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Helene Live Blog: Cleanup continues after unprecedented storm

Gulf Blvd Damage
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We're bringing you the most up-to-date information on the aftermath of Helene as the storm heads north.


HURRICANE RESOURCES


Saturday, Sep. 28

10:45 p.m.

AP reported that at least 64 are dead across five states following Hurricane Helene.

10:00 p.m.

Treasure Island, FL on X (Formerly known as Twitter) shared a bird's eye view of the damage Helene left two days after the storm.

8:45 p.m.

AP reported that at least 56 are dead following Hurricane Helene.

8:20 p.m.

Pinellas County shared a video of an electric vehicle catching fire after being exposed to floodwater, serving as an important safety reminder.

8:05 p.m.

Duke Energy says power has been restored for more than 600,000 customers, while nearly 150,000 are still experiencing outages.

6:05 p.m.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue leads FL Task Force 3 into Pinellas County for post-hurricane recovery efforts.

5:46 p.m.

The City of Gulfport is opening a resident cooling center at the Gulfport Senior Center (5501 27th Ave S). It will be open on Sunday, September 29 from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

Pinellas County lifts mandatory evacuation order.

4:10 p.m.

Barrier Islands, Clearwater Beach reopened to residents, business owners, and employees.

3:47 p.m.

AP reported that at least 52 are dead following Hurricane Helene.

3:35 p.m.

St. Pete officials announced that 160 trees were reported down and all nine city boat ramps were damaged. The boat ramps remain closed.

3:30 p.m

Pinellas County death toll rises to nine.

Friday, Sept. 27

10:03 p.m.

FDOT shared photos of storm damage on Gulf Boulevard in Pinellas County.

9:35 p.m.

Clearwater Fire and Rescue said they have received calls from and rescued more than 30 people from Clearwater Beach so far today.

9:00 p.m.

FDOT has now opened the westbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway. They are working to get the eastbound lanes open late tonight, FDOT said.

8:49 p.m.

Sarasota Police Department shared a video of widespread flooding.

7:43 p.m.
Horseshoe Beach in Florida's Big Bend region was leveled in the storm.

See update from our reporter Chad Mills that saw the damage:

Helene levels homes and businesses in Horseshoe Beach

7:10 p.m.

St. Pete Fire Rescue urges residents with electric vehicles to refrain from charging or attempting to drive them if they were exposed to salt water.

6:53 p.m.
Howard Frankland Bridge sustained some damage from the storm.


6:46 p.m.
Widespread damage in Perry from Helene.

See the full report from ABC Action News Anchor Paul LaGrone

Damage in Perry damage widespread

4:00 p.m.

ABC News says the death toll from Hurricane Helene has now reached 43

  • Florida: 9
  • Georgia: 15
  • North Carolina: 2
  • South Carolina: 17

3:08 p.m.

The northbound and southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge between Hillsborough County and Pinellas County have reopened. FDOT says there are lane restrictions in both directions.

2:38 p.m.

We are getting our first looks at the damage on some of the barrier islands after Helene.

Catastrophic damage from Helene on St. Pete Beach

2:19 p.m.

One lane of the Gandy Bridge eastbound has reopened, FDOT said.

2:11 p.m.

ABC News tells us that the death toll from across the nation due to Helene is now up to 28.

  • Florida: 7
  • Georgia: 11
  • North Carolina: 2
  • South Carolina: 8

1:39 p.m.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office aviation unit captured the following footage in the Town 'N Country area Friday morning.

Watch: Hillsborough Sheriff's chopper shows Helene aftermath in Town 'N Country

1:33 p.m.

State Farm said that through Friday morning, it had received more than 2,000 claims on insurance:

  • Over 1,900 auto claims received in Florida, with majority related to flood and rising waters
  • Over 430 homeowner claims received in Florida, with majority related to windstorm damage

The insurer said in a statement, "Our hearts go out to the people whose lives and property have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, and our greatest concern is for the safety of everyone in the impacted areas. Our State Farm Catastrophe Team® members deployed to the Gulf Coast earlier this week and staged for strategic response to help residents during these first steps to recovery after Hurricane Helene."

1:13 p.m.

All lanes of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge have now reopened, FDOT says.

1:04 p.m.

Hillsborough County says the evacuation order for Zone A has been lifted, but Dana Shores and Shell Point remain inaccessible.

12:59 p.m.

ABC News is reporting that 26 people have died during Helene.

  • Florida: 7
  • Georgia: 11
  • North Carolina: 2
  • South Carolina: 6

11:46 a.m.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's game against the Nashville Predators at Amalie Arena has been rescheduled to Oct. 7.

11:40 a.m.

FDOT has reopened the northbound lanes of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

11:31 a.m.

FDOT has opened the southbound Howard Frankland Bridge from Hillsborough County to Pinellas County. The northbound Howard Frankland remains closed until debris clearing and damage
assessment is completed.

The westbound lanes of the Gandy Bridge are open.

All other bridges remain closed.

11:21 a.m.

Damage throughout Manatee County, including in Cortez Village and Trailer Estates.

Manatee damage Helene
Manatee damage Helene

11:08 a.m.

Pinellas County officials are reporting that five lives were lost overnight during the storm.

10:35 a.m.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport has reopened.

10:31 a.m.

The City of Tampa said two wastewater pumping stations, including one that processes every customer's wastewater, are down due to flooding. Residents are asked to reduce water usage.

10:28 a.m.

Damage is widespread in Steinhatchee, where Helene made landfall.

Steinhatchee damage after Helene

10:09 a.m.

TGH Davis Island shows the efficiency of its AquaFence during Hurricane Helene.

TGH Davis Island AquaFence during Helene

9:43 a.m.

Anna Maria Island is reporting major damage and flooding.

Anna Maria Island Helene damage

9:35 a.m.

Tampa International Airport has reopened to the public and air traffic.

9:30 a.m.

Interesting sight coming in from Flightradar24.com. With Tampa International and St. Pete/Clearwater International Airports still closed, the only air traffic is rescue crews or airlines flying to other locations through the airspace.

Tampa Airspace on 9/27/24 at 9:30 am.

9:19 a.m.

The Gandy Bridge has reopened.

Bridge closures and openings Helene

9:17 a.m.

Mayor Jane Castor flew over Davis Island with the Tampa Police Department to survey the damage.

8:10 a.m.

The Associated Press has reported that one person was killed in Tampa when a sign fell onto their car. Two more were killed in a possible tornado in South Georgia as the storm approached and one person in North Carolina was killed when a tree fell on their home when the storm blew through.

7:38 a.m.

Crystal River is seeing major flooding as officials conduct water rescues.

7:26 a.m.

The Mayor of Gulfport posted an update on the storm's impact on the city.

Mayor of Gulfport discusses aftermath of Helene

7:21 a.m.

Bridges around Tampa Bay remain closed Friday morning.

Bridge closures Helene
Skyway closure Helene

6:59 a.m.

Crews from Tampa Fire Rescue are battling a structure fire in the 4600 block of West San Miguel Street. Two people were transported from the scene with smoke-related injuries.

TAMPA SAN MIGUEL FIRE 1 helene
TAMPA SAN MIGUEL FIRE 2 helene

6:56 a.m.

Around 200 people were rescued from rising water in Pasco County overnight, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said. Flooding has started to recede on US 19, which has slowed rescue calls.

Pasco water rescues Helene

6:21 a.m.

Officials said all Pinellas County barrier islands from the Dunedin Causeway through Tierra Verde continue to be closed to all citizens, including residents, until further notice.

6:13 a.m.

Mayor Jane Castor said there have been a total of 87 water rescues so far in South Tampa, including in Davis Island and Palmetto Beach.

Tampa residents can check which roads are flooded using the official city flood map here.

City of Tampa presser on rescues after Helene

5:09 a.m.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office rescued a stranded girl from flooding after she got stranded.

HCSO water rescue of stranded teen

4:56 a.m.

According to PowerOutage.us. over one million Floridians are currently without power.

4:31 a.m.

Clearwater Beach is reporting major flooding.

4:25 a.m.

Clearwater Fire and Rescue conduct a high-water rescue in the aftermath of Helene.

4:16 a.m.

In the wake of Helene, many Floridians are seeing flooding in their neighborhoods from overnight storm surge. Deputies are now conducting water rescues for those who are stranded.

Helene was downgraded to a Category 1 storm early Friday morning as it continues to head north toward Georgia.

Pasco deputies water rescues
Pasco County water rescue Helene

1:58 a.m.

The storm surge in Citrus County is still flooding roadways. Officials are urging drivers to avoid driving on roadways with standing water.


This story is developing and will be updated as we get more information.

First responders started before the sun came up to conduct water rescues following Hurricane Milton's landfall.

First responders begin water rescues in Clearwater