Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm on Thursday night, bringing with it a potentially catastrophic storm surge and severe winds that threatened much of the southeastern U.S.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Helene struck near the mouth of the Aucilla River in Florida’s Big Bend region at 11:10 p.m. EDT, with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph). The landfall occurred about 20 miles northwest of where Hurricane Idalia hit last year, which caused widespread devastation.
Hurricane and flash flood warnings were issued across Florida, northern Georgia, and western North Carolina. Power outages affected over a million homes in Florida and 50,000 more in Georgia. Governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Virginia declared states of emergency in response to the storm.
Tragically, one person in Florida was killed when a sign collapsed onto their vehicle, and two others in Georgia were reported dead in a possible tornado as the storm approached.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned that the full extent of the damage would be revealed come morning, likely involving both loss of life and property. “We’re going to be waking up to a state where very likely there’s been additional loss of life,” DeSantis said at a news conference.
Ahead of landfall, Helene's effects were already being felt along Florida’s west coast. Water levels rose on roads in Siesta Key and St. Pete Beach, while debris from a previous fire in Cedar Key was swept ashore. Heavy rain inundated parts of North Carolina, with some areas seeing up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) of rainfall, setting the stage for potential historic flooding.
In south Georgia, hurricane-force winds and tornado warnings were issued across several counties, and two fatalities were confirmed after a possible tornado hit a mobile home.
The sparsely populated Big Bend area, known for its fishing communities and vacation spots, bore the brunt of Helene’s landfall. The National Weather Service issued an urgent warning, instructing residents to treat the situation like a tornado emergency and seek shelter in interior rooms.
Many residents in low-lying areas evacuated, with mandatory orders in effect from the Panhandle down to the Gulf Coast, covering regions like Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Tampa. Some, however, chose to stay, including Philip Tooke, a fisherman who planned to ride out the storm aboard his boat.
Rescue teams were prepped for post-storm efforts, as federal officials warned of storm surges reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters), which could be "catastrophic and unsurvivable," especially in the Apalachee Bay area.
Ahead of Helene, authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies, including nonperishable food, water, and medications, while also advising on evacuation plans and emergency kits.
.jpeg)
0 Comments