MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Helene is now one of the deadliest storms in the last 50 years with six states impacted -- parts of North Carolina devastated. Helene's fury also doing a number on Greenville, South Carolina -- now home to former FOX 10 Reporter Alexa Knowles.
"It really looks like a war zone," said Alexa.
After losing power Friday morning, Alexa and her husband, Nathaniel, made the decision to evacuate to her mom's house in Atlanta with their newborn baby girl and the family dog.
"It just -- it's almost like it got worse before it got better -- where with hurricanes that I've covered -- it kind of bulldozes through -- and does its damage -- and then you get to deal with it. Right," explained Alexa. "I live under two really large trees -- and I thought to myself -- yes I want to be here if something happens to my house -- but I don't want to be in here with my baby if something happens to one of these trees."
Video from her neighborhood early Friday morning shows what looks like a massive lake.
"My neighbor's yard was a lake and the only thing she has behind her house is a small creek... So what happened it was just too much water right and then all of the rain that was falling -- it was a lot at one time... But the fact there were fallen trees under that water was the insane part to me," said Alexa.
Also hard to take in -- is drone video from our sister station of Greenville's Unity Park. Visiting Alexa in late February -- Lenise and Lee -- enjoyed a walk there and even took a picture -- where the iconic sign is underwater.
"We're just going to be reminded of this for a really long time. I think I'm going to see the signs of this storm for a really long time -- when I'm out and about," said Alexa.
And while this former reporter has covered hurricanes on the front lines -- she believes Helene -- will change the way her new home will prepare for storm season.
"We have our eyes on whatever is happening in the gulf right now. I think a lot of people are terrified something is going on the gulf right now potentially. Everyone is taking it more seriously... I think there are going to be generators in people's basements and garages now -- that would have never owned a generator... I might be one of those people," said Alexa.
It's certainly been an exercise in patience. They were initially told power would be restored Tuesday -- but now estimates are the latest Friday night. She also added -- they know the linemen are doing their best to restore power -- they're just overwhelmed by the mass outages.