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    • Hurricane Helene impacts tracker: Live updates from Tallahassee
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    Hurricane Helene impacts tracker: Live updates from Tallahassee

    Vaseline Posted on

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    Hurricane Helene is strengthening and is now approaching Big Bend and Tallahassee. It is a storm the size of which has never been seen in this area before.

    Helene is expected to become a massive Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall, with winds of up to 132 mph (212 km/h). This hurricane could push up to 20 feet (6 meters) of water inland, reaching coastal areas.

    As Helene makes landfall on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, residents along the route prepare, hope and pray.

    Here’s the latest on the storm’s path:

    HORSESHOE BEACH — This beloved Gulf Coast fishing destination was a ghost town in the hours leading up to Hurricane Helene’s expected landfall.

    By Wednesday afternoon, only a few residents remained, making final preparations for the storm and then evacuating to towns further inland.

    The city lost more than 50% of its homes to Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 hurricane that struck on August 30, 2023, causing extensive damage across the eastern part of Big Bend and the Nature Coast. Now it is on the verge of a 10- to 15-foot storm surge that could be even worse.

    “It’s heartbreaking to come back and see your dreams that you’ve always had being swept away in two hours,” said resident John Hamelink.

    Read the whole story here.

    Meteorologist Ryan Truchelut of USA TODAY NETWORK’s WeatherTiger analyzed the impacts of Hurricane Helene in a video forecast for Wednesday evening.

    He warned that Tallahassee could be hit by wind gusts of 115 mph. He also noted that a record storm surge of 15 to 20 feet will occur during high tide, increasing the life-threatening risk potential for coastal residents under hurricane and tide warnings.

    “This is not a survivable situation,” he said. “You just have to get out.”

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    Helene Forecast Florida: Hurricane Timeline, Impact for Thursday

    Helene is expected to become a devastating Category 4 hurricane, with storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) as it approaches Big Bend, Florida.

    WeatherTiger

    Truchelut said, “(Helene) will come face to face with one of the largest hurricanes in Florida history, unfortunately, after tonight.”

    Residents will wake up Thursday morning and face a final decision on whether to stay or go. Forecasters warn that lifting evacuation orders could be a fatal decision, especially for those living on the coast, where an “unsurvivable” storm surge of 15 to 20 feet could arrive.

    Here’s an updated list of Florida counties that issued evacuation orders Wednesday evening:

    • Provinces that have issued mandatory emergency evacuations for all their residents include: Franklin, Tailor, Freedom And Wakulla counties in the Big Bend region. These counties include more than 72,000 people. Counties that have issued voluntary evacuations for residents include: Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton, Madison, Suwannee and Union counties.
    • Charlotte Provincenorth of Fort Myers, has issued mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, low-lying and flood-prone areas, and for people living in pre-built homes or homes that do not meet 1995 building codes.
    • Citrus County, north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for those living in Evacuation Zone A and all structures throughout the county that are not designed to withstand high winds. They previously issued mandatory evacuations for licensed nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in Zone A.
    • Dixie County in the Big Bend region has issued mandatory evacuations for coastal communities of Suwanee, Horseshoe Beach, Jena and surrounding areas. Officials have also issued a mandatory evacuation for county recreational vehicles, people living in mobile and manufactured homes, and people living in low-lying areas.
    • Golf County in the Panhandle has issued mandatory evacuations for all non-residents and recreational vehicles in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas and Simmons Bayou. Thursday night, the county also issued mandatory evacuations for the city of Port St Joe, including everyone from St Joseph Bay to North Garrison Avenue and everyone from the Bay to Garrison Avenue.
    • Hernando Countynorth of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for all areas west of US-19, including evacuation zones A, B, and C. They have also issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in low-lying areas or in manufactured homes.
    • Jefferson Countyeast of Tallahassee, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents of mobile homes, modular homes, RVs, flood-prone areas and homes that do not meet hurricane standards.
    • Lafayette County in the Big Bend area has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in mobile homes, including trailers, structurally compromised homes, and low-lying areas. These mandatory evacuation orders go into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday
    • Province of Leonwhere the state Capitol is located, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in ready-made homes or mobile homes.
    • Levy Countysouthwest of Gainesville, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in coastal communities, low-lying areas, or in mobile and manufactured homes. Officials have also ordered the evacuation of county recreational vehicles.
    • Hillsborough and Manatee Countieswhich includes Tampa and areas south of the city, have issued mandatory evacuations for all mobile homes and manufactured homes in Evacuation Zone A.
    • Pasco District, just north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for anyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or recreational vehicle, as well as for people in low-lying areas. The county has also issued mandatory evacuations for all places where local authorities are ordering evacuations due to life-threatening conditions.
    • Pinellas County, located on the Tampa coast, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents in Zone A and those living in mobile homes. Previously, the county only issued evacuations for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
    • Sarasota Provincelocated on the coast south of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for communities with Class A prefabricated homes after a local state of emergency was declared on Wednesday.

    – Kairi Lowery, A fresh look at Florida

    In the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. report on the storm, the weathermen use the words “catastrophic” and “life-threatening” three times. They discuss the various hazards Helene is expected to bring as it approaches the coast, crashes into it, and moves inland.

    But what does “catastrophic” mean? The National Weather Service expands on its local hurricane statement in a detailed and sobering snapshot of the catastrophe to come.

    • “Damage to critical infrastructure, catastrophic damage to trees and power lines, widespread inaccessibility due to blocked roads, and damage to well-built structures are likely, especially near and east of the tracks. Power outages are likely to last days, if not weeks.”
    • “Potential wind impacts in this area include: Structural damage to solid buildings, some with complete roof and wall failure. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted, as well as fences and signs blown down. Many roads impassable due to large debris, more so within urban or heavily wooded areas. Many bridges, causeways, and access roads impassable. Widespread power and communications outages.”

    • “There is a risk of catastrophic and unsurvivable storm surge for Apalachee Bay. This forecast, if it comes to fruition, would be a nightmare scenario for Apalachee Bay. Please, please, please take all evacuation orders seriously!”
    • “Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful pounding waves. Structural damage to buildings, many of which have been washed away. Damage greatly increased by significant floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. Coastal escape routes and secondary roads washed away or severely flooded. Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible. Extensive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks and piers. Numerous small craft have broken loose from moorings, many of which have been towed ashore and beached.”
    • “Extreme rainfall flooding may result in numerous evacuations and rescues. Rivers and tributaries may overflow their banks in many locations with deep flowing water. Small creeks, streams and ditches may become raging rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may be strained. Flood waters may enter numerous structures within multiple communities, some structures may become uninhabitable or washed away. Numerous locations where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots may become rivers of raging water with submerged tunnels. Driving conditions may become extremely hazardous. Numerous road and bridge closures, some of which may be weakened or washed away.”

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