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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First)—Atlanta News First and Gray Media are partnering with The Salvation Army to provide aid for Hurricane Helene relief.

The disaster relief operation is asking for donations from viewers to provide emergency food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care and long-term recovery resources to those affected, they said.

By making a financial donation to HeleneHelp.org, you help make all those services possible and empower the Salvation Army to bring hope to those in need.

When supporting Salvation Army disaster services, 100% of your donation is applied to the disaster relief operation you select.

>> DONATE HERE

Helene roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 storm in Florida late Thursday night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

First responders were out in boats early Friday to rescue people trapped by flooding.

Soon after it crossed over land, Helene weakened to a tropical storm, with its maximum sustained winds falling to 70 mph. At 5 a.m., the storm was about 40 miles east of Macon, Georgia, and about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, moving north at 30 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

“This is one of the biggest storms we’ve ever had,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.

Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record warm ocean temperatures.