ATLANTA — At least five deaths in Georgia are being blamed on Helene, which moved into Georgia as a hurricane just after midnight Friday.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced early Friday morning that two people died in Wheeler County, citing Helene's impact. The Wheeler County coroner said the pair were killed when a suspected tornado blew through the area in Middle Georgia, overturning their mobile home. They were found about 100 yards from their home, according to Wheeler County EMA.
Pierce County Fire Department also reports a firefighter was killed in Blackshear, Georgia when a tree fell on their vehicle.
Two others have been reported dead in Laurens County, according to reporting by 11Alive's sister station First Coast News. One death is being attributed to a vehicle crash.
Track Helene's path below:
So far, the storm is being blamed for a total of six deaths. The first in Tampa when a sign fell on the road and hit a driver's car.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend area of Florida, about 10 miles west of Perry, according to the National Hurricane Center. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm as it slowly moves north.
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