Danielle Collins sends support to victims of "awful" Hurricane Helene as Category 4 storm slams Florida, Georgia

Danielle Collins sent prayers and support to people affected by the Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene. The tropical storm has caused widespread destruction through Florida and Georgia and has also brought floods to neighboring areas.

Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend region on Thursday night. Multiple people have reportedly been killed by the storm in Florida and Georgia.

On Thursday, airports in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Tallahassee, halted operations, with closures continuing into Friday morning. Meanwhile, according to reports, numerous flights in and out of major hubs like Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta have been delayed or canceled.

Kevin Guthrie, Florida's emergency management director, advised residents in the affected areas to remain indoors for their safety.

"I beg you, do not go out," Guthrie said during a morning press briefing (via Reuters). "We have 1,500 search and rescue personnel in the impacted areas. Please get out of the way so we can do our jobs."

American tennis star Danielle Collins, a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, took to her Instagram Story to share a video of her surroundings. The footage showed severe flooding in the area, with strong winds whipping through the trees. She captioned the post:

"Praying for everyone affected by this awful storm"

Danielle Collins' Instagram Story. (Image: Instagram @danimalcollins)

Collins recently withdrew from the ongoing China Open citing illness. The 30-year-old is set to retire at the end of the year and her recent withdrawal could affect her chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals.

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A look at Danielle Collins' WTA Finals qualification scenario

Danielle Collins at the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open (Image: Getty)

Eight players will compete in the WTA year-end Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November. The Top 7 in the WTA Race to Riyadh standings will automatically qualify, while the eighth spot is reserved for a Grand Slam champion ranked between No. 8 and No. 20.

Currently, Barbora Krejcikova (Wimbledon champion), ranked No. 11, occupies that spot. Danielle Collins, sitting eighth in the WTA Race with 3,178 points, faces stiff competition. Emma Navarro, ranked seventh with 3,568 points (excluding her 2024 China Open result), widened the gap slightly after her second-round exit.

Moreover, Zheng Qinwen, currently ninth with 3,070 points, is also competing in the China Open. While Collins' chances for qualification are slim, she may still hope to rally in the upcoming events and secure a place.