**Hurricane Helene Leaves 11 Dead in Georgia, Including First Responder**

In a devastating hit, eleven lives were lost in Georgia as Hurricane Helene roared through the state's east central region, Governor Kemp reported during a briefing on Friday. Among the victims was a first responder, underlining the inherent dangers and the need for residents to heed safety advisories and stay off the roads.

During the press conference, Kemp noted that metro Atlanta and several other areas narrowly avoided even greater disaster due to a slight shift in the storm's trajectory to the east as it moved across Georgia. However, significant disruptions and damage were unavoidable.

In Atlanta, the aftermath has been particularly severe; both Peachtree and Nancy Creeks have overflowed their banks, causing closures on several roads including Sagamore Drive, Bohler Road, and Hanover Way West in Buckhead. These closures reflect just a portion of the 152 roadblocks reported statewide, which include critical routes like I-16 in Laurens County and I-20 in McDuffie County near Augusta.

The weather event has been extraordinary. According to the Georgia Climate Office, Atlanta experienced a record-breaking 11.12 inches of rainfall over the past 48 hours, surpassing the previous record of 9.59 inches set in 1886.

Governor Kemp compared the extent of the destruction in eastern Georgia to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Michael in 2018. As cleanup efforts commence, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for parts of north central Georgia until 1:45 pm ET on Friday. They warned that river and creek flooding could persist even in areas where flood watches have been lifted.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm late Thursday night, before wreaking havoc across Georgia. The impact has been a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness and caution during such storms.