The effects of Hurricane Helene are still being felt in the southeastern United States, where at least 91 people have died and around 2.4 million people were without power as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.

The storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of up to 140 miles per hour. According to the National Hurricane Center, Helene, now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, is still hovering over the Tennessee Valley.

In North Carolina, more than 200 people were rescued from floodwaters that washed away homes in several areas. Search teams are reportedly still trying to find over a thousand missing people in North Carolina and Tennessee. About 1,100 North Carolina residents are now in shelters as the state grapples with widespread damage.

In response to the crisis, President Biden on Sunday approved North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s request for a federal major disaster declaration, allowing FEMA to provide vital assistance to 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee afford.

Here’s a look at the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene – and what to expect in the coming days.

The death toll is in the dozens

As of Sunday evening, at least 91 people had been killed in five states – Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. According to the New York Times, the deaths were reportedly attributed to a variety of causes, including flooding, falling trees and car accidents.

In Florida, where Helene originally landed, eleven people were confirmed dead, according to Reuters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described “complete devastation” in parts of the state, with 90% of homes reported in communities like Keaton Beach on Florida’s west coast that are still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in 2023 were reportedly washed away.

As of Sunday, 24 people have died in South Carolina – the most in any state to date as a result of the storm – prompting the state weather agency to call it “the worst event in our office’s history” in a Facebook post Saturday. to denote evening. Over 20 people, including children, died in Georgia as a result of Helene.

According to the New York Times, there have been 10 weather-related deaths in North Carolina as of Sunday, and over 1,000 people remain missing in Buncombe County alone. Over 70 people remain missing in East Tennessee, officials said in a news conference Sunday morning, according to NBC News.

Power outages in numbers

As of 2:41 p.m. ET Sunday, nearly 2.4 million homes and businesses remained without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

South Carolina was hit hardest, where, according to the last update, almost 870,000 residents are still in the dark. Georgia follows suit with more than 656,000 customers without power, while North Carolina has just over 526,000 affected. In Florida, around 194,000 people remain without power, and in Virginia over 127,000 people are still affected.

Damages of over $110 billion

AccuWeather estimates that the total cost of Helene’s damage and economic losses will be between $95 billion and $110 billion, making the storm one of the costliest in U.S. history. For comparison: Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017) each caused around $125 billion in damage, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Helene reportedly triggered North Carolina’s worst flooding in a century, with Yancey County the hardest hit with 29.5 inches of rain.

Atlanta also saw record-breaking rainfall: 11.12 inches fell in 48 hours, the most in the city since the 19th century. On Saturday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said statewide damages could total more than the reported $1.2 billion the state incurred after Hurricane Michael in 2018.

According to Florida Urban Search and Rescue, around 84 structures were reportedly destroyed and over 4,000 sustained water damage in Florida alone.

Rescue efforts

According to the agency, more than 800 FEMA employees are working around the clock to provide support and resources in the hardest-hit areas. Evacuations continued throughout the weekend as water overflowed several dams, including Nolichucky Dam in Tennessee and Lake Lure Dam in North Carolina.

According to an update from DeSantis, at least 190 people have been rescued in Florida as of Sunday morning, and over 1,300 people are currently seeking shelter in 43 shelters in 21 counties in that state. As of Saturday, more than 200 people had been rescued from floodwaters in North Carolina.

Debris, fallen trees and flooding led to more than 400 road closures in North Carolina, according to the New York Times. According to the state Department of Transportation, there were at least 300 active traffic accidents as of Sunday afternoon.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency is reportedly operating in 32 counties in the state of Georgia to assist local authorities in their rescue efforts.

Further rainfall is expected

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone and is now hovering over the Tennessee Valley. Parts of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee – including Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg – could see up to 2 inches of rain through Monday.

Although it is expected to ease by Monday, the National Weather Service warns that heavy rainfall and flash flooding continue to pose a threat to the central Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic regions, with a slight risk of “excessive precipitation” expected through Tuesday morning.

Additionally, an upper-level low over the Ohio Valley is forecast to gradually weaken through Tuesday as it moves east toward the Mid-Atlantic.