Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, around 11:10 p.m. ET on Thursday with winds of 140 mph, making it the first known Category 4 storm to hit Florida's Big Bend region since records began earlier this year 1851, USA TODAY reported. The storm maintained hurricane strength for several hours as it moved inland over northern Florida and into Georgia. At least six storm-related deaths were reported in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Authorities across the southeast rescued residents trapped in rising floodwaters as Helene submerged swathes of the region in torrential rain.

While Helene has been downgraded to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center at 8 a.m. ET, Atlanta is experiencing severe flooding and the city remains under a flash flood warning until 12:45 p.m. according to a government recommendation.