As of Saturday, the death toll has reached 52 and approximately 3.8 million homes and businesses across 10 states are grappling with power outages. Damage estimates from the storm have surged to $110 billion.

Helene, one of the most powerful storms in recent U.S. history, initially made landfall in Florida Thursday night with winds reaching up to 140 mph. It brought catastrophic destruction to the Florida Panhandle, marking it as the third significant storm to hit the region in just over a year. The affected states include Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Among the casualties were a mother and her twin babies, three firefighters, and an 89-year-old woman whose home was destroyed by a fallen tree.

At a press conference on Saturday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described seeing "complete obliteration" of coastal homes, with storm surges between 15 and 18 feet, reaching up to 20 feet at times. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported ongoing significant river flooding across the southern Appalachians, with flood warnings still in effect for parts of the Southeast and central and southern Appalachians.

In Tennessee, heavy rains brought the Nolichucky Dam in Greeneville close to collapse, prompting the NWS to declare it a "particularly dangerous situation" and urging 100,000 residents to seek higher ground. Although the dam held, assessments of its condition continue, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Many areas in northeast Tennessee remain flooded, and roads are considered hazardous, the state's Emergency Management Agency noted on Saturday.

President Biden approved emergency disaster relief for multiple affected states, including Tennessee and South Carolina. Earlier declarations had been made for Florida and Georgia in anticipation of the storm. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster stated that efforts to clear roads and restore power are ongoing, but completion is expected to take several days in some areas. As of Saturday afternoon, over one million homes and businesses in South Carolina were still without power.

In Georgia, record rainfall was recorded in Atlanta, with 11.2 inches falling in 48 hours. River flooding had subsided by as much as 10 feet by Saturday. North Carolina also faced extreme rain, with nearly 30 inches falling in Busick over two days. Western North Carolina experienced significant disruption, with landslides and flooding closing Interstate 40 and other roads, leading to hundreds of water rescues, including a dramatic helicopter rescue from an eastern Tennessee hospital roof.

Fox Weather meteorologist Stephen McCloud indicated that while flash flood emergency warnings were expiring, the focus would now shift to the cleanup process. Despite the receding floodwaters, the extensive storm surges in populated areas of Florida and the severe flooding in the Appalachians are expected to account for the bulk of the economic losses.

The financial impact of Helene is estimated between $95 billion and $110 billion, potentially making it one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. Comparatively, Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hurricanes Harvey in 2017, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 saw damage costs ranging between $180 billion and $320 billion.

As remnants of Helene brought light rain to the New York City region, three other storms were active in the Atlantic. Hurricane Isaac is expected to dissipate soon, while Tropical Storm Joyce, hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean, is moving north. A third unnamed storm is forming south and east of Joyce and is anticipated to gain strength in the coming days.