In Clearwater, one of the hardest-hit regions, water levels surged to a record 8.6 feet, eclipsing the previous high of 6.8 feet. Similarly, in East Bay, levels peaked at 7.3 feet, surpassing the old record of 6.7 feet.

Helene weakened into a tropical storm early Friday morning in Georgia after lashing Florida's Big Bend with catastrophic storm surge and heavy rainfall and winds, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.