Hurricane Helene hits Florida as a Category 4 storm

September 27, 2024 – Florida - Hurricane Helene hit the Florida Gulf Coast in the Big Bend region overnight as a Category 4 storm that was 400 miles wide at its apex. The storm which developed quickly impacted a larger area of the Gulf Coast than anticipated just 48 – and even 24 – hours earlier. It is still dark but there are fears of massive destruction and deaths from the storm. The storm tracked further east than earlier anticipated so has not and will not impact Alabama as severely as earlier feared. At this time Helene is still hurricane strength as it barrels towards Macon, Georgia.

Over a million people have lost electricity over a very wide area in Florida alone. Flooding is a major concern in the affected areas.

Helene hit Florida with sustained winds of around 130 mph and gusts in excess of 150 mph.

The storm developed so quickly and strengthened to be stronger than anyone could have anticipated that authorities fear that many residents in Florida failed to heed the mandatory evacuation orders. The storm surge was as high as 20 feet in some areas.

Massive amounts of rain are already impacting Georgia, South Carolian, and North Carolina as the storm moves towards Tennessee – again a more easterly track than what the NHC had predicted on Wednesday thus impacting Alabama less than in their previous predictions.

According to the early reporting, the eye of the storm made landfall in Taylor County, Florida. Nothing has been released at this time about the severity of the damage there and at other parts of the Florida coast.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that one motorist in the Tampa area had already been killed when a road sign fell.

DeSantis said that a number of bridges have been closed and will be reopened today after they are inspected.

"Be very careful about standing water," said DeSamtos. "Do not go out in the pitch black."

"There is going to be an enormous amount of debris in some places," said DeSantis. "Do not use a generator inside of your house."

DeSantis said that 3,500 National Guard troops are standing by along with first responders for search and rescue, pumping out areas that are flooded, remove debris, and deliver meals ready to eat where needed.

"We have tens of thousands of linemen standing by," said DeSantis. "They are going to be out there as soon as it is daylight."

The Governor said that restoring power will be a priority.

Georgia is expected to receive 12 inches of rain today.

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