The southeast is suffering from deadly storm damage and severe flooding

For many families waiting for the lights to come back on, the wait continues.

According to PowerOutage.us, as of 4:30 a.m. ET this morning, more than 1.6 million energy customers are without power. That’s a big drop compared to the 4 million customers without power in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida last Thursday.

But that will be little consolation for the 632,000 customers without power in North Carolina and the 471,000 in Georgia.

Florida’s energy grid has largely recovered, with 69,000 customers out as of this morning.

Desperate family members waited for news that more than 150 people were still missing after flooding in Tennessee. Some of the missing people were in a flooded plastics factory. Officials said the operation has moved to a recovery effort. NBC News’ Priscilla Thompson reports.

More than 100 people are reported to have died in several states after Hurricane Helene ripped through the Southeast, causing widespread damage and devastating flooding. Officials say thousands of people still have not had contact with their loved ones. NBC News George Solis from hard-hit Asheville, NC