Helene made landfall as a Class 4 hurricane about 11:10 p.m. ET close to Perry, Florida, with 140 mph winds, the Nationwide Hurricane Middle reported.
The storm, which now marks the primary identified Class 4 storm to hit Florida’s Large Bend area since information started in 1851, maintained hurricane strength because it moved inland throughout northern Florida and into Georgia the place it downgraded to a tropical storm about 5 a.m. ET.
Early Friday, the storm was racing north over Macon, Georgia, into southeast Atlanta at about 30 mph.
As of 9 a.m. ET Friday greater than 3.8 million outages had been reported throughout the state, USA TODAY’s power outage tracker confirmed.
In Tampa Bay, one resident described seeing vanished seashores, boats crashed into properties, and companies on hearth.
“Full devastation and loss right here,” Vikki Hudson, who lives in Largo, about three miles from the coast advised USA TODAY Friday. “The seashores are gone. All the pieces is underwater. Boats piled on prime of homes and yards.”
Hudson stated she noticed Gulf Boulevard, which runs the St. Petersburg shoreline north to Clearwater, “utterly underwater.”
Hudson, who lives about 20 minutes from her two companies at Treasure Island Seashore − The Island Lady Tiki Bar and The Island Lady Seashore Leases − stated she has not been in a position to examine on her enterprise as bridges are closed attributable to widespread flooding.
“We don’t know something but, we can’t get to any of the barrier islands,” Hudson stated.
Images and social media footage confirmed boats overcome with water, downed utility poles, and extra harm alongside Florida’s Gulf coast.
See harm left by Hurricane Helene in Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples
This story has been up to date with new photographs and movies.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Attain her at nalund@usatoday.com and comply with her on X @nataliealund.