Death Toll Rises, Tennessee Dam Failure Fears Persist After Helene

The toll from Helene continued to rise Saturday as searchers went door to door in Florida and storms and heavy rain moved into Georgia, the Carolinas and beyond.

Meanwhile, authorities are urging residents downstream of the Nolichucky Dam in eastern Tennessee to evacuate immediately. The dam had sustained cracks and was at risk of failure after the area received heavy rainfall from Helene. The Nolichucky River was 17 feet above the water levels measured before the storm, according to the United States Geological Survey.

At least 50 people are dead in five states after the storm made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday night.

Many died when trees fell on their homes. Others died in severe weather. In Florida, dead bodies were found in evacuated coastal areas where some had retreated to their attics to avoid the rising storm surge.

Rescues and searches were ongoing in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.

H​ere are our live updates from Friday:

(​8:02 p.m. ET) Death Toll Rises

At least 39 deaths are confirmed in four states. That total rose to at least 40 Saturday morning.

Nineteen of those are in South Carolina, where topped trees killed at least six people. Details weren't available on any of the other incidents but at least two firefighters were also killed.

Eleven people are confirmed dead in Georgia, with at least one of those being a first responder, according to Gov.

Seven died in Florida, and two in North Carolina.

(​7:47 p.m. ET) What We're Watching Next

F​rom weather.com meteorologist Sara Tonks:

The tropics have definitely woken up - we have two more named storms in the Atlantic, Isaac and Joyce, and two areas the National Hurricane Center is watching for tropical development.

Neither Isaac nor Joyce are expected to have any impacts to the U.S.

Both interest areas have low chances of tropical development within the next seven days, but we're closely watching the interest area in the Western Caribbean, which is in the same spot as where Helene formed. The forecast from the NHC is currently calling for slow development and an area of low pressure entering the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week.

(​7:23 p.m. ET) Valdosta Business Owner: 'Total Devastation'

P​atrick Watson owns an antique mall in Valdosta, Georgia. Its brick walls were blown out as Helene moved inland overnight Thursday into Friday morning.

"Last night from about 11 or 12 until 3 in the morning we were hunkered down in the hallway at the house," Watson told Live Storms Media. "And then we got a call this morning that this had happened."

He said his business opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it became a place where local vendors could sell their wares.

"This building's been here since 1900. It's total devastation right now, Watson said. "I really hope we can build back. I don't want to lose this place."

(​WATCH: Businesses Damaged In Valdosta)

(6:38 p.m. ET) How To Help After Hurricane Helene

Seeing a disaster play out like this one moves many of us to want to help.

Remember that most experts recommend cash donations to make sure your contribution is used to its best advantage, and donations should only be sent to reputable organizations.

We’ve compiled a short list of agencies that provide assistance after a disaster.

(​6:19 p.m. ET) Power Outages Spread Into Ohio

Nearly 4.5 million homes, businesses and other utility customers remain without power across 10 states. Each outage can represent several people or households on account, meaning the number of individuals affected could be many times that number.

H​ere are the latest top numbers from PowerOutage.us:

-​South Carolina, 1.19 million outages

-​Georgia, 899,938 outages

-​North Carolina, 745,414 outages

-​Florida, 676,275 outages

-​Ohio, 329,040 outages

-​Virginia, 231,920 outages

-​Kentucky, 209,451

(​5:54 p.m. ET) Lake Lure Dam Evacuations

F​rom weather.com meteorologist Sara Tonks:

Areas around Lake Lure in Rutherford County, North Carolina, are experiencing extremely dangerous flooding as water is overtopping and flowing around the Lake Lure Dam.

Mandatory evacuations are in place below the dam in low lying, flood-prone areas. Some residents were stuck in their homes earlier this afternoon from fallen trees, according to the Greenville - Spartanburg National Weather Service.

Several nearby weather stations have reported 24 hour rainfall totals nearing a foot.

(5:22 p.m. ET) Taylor County: Do This If You’re Looking For Lost Loved Ones

Officials where Helene made landfall in Taylor County, Florida, asked anyone who is looking for a friend or loved one to email the following information to [email protected] so that search and rescue teams know where to prioritize efforts:

-Name of person who is unaccounted for.

-Full address of their residence, noting whether it’s inland or on the coastline.

-Number of individuals and any animals who live there.

-Your name

-Contact information for both yourself and the resident(s)

-Any additional information that might be helpful or important, like a recent photograph or notes on any disabilities or special needs.

(​4:49 p.m. ET) Update On Unicoi County Hospital

M​ore than 50 people were stranded on the roof when the hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, about 90 miles northeast of Knoxville, was inundated with floodwaters.

"Everyone has been rescued safely from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin," U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee posted in an update about 30 minutes ago.

(​4:38 p.m. ET) Beware The Deadly Combination Of Heat And Power Outages

From weather.com on camera meteorologist Danielle Banks:

While the initial focus is 100% rightfully on the loss of life and direct devastation caused by Helene, we are also genuinely worried about the public health impacts in the days to follow. Some areas hit by the storm are dealing with high heat index values COMBINED with extensive power losses. Those who would normally turn to a neighbor or friend for help may not be able to as those people may be dealing with power outages themselves. Be kind to one another and offer to help, even if you can only offer a place to cool off.

(​READ: Why Post-Storm Power Outages Are So Dangerous)

(​4:20 p.m. ET) Photos Show Roads Covered In Sand, Buildings Damaged On Anna Maria Island, Florida

(​3:55 p.m. ET) What's Next For What's Left Of Helene?

F​rom weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman:

First, a tiny bit of good news. The heavy rain is over in the southern Appalachians.

But the damage has been done, and some rivers will continue to rise into tomorrow.

Strong wind gusts occasionally from 40 to 60 mph will continue though this evening as far north as parts of southern Illinois and the Ohio Valley, before this sprawling Helene gradually winds down by Saturday. So, additional power outages are possible in these areas.

And as we've already seen today in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, isolated tornadoes, possibly strong, will remain a threat until sunset in parts of Virginia.

(​WATCH: Here's The Latest Forecast For Helene)

(​3:40 p.m. ET) Hundreds Of Reports Of Flooding Across Multiple States

T​he National Weather Service is tracking more than 274 reports of rainfall flooding from Florida to Virginia over the past 48 hours. Among the most recent flash flood reports:

-​Pleasant Grove, North Carolina

-​Cannonsburg, Kentucky

-​Atkins, Virgina

-​Avondale, Tennessee

(​2:55 p.m. ET) Tampa Bay Area Barrier Islands 'Never, Ever Looked Like This Before'

From Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, speaking in a news conference about an hour ago:

“The areas of Gulf Boulevard have never, ever looked like this before. I would just describe it, having spent the past few hours out there, as a war zone. It is impassable. It’s dangerous conditions out there. And it’s going to take awhile before that area gets back to any sense of functionality.”

A​t least five people are confirmed dead in Pinellas County, and Gualtieri said some were found by searchers going door to door on barrier islands this morning. The county sits on a peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay.

(2:45 p.m. ET) 'A Lot Of Work To Do' In South Carolina

Flash flood emergencies are ongoing in some parts of South Carolina, especially upstate.

“We had people positioned there but we can’t stop the waves, can’t stop the rising waters, can’t stop the rivers and certainly can’t stop the trees from being uprooted when they’ve had days and days of rain before the storm got here,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a news conference. “So, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

(​2:10 p.m. ET) Emergency Calls Ongoing In Tampa Bay Area

(​2:01 p.m. ET) Tennessee Hospital Patients Stranded On Roof

U​nicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee is completely flooded, according to an update from the state emergency management agency. Efforts were underway to evacuate patients and staff but water filled with debris continues to rise from the nearby Nolichucky River.

M​ore than 50 people were on the roof of the building and seven were in rescue boats as of about 12:27 p.m., WCYB-TV reported. Several police cruisers and ambulances were lost to the flooding.

The area is near the North Carolina about 90 miles northeast of Knoxville.

(​1:42 p.m. ET) More Deaths Blamed On Falling Trees

Four more people are confirmed dead due to falling trees in South Carolina. Two had previously been confirmed in Anderson County. The latest are in Aiken County which is near August, Georgia.

(​1:16 p.m. ET) More Than 100 Homes Damaged In Georgia

G​ov. Brian Kemp said at least 115 homes are damaged in the state. Kemp said some people were still being rescued, and efforts were underway to restore power to a hospital in Valdosta.

I​n Atlanta, Kemp said the biggest issue was falling trees from saturated ground.

A​tlanta Public Schools and Cherokee County Schools remain closed today.

(​1:06 p.m. ET) Falling Trees Remain A Deadly Danger

Six deaths in South Carolina and one in North Carolina are blamed on falling trees. At least two of he South Carolina deaths happened in Anderson County in the northwest part of the state.

F​alling trees are often a deadly, underreported danger in storms and high winds. The risk is increases when the ground is wet.

(​12:53 p.m. ET) Six People Dead In Tampa Bay Area

O​f the seven deaths confirmed so far in Florida, five are in Pinellas County and one in Tampa in Hillsborough County. The Tampa death was reported last night when an overhead sign fell on a vehicle in the Ybor City neighborhood.

O​fficials warned everyone on the barrier islands of Pinellas County to leave ahead of Helene. As conditions worsened, bridges were closed and anyone who didn't risked being cut off from help.

T​he other death in Florida was in Dixie County, near where Helene made landfall.

(11:45 a.m. ET) Some Tampa Bridges Reopen

Florida Highway Patrol announced the following bridge reopenings:

-Southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge

-Westbound lanes of the Gandy Bridge

-Northbound lanes of the Skyway Bridge

(11:05 a.m. ET) Two Deaths Reported In North Carolina

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper confirmed two additional deaths bringing the total toll to at least six. One death due to a falling tree was reported in Charlotte, North Carolina, the other due to a motor vehicle collision in Catawba County, North Carolina.

(10:35 a.m. ET) At Least Four North Carolina Rivers Break Records

Heavy rain from Helene filled rivers and creeks across the Southeast. At least four river location in North Carolina have set a new record for highest crest:

-Pigeon River at Canton

-French Broad River at Fletcher

-Swannanoa River at Biltmore

-West Fork Pigeon River at Bethel

(10:15 a.m. ET) Video Shows Flooding In Buckhead, Atlanta

As Helene dumped rain over metro Atlanta, video posted to X showed cars submerged in the Buckhead area.

(10:10 a.m. ET) Water Overtopping North Carolina Dam

Rutherford County, North Carolina, Emergency Management say water is overtopping the Lake Lure Dam. Residents from nearly 30 streets are being asked to evacuate to higher ground immediately. According to NOAA data, the dam may begin spilling when water levels reach 991 feet; at 9:30 a.m. ET, the level was observed at 991.93 feet.

(10:05 a.m. ET) About 200 Rescued By Boat In Pasco County, Florida

Pasco County Sheriff officials say they rescued approximately 200 people by boat overnight and into the morning hours. County fire rescue and National Guard officers were also involved in the rescues.

(9:10 a.m. ET) Power Outages Top 4 Million

About 4.2 million homes and businesses across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic are now without power, according to PowerOutages.us. Here are the number of electric customer outages state-by-state as of 9 a.m. ET:

-South Carolina, 1,366,173

-Florida, 1,140,519

-Georgia, 1,078,445

-North Carolina, 614,120

-Virginia, 43,389

(9:00 a.m. ET) Fourth Death Reported

A fourth death has been reported as Helene continues to batter the Southeast. This marks the second fatality in Florida joining two others in Georgia.

In a Friday morning press conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed, “Another fatality…in Dixie County due to a tree falling on a home during the storm.”

(8:40 a.m. ET) Boats ‘Smashed Into Homes’ In Treasure Island, Florida

Video shared on the official account for the city of Treasure Island, Florida, showed early morning damage assessments near the Treasure Island Causeway.

(8:30 a.m. ET) 3.9 Million Without Power

At 8:30 a.m. ET, over 3.9 million homes and businesses in the Southeast were without electricity, according to PowerOutages.us. Here are the numbers state-by-state:

-South Carolina, 1,236,522

-Florida, 1,163,357

-Georgia, 1,054,436

-North Carolina, 479,213

(8:15 a.m. ET) Stranded Teenager Rescued In Tampa, Florida

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shared body camera footage of a teenager being rescued after attempting to drive through flooded streets in Tampa, Florida.

(8:00 a.m. ET) Buncombe County, NC, ‘Seek Higher Ground Immediately’

Those in low-lying areas of Buncombe County, North Carolina, where the city of Asheville is located, were asked to seek higher ground immediately. In an advisory alerting to a flash flood emergency, the National Weather Service said, “Emergency management reported widespread catastrophic flooding resulting in damage to infrastructure and inundation of countless homes and businesses. Emergency managers request that those in low-lying areas seek higher ground immediately. Potential for life-threatening landslides is greatly increased.”

(7:45 a.m. ET) Flooding At Tampa General Hospital Site

Online reports indicate a parking garage at Tampa General Hospital in Florida is flooding. Video shared to X showed the flooding with audible alarms ringing in the background. Google Street View confirms that the parking garage seen in the video is located at Tampa General Hospital.

(7:35 a.m. ET) Dual Flash Flood Emergencies In Metro Atlanta

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City issued a second flash flood emergency notice affecting metro Atlanta. The first, issued at 7:07 a.m. ET was issued for Midtown, College Park, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Forest Park, Riverdale and Jonesboro. The second, issued ten minutes later at 7:17 a.m. ET, was issued for Mechanicsville, Tucker, Doraville, Chamblee, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.

(7:30 a.m. ET) Haywood County, North Carolina Facing Flood Emergency

Haywood County, North Carolina, emergency services warned residents to stay in place and consider all roads closed until further notice. “Stay where you are. DO NOT attempt to drive. Do NOT enter water. Climb to higher ground to evacuate,” a Facebook post read.

Officials said some people in the county needing rescue were unable to make contact with emergency responders. “Most of Haywood County is losing power if not already without it,” Haywood County Public Information Officer Allison Richmond told The Weather Channel. Roughly 11,000 of 39,000 homes and businesses tracked by PowerOutages.us were without power.

(7:15 a.m. ET) Homes Reportedly Demolished In Cedar Key, Florida

Cedar Key Fire Rescue officials trudged through high water in the dark to assess the damage left behind by Helene. According to early reports, multiple homes are damaged or demolished completely. Storm surge flooding hit the area hard. A hardware store, market, post office and fire station were all said to have been damaged.

From his personal Facebook account, Cedar Key Fire Rescue Chief Robert Robinson wrote, “Slowly easing out anywhere safe to do so. I am on First and D at least six houses are completely demolished or gone.”

(7:00 a.m. ET) Tampa Authorities Assessing Damage

Authorities from the City of Tampa released a “major update” around 6 a.m. ET. First responders are assessing the damage as the sun begins to rise. So far, police and fire rescue officers have responded to the following calls in Tampa, Florida, related to Helene:

-78 evacuations or water rescues

-46 downed lines

-56 road obstructions

-3 requests for fire or medical

-19 traffic signal malfunctions

-12 downed trees

Residents are advised to remain in shelter for now. Specialized vehicles have been deployed to respond to calls as some roads are still impassable for regular vehicles, officials say.

(6:25 a.m. ET) Emergency Services Suspended In Liberty County, Georgia

In a Facebook post, officials from the Hinesville Police Department in Georgia announced that emergency services are temporarily suspended as a result of Helene. “Liberty County has suffered significant damage because of Hurricane Helene. At this time all emergency services have been suspended. Travel in Liberty County is hazardous to impossible currently,” the department wrote.

(6:05 a.m. ET) Boat Rescues In Metro Atlanta Area

Fire crews rescued some residents of Peachtree Creek Apartments in the north of Atlanta. Photos showed residents being escorted out of the apartment complex via boat. According to ABC News, around 11 people were rescued from the complex with others refusing to leave. Peachtree Creek entered major flood stage, reaching a height of more than 23 feet.

(5:50 a.m. ET) Dozens Of Rescues Ongoing In Crystal River

A reporter on scene in Crystal River, Florida, reports “dozens” of residents being rescued from their homes due to major storm surge flooding. Photos show residents being escorted by rescue officials, one while carrying a pet dog.

(5:40 a.m. ET) Pinellas County 911 ‘Extremely Busy’

According to Pinellas County, Florida’s, Department of Emergency Management, 911 emergency crews are “extremely busy” responding to “hundreds of structure fire and water rescue calls in the heavily impacted areas.” The agency says many areas remain flooded.

(5:00 a.m. ET) North Carolina Flood Emergency

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina proclaimed an official state of emergency, activating the National Guard and swift water rescue teams.

(4:30 a.m. ET) 2.2 Million Plus Without Power

In Florida alone, roughly 1.2 million homes and businesses are without power, according to PowerOutages.us. Georgia and South Carolina account for another 650,000 and 240,000 outages respectively. Ahead of Helene, authorities had warned of extended power outages lasting up to a week in some of the hardest-hit locations.

(4:00 a.m. ET) Deaths Confirmed In Florida And Georgia

Authorities have confirmed one storm-related death in Tampa, Florida where a falling sign struck a car. Two additional deaths occurred in Wheeler County, Georgia, when a mobile home was tossed by the storm.

Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.