While reporting live on Fox & Friends about the severe flooding in Atlanta caused by Hurricane Helene, Fox Weather‘s Bob Van Dillen was interrupted by the cries of a woman trapped in her vehicle. The incident occurred during the 7 a.m. hour as Van Dillen was delivering a live update on the flooding.
The woman’s desperate pleas for help could be heard in the background, and Van Dillen informed viewers that she had “drove directly into the flood waters.” He also confirmed that 911 had been called and the local Fire Department was on its way.
As the woman’s cries continued, Van Dillen decided to cut the live shot to offer assistance. Approximately 10 minutes later, Fox & Friends aired footage of Van Dillen successfully rescuing the woman, pulling her to safety as chest-deep floodwaters consumed her car.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp confirmed to CNN that multiple people were trapped in flooded structures across the state.
Emergency services at the local, state and federal levels were mobilized to address the fallout from the storm:
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp urged all citizens to stay off the roads and prepare emergency supplies — including food and water — as Hurricane Helene approaches.
Extreme weather conditions are expected in Georgia, including heavy rain and life-threatening flash flooding, and wind gusts up to 80-100 mph, Kemp said during a Thursday news conference. There will also be a very strong possibility of spinoff tornadoes and even landslides due to the amount of rain expected, especially in the more mountainous and hilly parts of the state, he said.
“Certainly, this storm hitting in the middle of the night with the potential for tornadoes and other things, people just need to be very, very, very weather-aware all this evening and be prepared at home,” Kemp said.
Two FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams have been stationed in Gainesville and Macon, and the state has deployed several teams prepared to remove downed trees and power lines, clear out roads and assist with water rescues, the governor said.
At least 23 people have died in four states after Helene made landfall on Florida‘s Gulf Coast as a devastating Category 4 storm.
Helene has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. However, torrential rains and straight-line winds up to 95 miles per hour continue to pose life-threatening conditions.
Six states, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Virginia, have declared emergencies. Storm watches and warnings are in place across all or part of 12 states, impacting 60 million Americans.
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