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That brings an end to our coverage of the chaos and disruption brought by storm Helene for this afternoon.

Before we go, here's a reminder of what happened today:

• Helene, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the US, made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane in the early hours of the morning, bringing strong winds and heavy rain;
• The hurricane rapidly weakened to a tropical storm as it barrelled north into Georgia;
• Power was knocked out for millions and emergency services were called to rescue people trapped by fast-rising waters;
• At least six people are known to have died so far and storm-hit areas have woken up to significant damage and flooding;
• A warning of storm surges of up to 10 feet is still in place along Florida's west coast, from Indian Pass to Tampa Bay.

More images are emerging this afternoon of the destruction caused by Helene overnight.

The entire roof of a fuel station has been brought down in the Perry area of Florida, while a huge oak tree has flattened part of a home in Anderson, South Carolina.

Cars have also been submerged and people left stranded by floodwater.

A Florida parishioner has been moved to tears after his church suffered significant hurricane damage for the second time in two years.

The congregation at the church in Perry, in Florida's Taylor County, had been due to move back after its rebuilding in the wake of last year's Hurricane Idalia.

But strong winds brought by storm Helene have seen its brand- new roof peeled off and strewn across the church grounds.

"It's really heartbreaking," he said, becoming emotional as he assessed the damage. 

He said the community had suffered blow after blow through Idalia last summer, Hurricane Debby last month and now Helene.

"It's like it never stops," he said. "Why Taylor County?"

Georgia governor Brian Kemp has greenlighted the deployment of 1,000 extra troops from the state's national guard to help with storm recovery efforts.

They will join 250 others heading to the area already, he said.

"As we continue to assess Helene鈥檚 impact throughout Georgia, our hardworking response teams across the state are tending to casualties, widespread power outages, property damage, and flooding," he wrote on X.

"This morning, I've issued an executive order authorising an additional 1,000 Georgia Guard troops to assist in those ongoing recovery efforts."

Residents in Atlanta, the capital city of Georgia state, have been urged to stay safe as a flash flood warning is issued for parts of the city.

"Safety comes first - no destination is worth risking your life," the official City of Atlanta account posted on X.

People are warned to turn around if they see water in the road while driving and head towards higher ground if they have to leave their homes.

"Stay vigilant and look out for one another," the post said.

Tampa International Airport has reopened to the public as the region recovers from the impact of Helene.

All operations were suspended at the airport from 2am local time yesterday as then-hurricane Helene approached the Florida coast.

"After working diligently to protect the safety of our travellers, employees and facilities, TPA has fared well through this large and dangerous storm," airport chief executive Joe Lopano said. 

Some 130 flights in and out of the airport were cancelled this morning and dozens more have been delayed, according to flight tracker Flight Aware.

Another person has died after hurricane Helene, the Florida governor has said.

Ron DeSantis told a news conference the person died in Dixie County in the northwest of the state after a tree fell on a home.

It means at least two people have died in Florida, after Mr DeSantis earlier confirmed the death of a driver whose car was struck by debris.

Four other deaths linked to Helene have also been reported in Georgia and North Carolina.

Rescuers have been taking people to safety throughout the night amid severe flooding in the western Florida city of Crystal River.

People carrying children and pets were seen wading through the water which was knee high in parts.

An airboat was also used to transport residents through the floodwater, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Elsewhere across Florida, debris is strewn across the streets, boats have been relocated and buildings have suffered significant damage in the extreme winds and heavy flooding.

A Florida police chief has told our US partner network NBC News of his regret that officials weren't more aggressive in telling residents to evacuate.

Jamie Cruise, police chief of Perry in Florida's Big Bend area, said: "We weren't aggressive enough in the notification to tell people to evacuate the areas that were prone to flooding."

He said he hoped there wasn't a "big loss of life" when the extent of Helene's damage was fully revealed.

The police chief added: "Right now the sun is starting to rise, we're starting to get the first glimpse of what we actually have laying on the ground and what we're going to be dealing with."

Helene has left chaotic scenes of felled trees, stranded cars and flooded streets after tearing through Florida and Georgia during the night.

The full impact of the tropical storm, which first struck Florida's shores as a Category 4 hurricane, is being revealed as morning arrives in the southeast US.

The National Hurricane Centre has warned that "catastrophic" flooding posing a risk to life could continue throughout the day in some areas.