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    See more hurricane aftermath in Tampa

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    With everything she had, Hurricane Helene slammed into the Florida coast late Thursday night, dropping heavy rain, forcing water rescues and leaving millions without power.

    Helene made landfall around 11:10 p.m. ET as a Category 4 hurricane near Perry, Florida, with winds of 140 mph (230 km per hour), the National Hurricane Center reported.

    The storm, now the first known Category 4 storm to hit the Big Bend region of Florida since records began in 1851, weakened to a tropical storm early Friday morning as it barreled through Georgia, causing life-threatening flooding in Atlanta and the Carolinas. As of the NHC advisory at 8 a.m. ET, the storm was located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Clemson, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.

    Photos and footage on social media showed submerged boats, downed utility poles and more damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

    Helene live updates: Helene tears through Georgia; water rescue operations underway; 4 deaths

    ‘Devastation’ in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg

    In Tampa Bay, a resident described vanished beaches, boats crashing into homes and businesses burning.

    “Complete devastation and loss here,” Vikki Hudson, who lives in Largo, about three miles offshore, told USA TODAY on Friday. ‘The beaches are gone. Everything is under water. Boats are piled up on houses and yards.”

    Hudson said she saw Gulf Boulevard, which runs along the coastline from St. Petersburg north to Clearwater, “completely submerged.”

    Hudson, who lives about 20 minutes from her two businesses on Treasure Island Beach — The Island Girl Tiki Bar and The Island Girl Beach Rentals — said she hasn’t been able to check on her business because bridges are closed due to widespread flooding.

    “We don’t know anything yet, we can’t get to any of the barrier islands,” Hudson said.

    See the damage left by Hurricane Helene in Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples, Perry

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    Watch as Hurricane Helene approaches Florida

    Strong winds, heavy rain and waves lashed parts of Florida as Hurricane Helene approached.

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    Hurricane Helene floods the streets of Tampa before making landfall

    Flood waters inundated areas of Tampa on Thursday, September 26, before Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida.

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    Still dangerous Helene downgraded to tropical storm in Georgia

    At least four people were killed by Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 and was downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday morning.

    This story has been updated with new photos and videos.

    Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her at X @nataliealund.

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