Hurricane Helene has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane as it approaches Florida’s northwest coast.
Helene’s sustained winds have reached 215 kmph, with the potential to cause severe damage to homes, down trees, and disrupt power lines. Power outages have already affected more than 250,000 homes and businesses in Florida, as reported by the site poweroutage.us.
The storm is expected to generate storm surges of up to 6 metres, particularly in Florida’s Big Bend region. Coastal areas could face devastating floods, with warnings of flash floods extending into northern Georgia and western North Carolina.
Governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia have declared states of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall. US President Joe Biden has also declared an emergency for several states, sending federal officials to assist in damage control and search-and-rescue operations.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for low-lying areas stretching from Florida’s Panhandle down to the Gulf Coast, including cities like Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Sarasota. Many residents have been urged to evacuate to safety before the storm makes landfall.
Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend area, which is sparsely populated and known for its natural beauty. Officials are particularly concerned about Apalachee Bay, warning that the storm surge there could be "catastrophic and unsurvivable."
Federal authorities have staged search-and-rescue teams, ready to assist areas affected by the storm. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has urged people to take evacuation orders seriously, predicting a dangerous scenario.
Helene’s impact will be felt far beyond Florida, with areas in southern Georgia and inland regions as far as 160 km north of the Georgia-Florida border also expected to experience hurricane conditions. Schools and universities in Georgia have cancelled classes, and curfews have been imposed in some cities.
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