Hurricane Helene's staggering storm surge inundated neighborhoods on Siesta Key, leaving businesses and residents with a long road to recovery.

More than 50 people have died across five states as Hurricane Helene's massive rains and powerful winds sent devastating floods and widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast, leaving millions without power.

Storm surge is a bigger killer than wind when a major hurricane hits shore. The areas in the path of Hurricane Helene are more susceptible to surge than other parts of Florida's coast.

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.

The winds might have died down as Hurricane Helene dwindles, but dangerous storm surge and flooding rivers in Florida are still a concern.

Maps show possible storm surge, rainfall levels and more as Hurricane Helene makes its way north toward Florida's Gulf Coast.

Officials feared more fatalities would be discovered on Friday. The storm, which now marks the first known Category 4 storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend region since records began in 1851, weakened to a tropical storm Friday morning as it barreled through Georgia,