Photos show flooding and destruction as Hurricane Helene slams Florida, leaving over 3 million homes and businesses without power

• Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend as a powerful Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds.
• At least 3 million homes in 5 states lost power during the storm, which has weakened to a Category 1.
• Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to stay indoors as storm surges caused dangerous road conditions.

Hurricane Helene barreled into Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday as a powerful Category Four storm.

These photos show the affected areas as people evacuated flooded streets and sought shelter.

The storm weakened to a Category One on Friday but continued to sweep its way across Georgia, NBC News reported .

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane.

The storm made landfall near the Aucilla River around 11:10 p.m. ET with 140 mph winds, the Associated Press reported Friday, citing the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Story continues