Hurricane Helene has downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall in Florida, yet officials have cautioned that the storm continues to pose a "dangerous" threat as it progresses inland. Approximately 20 fatalities have been reported across four states due to the storm's impact.

Tropical Storm Helene struck the southeastern United States on Friday, resulting in the deaths of approximately 20 individuals and causing widespread devastation and flooding across the region.

Initially, Helene made landfall on Florida's northwest coast as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, with wind speeds reaching 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour). This powerful storm generated a significant storm surge and led to power outages affecting millions of homes across multiple states.

Although Helene subsequently weakened into a tropical storm, officials cautioned that the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it progressed toward the Carolinas and Georgia.

In Georgia, at least 11 fatalities were reported. Governor Brian Kemp indicated that many people were still trapped in damaged buildings. He noted in a news conference that authorities were struggling to reach various locations, and teams equipped with chainsaws were actively working to clear roadways.

The fatalities included at least six people in South Carolina, two in Florida, and two in North Carolina. Cities located as far inland as Atlanta, Georgia, experienced flooding due to the heavy rainfall. In North Carolina, residents living near Lake Lure Dam were urged to evacuate due to an "imminent" failure of the dam.

The US National Hurricane Center warned residents to seek shelter from "catastrophic winds," storm surges, and excessive rainfall, describing the situation as "extremely dangerous and life-threatening."

As of early Friday, airports in the Florida cities of Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Petersburg remained closed. Additionally, hundreds of flights in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, faced delays or cancellations, as reported by the flight tracking website FlightAware.com.

By Friday morning, more than 4 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In response to the disaster, the governors of those states, along with those of Alabama and Virginia, declared states of emergency.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mobilized the National Guard and ordered the deployment of thousands of personnel to prepare for search-and-rescue operations. In Georgia, Governor Kemp additionally mobilized 1,000 National Guard troops, on top of the 500 he had already deployed.

President Joe Biden urged residents to heed official evacuation warnings. "I urge everyone in and near the path of Helene to listen to local officials and follow evacuation warnings," he emphasized. "Take this seriously, and be safe."

On Friday morning, Helene was reported to be moving northward with winds of 45 miles per hour (75 kilometers per hour), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters indicated that the storm would continue to weaken as it advanced into Tennessee and Kentucky.

Helene is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall to the Appalachian Mountains, which could result in mudslides and flash flooding. This storm marked the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which commenced in June.