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Helene kills at least 6 in Florida, Georgia

Deaths were reported in Wheeler, Pierce and Laurens counties in Georgia as well as Tampa Thursday and early Friday after Helene made landfall.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At least six people are dead after Tropical Storm Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday night.

One person was killed driving in Tampa when a sign fell into the road and hit their car. Tampa Fire and Rescue first reported the crash just before 8 p.m. Thursday night, and Gov. Ron DeSantis talked about the death urging people not to drive and stay indoors at a press conference late last night.

Two more people were killed last night in Wheeler County, Georgia, when their mobile home was overturned by a suspected tornado, officials said last night.

A fourth death was reported in Blackshear, Georgia, when a firefighter was killed by a tree falling on their vehicle, Pierce County Fire Department said. 

Two more people have been reported dead Thursday morning in Laurens County, Georgia. One died after a tree fell on a house, and another died in a car crash.

Slowly moving north, Helene has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

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