Florida: Hurricane Helene has rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm, making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. A state of emergency has been declared across the state, as Hurricane Helene approaches bringing potentially life-threatening conditions.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has emphasized the urgency of evacuation orders, especially for those in mobile homes and low-lying areas, stating that conditions will worsen rapidly.
Hurricane Helene has already caused significant damage, swamping parts of Mexico and bringing tropical storm conditions to Florida. Tragically, there has been a fatality reported in Tampa when a sign fell onto their car amid violent winds and heavy rain, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol.
National Hurricane Centre (NHC) Director Mike Brennan said that, “Everyone along the Florida Big Bend coast is at risk of potentially catastrophic storm surge, we’re expecting to see a storm surge inundation of 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 metres) above ground level.”
Brennan added that, “That’s up to the top of a second-storey building. Again a really unrevivable scenario is going to play out here in this portion of the Florida coastline.”
Governor Ron DeSantis Gives Update #4 on Hurricane Helene https://t.co/dpaEObNbOz
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 26, 2024
Driving rain from Hurricane Helene has caused severe flooding in Florida, leading to road closures, school shutdowns, and leaving around 698,700 homes and businesses without power. In response, Florida authorities are providing evacuation buses for residents of the Big Bend area, which has a population of approximately 832,000, transporting them to shelters in Tallahassee.
More than 55 million people across the U.S. are under various weather alerts due to the hurricane, with states of emergency also declared in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. NHC warns that much of the Southeast could face power outages, fallen trees, and significant flooding.
Additionally, the National Weather Service has indicated that the southern Appalachian Mountains may experience unprecedented landslides and flooding.
As the storm continues to unfold, emergency services are focusing on critical operations and ensuring public safety.
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