Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region Thursday night before it is expected to move inland at a fast pace across the Southeast.

Flash flood emergencies are in effect in Georgia and the Carolinas. Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night as a massive Category 4 hurricane -- the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend on record. Helene has since weakened to a tropical storm and is now pushing through Georgia and the Carolinas, bringing catastrophic rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding as the storm moves toward Tennessee. At least nine people have died as Hurricane Helene slams the South. Jamir Lewis wades through flood waters with his two daughters Nylah and Aria due to storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Fla. Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA via Shutterstock In Charlotte, North Carolina, one person was killed and another was injured when a tree fell on a house, according to the Mecklenburg EMS Agency. Two people died in Laurens County in central Georgia, according to local officials. Two others died in nearby Wheeler County, Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed. In Florida, one person died in Dixie County in the Big Bend region when a tree fell on a home, Gov. Ron DeSantis said. A second person was killed on Interstate 4 near Tampa when a sign fell on a car, the governor said. A capsized boat washes ashore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on Sept. 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Two people also died in Anderson County, South Carolina, in the northwest part of the state, officials said. -ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway Over 800 flights have been canceled nationwide on Friday. The airports facing the most cancellations are Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Tampa International Airport in Florida. A car is submerged in the floodwaters in the Buckhead neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024 in Atlanta. Megan Varner/Getty Images The Tampa airport, which was closed all day Thursday, has since reopened. 2 hours ago More than 4 million without power across the South More than 4 million customers are waking up without power across the South Friday morning in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Douglas Gajus and his wife Tara watch the news as they wait for the arrival of Hurricane Helene at Lincoln High School which was opened as a shelter in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024. Kathleen Flynn/Reuters Over 1 million customers are without power in Georgia and another 1 million are without power in Florida. More than 50 health care facilities are operating on generator power across Florida, officials said. Another 1.3 million are without power in South Carolina and 600,000 are without power in North Carolina. 2 hours ago Flash flood emergency issued in Atlanta; baby, 2 adults rescued on top of car A flash flood emergency has been issued in Atlanta, where 4 to 6 inches of rain has fallen so far. More than 25 people have been rescued from life-threatening floodwaters in Atlanta, officials said. Unexpected swift currents trapped a family of two adults and an infant on top of their car, and crews used a rope and a boat to help them to safety, Atlanta Fire Rescue said. Another 1 or 2 inches of rain is possible, and the rainfall rate is expected to be 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour, the National Weather Service said. Flooding is seen in Peachtree Park in Atlanta on Sept. 27, 2024.

Category 4 Helene made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida.