Tallahassee breathes a sigh of relief after Hurricane Helene veered east, sparing their area from significant damage.

Some Tallahassee residents are assessing the damage following Hurricane Helene. Crews with the city of Tallahassee have begun cleanup efforts. On Friday morning at daylight, they began responding to numerous calls about downed power lines and trees in local neighborhoods.

Helene, the most powerful hurricane to strike Apalachee Bay and one that threatened Tallahassee with a direct hit, made landfall late Thursday in Taylor County.

Some South Florida​ parents are breathing a sigh of relief after their kids decided to ride out Hurricane Helene​ in Tallahassee.

By Friday, much of Tallahassee looked untouched by Helene's fury. Residents walked trails and sidewalks, breathing in fresh air like any other day. Others sunbathed poolside or jumped in their cars to survey damage. Some neighborhoods showed minor signs of impact, such as downed basketball hoops and tree limbs.

Hurricane Helene has eased to a Category 1 storm, but still poses a huge threat across 12 states. NBC News' Jay Gray reports from Tallahassee, Florida, where residents dodged a direct hit.

Hurricane Helene swallowed the Big Bend region with torrential rain, making landfall at 11 p.m. Thursday. The most powerful winds ever recorded in modern history whipped the city in a terrifying night for many who were waiting out the storm or too nervous to sleep.