As it works to restore power to the Georgians impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, Georgia Power said the company had so far gotten the lights back on for about 690,000 customers.

Helene prompted hurricane and flash flood warnings extending far beyond the coast up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina.

Hurricane Helene is forecast to quickly intensify as it emerges into the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a major hurricane before landfall late Thursday along Florida's Big Bend region, not far from Apalachicola. In anticipation of the storm's impacts, Georgia's governor issued a State of Emergency to free up resources.