Evacuations are underway in Florida to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Helene threatens to hit Florida with gusts of up to 155 mph. The governor has declared a state of emergency, ordered evacuations and mobilized the National Guard.
Thousands of people began evacuating coastal Florida on Wednesday as Hurricane Helene approached. Originally a tropical storm, Helene has strengthened into a hurricane as it heads toward the southeastern United States. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says the hurricane is expected to become a “major hurricane,” possibly a Category 3 or 4 on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale.
It is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night, bringing “strong winds and heavy rain” to much of Florida and the southeastern United States. The NHC is forecasting sustained winds of 125 mph and gusts of 155 mph by Thursday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported. “It’s going to be a big storm, and by big I don’t mean intensity but size,” Jaime Rhome, deputy director of the NHC, told the local newspaper.
National Guard mobilized
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took action in response to the threat, declaring a state of emergency in nearly all 67 counties in the state. He also ordered the National Guard and thousands of personnel to mobilize for search and rescue missions, as well as to restore power and clear roads after the hurricane. “You’re going to feel the impacts of this storm … all over the Florida panhandle,” DeSantis said.
Several counties have already taken steps to protect their populations: Ten have issued mandatory partial evacuation orders, while two have ordered full evacuations of all residents. Health care facilities and nursing homes have also begun evacuating patients, and more are expected to follow. Coastal counties could face waves as high as 18 feet.
Hurricanes getting stronger
In Tampa, lines of cars formed around sandbag distribution points to protect homes from flooding in anticipation of the hurricane. Residents in the area, accustomed to dealing with recurring hurricanes, are bracing themselves, though some acknowledge that recent storms have been increasingly severe. “We’re used to it, but in the last few years, hurricanes have gotten really, really bad,” said Lorraine Major, a 44-year-old teacher.
If Helene’s predictions come true, it would mark the first hurricane of this magnitude to hit the United States in more than a year. The last hurricane of this magnitude, Idalia, hit northeastern Florida in August 2023. Despite a calmer-than-expected Atlantic hurricane season, scientists warn that climate change, through warming oceans, is causing storms to intensify rapidly, increasing the risk of more powerful hurricanes.