People toss buckets of water out of a home as the streets and homes are flooded near Peachtree Creek after hurricane Helene brought in heavy rains over night on Sept. 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday night as a category 4 hurricane in the pan handle of Florida and is working its way north, it is now considered a tropical storm. (Photo by Megan Varner | Getty Images)
Hurricane Helene has killed at least 15 people in Georgia, including a first responder, and others were still trapped inside of buildings midday Friday in the hardest-hit areas.
“At this time, this has been a deadly storm,” Gov. Brian Kemp said during a briefing Friday. “When we ask people to stay off the roads and be patient, it’s because we are trying to get to people. It’s a very dangerous environment, and one of our finest has lost his life trying to save others.”
Kemp said there are “multiple structures” where people are trapped inside. In Valdosta, 115 buildings have been identified that were heavily damaged, some with people still inside as of midday Friday.