Hurricane Helene has officially hit Florida, making landfall as a strong category 4 hurricane. Forecasters had warned residents to brace for a “catastrophic and deadly storm surge,” and the storm delivered on that front.
Helene struck on Thursday night at approximately 11:10 p.m., just 10 miles west of Perry, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, measured by Air Force reconnaissance aircraft.
Perry is situated in Florida’s “big bend” region, an area that frequently faces hurricane threats as the panhandle transitions into the peninsula.
According to PowerOutage.US, nearly 1 million households had already lost power when Helene made landfall, and this number was expected to rise significantly.
Transitioning from a tropical storm just days prior, Helene quickly intensified, becoming the most powerful hurricane of the season just before landfall. The NHC emphasized that it was regarded as “an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane” in the hours leading up to the event.
The storm is predicted to cause extensive damage beyond Florida, affecting regions in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky over the weekend, with its impact likely to be felt far from its center.
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP
“Helene rapidly intensified today as it neared landfall in the Florida Big Bend,” said the NHC in their forecast. They underscored that impacts would extend well beyond the storm’s center.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has urged residents in the storm’s path to act swiftly for their safety, highlighting potential flash flooding threats in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
As more than 1,800 federal personnel were ready to assist, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell advised people to heed local officials’ warnings: “If they tell you to evacuate, evacuate. If they say to shelter in place, stay put. These actions can save lives.”
Wakulla County Sheriff Jared Miller issued a stern warning to residents in low-lying areas, stressing the lack of survivability during this event. He predicted significant damage, including downed trees and structural harm.
In Taylor County, the sheriff’s office shared a grim note for those choosing to stay, recommending that residents write personal information on their arms to ensure identification for their families.
As of now, more than 20 Florida counties have enacted mandatory evacuations, while several others have initiated voluntary evacuations. You can find evacuation updates at FloridaDisaster.org.