Less than 12 hours after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke from Tallahassee about rebuilding efforts.

State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie implored people not involved in recovery efforts to stay off the roads as authorities conducted search-and-rescue efforts amid debris and dissipating storm surge.

Authorities said two deaths had been attributed to the storm and more than 1.24 million are without electricity

Gov. Ron DeSantis is traveling across the state Friday surveying Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in St. Petersburg and Taylor County before returning to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane about 11:10 p.m. ET near Perry, Florida, with 140 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center reported. The storm, which now marks the

Ron DeSantis will provide an update on the effects of Hurricane Helene in Florida on Friday morning. At 9 a.m., the governor will be joined by Kevin Guthrie, the Florida Division of Emergency Management Director to discuss the storm.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives an update on search and rescue operations, damages and recovery efforts following the storm.

Helene slammed into Florida as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday night leaving millions without power and widespread flooding.

Hurricane Helene weakened to a Category 1 hurricane early Friday with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday, bringing catastrophic storm surges which have destoyed buildings. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of unprecedented levels of flooding,