PHOTOS: Hurricane Helene nears Florida as Georgians prepare for storm

South Fulton County

PHOTOS: Hurricane Helene nears Florida as Georgians prepare for storm

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall as a major storm in Florida, but Atlanta is already getting deluged by rain.

The fire department rescued a family on Bohler Road in Atlanta who were on top of their vehicle from swiftly running water.

A family was rescued from the top of their vehicle amid fast-moving water on Bohler Road in Atlanta early Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

A family of three — two adults and an infant — and their two dogs were rescued from flood waters after being trapped on the roof of their car along Bohler Road in northwest Atlanta before sunrise on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

A family of three — two adults and an infant — and their two dogs were rescued from flood waters after being trapped on the roof of their car along Bohler Road in northwest Atlanta before sunrise on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

Rainy weather soaks Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Brian Kemp briefed the press at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, to update the public on the state’s preparations for Hurricane Helene, which is expected to hit the metro area as a Tropical Storm.
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Jeff Thompson watches as sand bags are packed into the back of his truck in preparation for Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at the City of Warner Robins Public Works Office in Warner Robins, Georgia. Thompson works at Sea Ways Seafood II and grabbed sandbags for the business to prepare for potential flooding. (Photo Courtesy of Katie Tucker/The Telegraph)

COLUMBUS -- Norris Road at the intersection with Fuller Street was blocked off Thursday as crews from AT&T and Service Electric Company worked to repair a utility poll that was broken in half and caused a power outage in the area. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Haskey/Ledger-Enquirer)

A shopper at a Warner Robins Publix looks for items before Hurricane Helene reaches Middle Georgia. The store was packed Thursday, and many necessities were in low supply as customers stocked up. (Photo Courtesy of Katie Tucker/The Telegraph)

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens tours the Georgia Power storm center in Atlanta with Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Crowds were thin in the atrium at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A man walks through the rising floodwaters in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida on Thursday. Florida’s Big Bend region has endured two other hurricanes recently, but many more people appeared to be evacuating this time, leaving their small coastal towns eerily empty. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)

A few cancellations show on the departure board at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Brian Kemp briefed the press at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, to update the public on the state’s preparations for Hurricane Helene, which is expected to hit the metro area as a Tropical Storm.
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Hurricane warning sign is displayed on I-75 near Adel, Thursday, September 26, 2024, in Adel. Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall as a major storm in Florida on Thursday evening, bringing rain and damaging wind to Georgia. Emergency officials are warning of fallen trees, downed power lines, shuttered roads and even the possibility of landslides as Helene makes its way through Georgia overnight. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Surfers take advantage of heavy winds along Higgs Beach in Key West, Florida, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Despite passing the Florida Keys by hundreds of miles, sustained winds over 40 mph churned up the usually calm, nearshore waters. (Rob O'Neal/The Key West Citizen via AP)

Workers clear shopping carts from the parking lot at a Walmart that just closed ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday evening, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A truck drives through a flooded street around the Sunset Park neighborhood as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Jaroslav Kanka loads up a generator into his car outside Lowes in Atlanta on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in preparation for Hurricane Helene. In a previous storm he was out of power for five days, he said. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

A Sam's Club employee wraps wraps fuel pumps ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday evening, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Ben Bailey holds a case of water at a Kroger in Atlanta on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in preparation for Hurricane Helene. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Zach Wright grabs a case of water at a Kroger in Atlanta on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in preparation for Hurricane Helene. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

A sign closing down a road is posted around the Sunset Park neighborhood as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Power crews get ready to restore power lost as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Lina Anasri, 19, enjoys the winds and waves along the beach as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 in Pass-a-Grille, Fla. (Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

FEMA team members coordinate resources Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Hurricane Helene will make landfall as a major storm along Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday evening, and its impact will be felt throughout Georgia. As of Thursday morning, the storm is still swirling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category 1 hurricane with sustained windspeeds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. (John Spink/AJC)

Taronda Gibbons (center) talks with Deputy Regional Administrator, Robert Ashe (right) on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Helene’s relatively quick forward motion means it’s not likely to weaken as quickly over land as past storms. That means it will still be packing tropical storm-force winds — with even more powerful gusts possible — when it moves past Atlanta. -- (Text by Drew Kann/AJC Photo by John Spink/AJC)

Michelle Ellis, left to right, Christopher Schneider and Ashley Johnson coordinate resources on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Helene’s wind field is expected to extend 345 miles from its center. That’s farther than the distance from Atlanta to Savannah and means areas far from the eye will still face damaging winds. Helene’s rain bands will stretch even farther from the center. -- Text by Drew Kann/AJC. (Photo by John Spink/AJC)

Chris Manowski works on storm coordination on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Hurricane Helene will make landfall as a major storm along Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday evening, and its impact will be felt throughout Georgia. As of Thursday morning, the storm is still swirling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category 1 hurricane with sustained windspeeds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. (John Spink/AJC)

A Georgia Power worker is spotted working on power lines at Hill Street in Grant Park on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major storm on Thursday evening, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Georgia.
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

1 / 30

The fire department rescued a family on Bohler Road in Atlanta who were on top of their vehicle from swiftly running water.

Today's Gallery Headlines

How Home Depot prepares for a major hurricane

PHOTOS: Home Depot opens command center for Hurricane Isaias

1h ago

Atlanta Dream hosts the New York Liberty in game two of the WNBA semifinal playoffs

PHOTOS: Atlanta Dream win Game 2 in overtime against New York Liberty

100726 Braves v Dodgers GM4 NLDS

PHOTOS: Braves' season ends in Game 4 loss to the Dodgers

100626 Braves v Dodgers GM3 NLDS

PHOTOS: Braves fall to Dodgers in Game 3 of NLDS

More Galleries

Falcons Saints Football

PHOTOS: Falcons trounce Saints in New Orleans

Memphis Grizzlies

PHOTOS: Hawks fall to Grizzles in preseason home opener

uatl 100326 morris brown

PHOTOS: Morris Brown Homecoming 2026

Braves Dodgers Baseball

PHOTOS: Braves defeat Dodgers in Game 2 of NLDS