The search for survivors is going on and federal emergencies have been declared in six states including Florida and Georgia.

In Tennessee, 58 patients and staff were left stranded on the roof of a hospital in the city of Erwin on Friday. Swift-moving water from the Nolichucky river prevented boats from conducting rescues, and high winds prevented helicopter operations.

The group was later taken to safety after helicopters from the Tennessee National Guard and the Virginia State Police intervened.

“The devastation we’re witnessing in Hurricane Helene’s wake has been overwhelming,” President Joe Biden said on Saturday.

He was briefed by Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, whom he directed to speed up support to storm survivors, including deployment of extra teams to North Carolina.

There could be as many as 25 named storms in 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned earlier this year.

Between eight and 13 of those storms could develop into hurricanes and a handful already have including Helene.

More storms could be on the horizon, officials warned, as the official end of hurricane season is not until 30 November.