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Helene Makes Landfall in Florida as Powerful Category 4 Hurricane
Hurricane Helene roared ashore in northwestern Florida on Thursday night as a dangerous Category 4 storm, bringing catastrophic winds, storm surge, and heavy rains to the region. The National Hurricane Center reported that Helene made landfall around 11:10 p.m. EDT near the mouth of the Aucilla River in the Big Bend area, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 mph.
The storm prompted hurricane and flash flood warnings extending far beyond the coast into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. More than a million homes and businesses were left without power in Florida, with an additional 50,000 outages reported in Georgia. Governors in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Virginia all declared states of emergency as the massive system approached.
Forecasters warned that Helene could bring a "nightmare" storm surge of up to 20 feet, particularly in the Apalachee Bay area, describing the scenario as "catastrophic and unsurvivable." The National Weather Service in Tallahassee issued an "extreme wind warning" for the Big Bend region as the eyewall approached, urging residents to take shelter immediately.
Despite the dire warnings, some residents chose to ride out the storm, including commercial fisherman Philip Tooke, who planned to stay on his boat near Apalachee Bay. However, many heeded mandatory evacuation orders stretching from the Panhandle south along the Gulf Coast, with shelters in Tallahassee and other areas filling up with those seeking refuge.
As Helene moves inland, forecasters expect it to weaken but continue to bring damaging winds, heavy rain, and the threat of flooding and landslides to the southern Appalachian Mountains and Tennessee. The storm has already caused widespread damage in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba, where it knocked out power to over 200,000 homes and businesses.
With the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season predicted to be above average due to record-warm ocean temperatures, Helene serves as a stark reminder of the increasing intensity and frequency of these powerful storms. As residents in Helene's path work to recover from its devastating impacts, the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and resilience planning remains paramount.