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Baptists prepare response
Meanwhile, Baptist Disaster Relief teams are assessing the damage and preparing to mobilize as the storm passes.
Florida Baptists adjusted their plans after Tallahassee wasn’t hit as hard as expected and moved a response site to First Baptist Church Perry after the area was pummeled by the storm, reported Coy Webb, crisis response director for Send Relief. Send Relief is the compassion ministry of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board.
A team from Texas is also setting up a kitchen in Live Oak, Florida. Response teams in North Carolina and South Carolina are also responding to storm damage and flooding in their states.
For more related headlines, see list below:
Hurricane Helene hits Florida with fatal force – World News
Hurricane Helene rips through Georgia and surrounding states -The World and Everything in It
Helene lashes the South with wind and sheets of rain. Millions are without power – Associated Press
Send Relief, SBDR prepare response as Helene approaches Florida coast -Baptist Press
‘Standby status’ for Florida Baptist Disaster Relief as major hurricane roars toward Sunshine State -Florida Baptist Convention
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by The Baptist Paper.
