Hurricane Helene batters south-eastern US – in pictures

Category 4 storm made landfall in Florida late on Thursday before weakening and moving through Georgia and the Carolinas

People are splashed by churning surf from Tampa Bay as Hurricane Helene passes offshore on Thursday, in St Petersburg, Florida

Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

An American flag submerged in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St Petersburg, Florida, on Friday

Photograph: Mike Carlson/AP

People board up windows to prepare for Hurricane Helene, in Old Town, Florida, on Wednesday

Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA

Water overlaps into Ballast Point park, which sits on the edge of Tampa Bay, on Thursday

Photograph: Dave Decker/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

A Citrus county firefighter carries an 11-year-old while conducting rescues from floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday in Crystal River, Florida

Photograph: Luis Santana/AP

A damaged 100-year-old home crushed by an oak tree in Valdosta, Georgia, on Friday

Photograph: Mike Stewart/AP

People watch the news as they wait for the arrival of Hurricane Helene at Lincoln high school, which was opened as a shelter, in Tallahassee, Florida, on Thursday

Photograph: Kathleen Flynn/Reuters

Waves crash against a building ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Florida, on Thursday

Photograph: Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images

A man rows through floodwaters from Peachtree Creek in search of Peachtree Park Apartment residents needing assistance after Tropical Storm Helene raced through Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday

Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Debris is left inside a flooded store after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Cedar Key, Florida, on Friday

Photograph: Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images

A man wades through floodwaters with his two daughters, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday in Crystal River, Florida

Photograph: Luis Santana/AP

A large oak lies on a home after it fell due to Tropical Storm Helene in Anderson, South Carolina, on Friday

Photograph: Ken Ruinard/The Anderson Independent Mail/USA Today Network/Reuters

People stand outside of a motel amid damage from Hurricane Helene in Perry, Florida, on Friday

Photograph: Marco Bello/Reuters

Flooded streets near Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday

Photograph: Megan Varner/Getty Images

A mother and daughter take shelter from Hurricane Helene at Leon high school near downtown Tallahassee, Florida, on Thursday

Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

Damage left behind by Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Florida, on Friday

Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA

Flood waters inundate the main street in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Friday

Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images