Tallahassee, FL — Hurricane Helene tore into Florida’s Big Bend, threatening one of the worst disasters on record if it made landfall as a powerful category 4 storm as forecasters feared. Sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, life-threatening storm surges, extreme winds and torrential rain were all expected when Helene hit the coast early the next morning.
A hurricane warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for most of the Florida coast, stretching from the Big Bend area south of Tallahassee down through the Panhandle to Manatee County on the Gulf of Mexico, and all along Florida’s Atlantic Ocean coastline. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency, activated the state’s National Guard forces, and issued mandatory evacuation orders for vulnerable storm surge communities along the coast.
‘This is a life-threatening situation,’ DeSantis said at a Wednesday press conference. ‘For anyone in the path of this storm, now is the time to prepare and obey evacuation orders, and we project widespread impacts on much of the state.’
A Storm of Historic Proportions
Helene, the latest storm to affect the Atlantic, was traveling northwest over the Gulf of Mexico at 12 strengthening as it approached the Florida peninsula, according to the NHC’s latest advisory. The NHC predicts that the storm will cause up to 15 feet of storm surges in low-lying areas, along with severe flooding from rainfall. The NHC warned that Tallahassee and parts of Georgia would experience flash flooding and wind gusts over 100 mph inland.
‘We haven’t had a major hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle in decades,’ said the director of the National Hurricane Center, Ken Graham. ‘This storm surge and the destructive winds are likely to be historic.’
The region and its relatively sparse population, including many living in the marshy coastline and geological basin of Big Bend, is particularly vulnerable to storm surge flooding, perhaps more so than other parts of coastal Florida. Though hurricanes are a normal part of living in Florida, Floridians in this part of the state have not had a direct hit of this magnitude since records have been kept – the next few hours will be dangerous.
Evacuations and Emergency Response
Mandatory evacuation orders for several counties – Taylor, Dixie, and Levy – have been issued in expectation of landfall. Emergency shelters are opening up all across north Florida, and officials are urging residents to prepare for the worst. Florida’s Department of Transportation has put tolls on several highways on suspension.
‘The time to go is now,’ declared Kevin Guthrie, Director of the Division of Emergency Management in Florida. ‘If you wait until tomorrow morning, it will be too late. It is a monster storm: grotesque winds and tremendous surges.’
Local governments have activated ‘emergency operations centers’ and started planning for recovery activities after the storm passes. Electric utilities are pre-staging crews and equipment to respond to what is expected to be a statewide collapse of power grids. Florida Power Light, the state’s largest utility, has warned customers that it might take days or possibly weeks to restore service in some areas, depending on the destruction.
Preparations and Impacts Beyond Florida
Hurricane Helene won’t be stopping in Florida. Meteorologists expect the storm to push into southern Georgia and parts of the Carolinas by the weekend, weakening as it moves inland but still packing strong winds and gusts of rain. Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency in numerous counties along the peach state’s border with Florida, asking residents to brace for flooding and power outages.
‘While it won’t be as volatile as Florida, impacts may be just as devastating,’ Kemp told press at a briefing. ‘We are asking Georgians in the path of the storm to make the proper preparations and stay informed.’
Along with the possibility of wind and flood damage, forecasters are also watching for the potential for tornadoes to rip across the southeastern US as it barrels inland. A tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for much of Florida, plus parts of Georgia and Alabama.
Preparing for the Aftermath
By the time Helene arrives, local, state and federal officials have been co-ordinating recovery and relief efforts. FEMA has staged supplies in Florida and neighboring states, and will activate disaster relief once the storm comes ashore; rescue teams with boats and specialized equipment will also be ready to go.
FEMA is ‘fully prepared to support’ the state of Florida and others affected by Ian: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said on 27 September. ‘We have resources staged. We’re ready to help communities recover from this catastrophic storm.’
Residents throughout the region are to arm themselves with information through local news and weather bulletins from the NHC.
Over the next day or two, Floridians will begin to feel Hurricane Helene more directly. When, in the end, her body washes up onto the Florida beaches, it could well be the strongest hurricane to ever strike anywhere along the Big Bend.
Sources:
- National Hurricane Center, “Hurricane Helene Advisory,” September 2024. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov
- CNN, “Hurricane Helene: Evacuations Ordered Ahead of Major Category 4 Storm,” September 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/25/us/helene-tropical-storm-florida-evacuations/index.html
- Reuters, “Florida Braces for Catastrophic Impact as Hurricane Helene Strengthens,” September 2024. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/tropical-storm-helene-become-hurricane-picking-up-steam-gulf-2024-09-25/
- Florida Division of Emergency Management, ‘Governor DeSantis Issues State of Emergency as Hurricane Helene Nears’, September 2024. https://www.flgov.com/2024/09/26/governor-ron-desantis-issues-updates-on-preparedness-efforts-ahead-of-hurricane-helene/
- The Weather Channel, ‘Hurricane Helene: Big Bend Region Prepares for Potentially Historic Storm Surge’, September 2024. https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2024-09-26-hurricane-helene-forecast-landfall-florida-southeast
