Authorities said thousands of residents have begun evacuating parts of Florida’s coast as they prepare for Helene, which is forecast to hit as a powerful hurricane threatening “catastrophic and deadly” storm surge and flooding.
The tropical storm evolved into a hurricane mid-Wednesday morning in the Gulf of Mexico. “Life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, rainfall and flooding are expected across much of Florida and the southeastern United States” on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC), based in Miami, warned in its latest bulletin.
Maximum sustained winds increased to near 130 km/h with higher gusts.
“Continued strengthening is forecast and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday,” the NHC added.
State of emergency in almost the entire state
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida’s 67 counties.
According to the NHC, “catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of Florida’s Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach up to 20 feet (6 meters) above ground level, along with destructive waves.”
The storm could also “penetrate inland,” he added.
Storm force winds for Atlanta
Atlanta, a Georgia metropolis hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast and home to five million people, is expected to experience tropical storm-force winds and torrential rains through Friday.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm. “The entire Biden-Harris administration stands ready to provide additional assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, if needed,” the White House said in a statement.
Total evacuation in two counties
Partial evacuation orders are in effect in 10 counties, while two others have ordered all residents to evacuate. DeSantis said at least 12 health care facilities have already initiated evacuations, with more expected to follow.
After hitting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and several tourist resorts such as Cancun, Helene could reach Category 3 or even 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale of a maximum of 5, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
“There will be impacts from this storm… really all across the Florida peninsula,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Tampa.
He also estimated a possible “direct impact” on the Tallahassee region, a wide swath of northwest Florida, including Tampa Bay, home to some three million people.
Hurricane warning for 400 kilometers of coastline
In St. Petersburg, Tampa’s neighbor, long lines of vehicles were seen waiting at several sand distribution centers to fill sandbags to make protective barriers.
Florida teacher Lorraine Major, who has lived in Florida all her life, was making her own preparations. “You get used to it,” she said of the storms and hurricanes that hit the state every year.
“But the last two years, the hurricanes have been really strong,” added the 44-year-old woman.
Waves of more than 4 meters
Hurricane warnings have been issued for a 400-kilometer stretch of coastline. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned of wave heights of up to 4.5 meters.
If forecasts are confirmed, Helene could have winds of up to 177 km/h and would be the first hurricane of that magnitude to hit the United States in more than a year.
Continue reading:
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