Along the crisscrossing streets of Shore Acres, homes were tied together by a devasting string — waterlines at least 4 feet high marking low-level homes. On Friday afternoon, residents were assessing damage from Hurricane Helene’s record overnight storm surge.

Helene has left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S., snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate and dangerous missions to save people.

The winds might have died down as Hurricane Helene dwindles, but dangerous storm surge and flooding rivers in Florida are still a concern.

Across St. Petersburg, stunning images emerged early Friday morning of flooding unlike previous storms. In Shore Acres, water levels had nearly reached stop signs; in downtown St. Petersburg, bay waters kissed The Vinoy; and in Gulfport, the small seaside town’s downtown was awash with debris from tidal flooding.

Florida state line as a Category 3 hurricane. Far to the east, Florida's Big Bend — where Hurricane Helene is expected to come ashore — never even felt tropical storm strength winds, but it was still hit with a mass of water that devasted coastal communities.

Florida braced for the arrival of Hurricane Helene on Thursday, forecast to be a powerful Category 4 storm when it smashes into the state's panhandle. Officials issued dire warnings, pleading with residents in coastal areas along the hurricane's path to evacuate ahead of catastrophic winds and a potentially deadly storm surge,

FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver and his team battle powerful winds and rain to report on storm surge quickly coming into St. Pete Beach, Florida, Thursday night. Sept. 26, 2024.