Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after storm kills at least 40 in 4 states

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MIAMI — Hurricane Helene weakened into a post-tropical cyclone on Friday after making landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm. The storm has been blamed for at least 40 deaths, including 17 people in South Carolina, as it plowed its way north through several southeastern states.

Authorities continue to rescue people trapped by floodwaters and millions were without power across much of the southeastern U.S.

Helene came ashore amid warnings from the National Hurricane Center that the enormous system could create a "nightmare" storm surge.

Tropical Storm John made its second landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast Friday, while in its wake authorities in the resort city of Acapulco called for help from anyone with a boat to deal with the flooding.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened Friday into a hurricane in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and could cause dangerous waves in parts of Bermuda, forecasters said.

Tropical Storm Joyce formed on Friday morning in the Atlantic Ocean and wasn't threatening land, forecasters said. The storm was expected to strengthen gradually through Sunday before weakening early next week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has downgraded Helene from a tropical depression to a post-tropical cyclone.

Helene, a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall in Florida late Thursday night, was 50 miles southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, at about 3 p.m. MDT. It was moving northwest at 17 mph, according to the hurricane center.

The storm was expected to continue producing heavy rain in the area and cause severe flash-flooding as a result. Isolated tornadoes Friday evening were possible in Virginia and North Carolina, the hurricane center said.

In eastern Tennessee, a "catastrophic failure" of Waterville Dam spurred Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis to hand down evacuation orders for all of downtown Newport, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Newport is a city of about 7,000 people roughly 60 miles southwest of where dozens of people were being rescued from the roof of a hospital.

More than 1 million customers remained without power in South Carolina several hours after the remnants of Hurricane Helene left the state and the sun started to come out.

Utility officials warned power could be out for many for a long time. Crews were still assessing the damage and in some cases needed to cut their way through debris just to determine what was left standing.

"You will be frustrated. Tomorrow it's going to be 86 degrees and clear. You're going to say 'Why can't I watch the football game? Why can't my life be back to normal?' Life's not going to be back to normal until probably the middle of next week," Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said Friday.

The 1.2 million South Carolina customers without power represent more than 40% of homes and businesses in the state.

Gov. Henry McMaster said the storm moved east of where it was forecast and gave the state a bigger blow than expected.

"We urge everybody to be patient and keep your neighbors in your prayers," McMaster said.

Even before landfall, the storm's wrath was felt widely, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts along Florida's west coast. Water lapped over a road in Siesta Key near Sarasota and covered some intersections in St. Pete Beach. Lumber and other debris from a fire in Cedar Key a week ago crashed ashore in the rising water.

School districts and multiple universities canceled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater were closed Thursday, while cancellations were widespread elsewhere in Florida and beyond.

Contributing: Seth Borenstein, Jeff Amy, Russ Bynum, Danica Coto, Andrea Rodríguez, Mark Stevenson, María Verza, Claire Rush

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