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Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Hurricane Helene is barreling into Georgia after causing a “catastrophic and deadly storm surge” along the Florida Big Bend coast on Thursday.

The storm is currently raging in the southern region of the state and has passed Valdosta with “life-threatening storm surge, winds and heavy rainfall,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

Helene made landfall in Florida around 11:10 p.m. ET Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane before weakening to a Category 1 storm as it made its way toward Georgia with maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for all 159 counties on Thursday, saying, “The current forecast for Hurricane Helene indicates that this storm will affect every part of our state.”

“We take nothing for granted, which is why I have directed relevant state authorities to work around the clock to ensure we are prepared for whatever comes our way,” he added.

According to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at least three people have died so far from the storm, including a driver who was killed when a sign fell on his car in Tampa.

The other two victims died in Wheeler County, Georgia, after their trailer was picked up and dragged along Highway 19 before ending up in a field, according to Steve Adams, director of the Wheeler County Emergency Management Agency.

Helene is expected to turn west later today and travel through the Appalachian Mountains toward Tennessee before entering Kentucky in the Bowling Green area around 8 p.m.

Tropical storm-force winds are expected to reach as far south as Kentucky around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon before reaching Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama.

A hurricane or tropical storm warning remains in effect for all of Florida as of Friday morning, and evacuation orders have been issued for several counties.

“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center said an hour before the storm made landfall. “Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions.”

The NHC warned that a catastrophic and deadly storm surge of up to 20 feet would hit portions of the Big Bend coast, with “the threat of life-threatening storm surge” lingering along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

Hurricane Helene is the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year. It comes just over a month after Storm Debby hit the Sunshine State