The National Hurricane Center released a full tropical cyclone report on Hurricane Helene, just six months after it made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region. According to the NHC, the Category 4 storm was responsible for 248 deaths in the United States, making it the "deadliest hurricane in the contiguous U.S. since Katrina in 2005." Overall, 175 of those were direct deaths originating from wind, storm surge freshwater flooding or a tornado. In Florida, 18 people reportedly died from one of those factors. The NHC provided more insight and data into how the hurricane impacted the Tampa Bay area, including casualties and damages. In Pinellas County, 12 people reportedly drowned in the storm surge, with nine of those people located on the barrier islands from St. Pete Beach to Indian Rocks Beach. Two were in St. Petersburg, and one was in Dunedin. Meanwhile, two storm-surge deaths were reported in Hillsborough County. According to the report, 419 homes were destroyed in both of those counties combined, with more than 13,000 others reporting minor or moderate damage. In Citrus County, storm surge inundated at least 300 homes, primarily in the Crystal River and Homosassa Springs area. The report says water was up to 5 feet deep inside homes, and crews were able to rescue 85 people and pets from the floodwaters. At least 500 homes in Hernando County suffered "major" damage, according to the NHC. Much of this was due to storm surge flooding along the barrier islands and immediate coast. A total of 18 people were rescued from floodwaters.