Quote from Alex bobby on September 26, 2024, 3:01 AM

Title: Hurricane Helene Threatens Florida as It Swamps Mexico and Heads Towards Southeast US

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Hurricane Helene, a massive storm gaining strength, flooded parts of Mexico on Wednesday as it barreled towards Florida. Forecasters have warned that the storm could become catastrophic, with a surge powerful enough to engulf entire homes, prompting residents to seek higher ground, schools to close, and states of emergency to be declared across the Southeast.

As of Wednesday evening, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported Helene's center was approximately 735 kilometers southwest of Tampa, Florida. The hurricane is expected to intensify as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico, aiming for Florida’s Big Bend region. Landfall is anticipated by Thursday evening, with the storm potentially reaching Category 4 strength, packing winds exceeding 208 kph.

Warnings Spread Across the Southeast

Tropical storm conditions are forecast to reach southern Florida by Wednesday night, spreading northward across the state and into Georgia and South Carolina by Thursday night. As of Wednesday, Helene was moving northward at 19 kph, with sustained winds of 140 kph.

A life-threatening storm surge up to 6.1 meters high is expected in the Big Bend area, forecasters said, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 555 kilometers from the storm’s center. The impact of Helene’s wind and rain could be felt far inland, with hurricane warnings in effect throughout parts of Georgia, and tropical storm warnings extending as far north as North Carolina. Widespread power outages, downed trees, and severe flooding are likely throughout the Southeast.

Preparations Underway

Residents are making last-minute preparations, rushing to stores for essential supplies. "Just hope and pray that everybody's safe," said Connie Dillard of Tallahassee, as she stocked up on water and bread before heading out of town.

Insurance firm Gallagher Re estimates billions of dollars in damages could result from the storm in the U.S. To prepare, around 18,000 linemen from out of state have been positioned across Florida, ready to restore power. Airports in St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, and Tampa are planning to close on Thursday, while 62 hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities evacuated their residents on Wednesday.

Georgia has mobilized 250 National Guard troops for rapid response, with state game wardens and emergency teams ready for swift-water rescues.

Tallahassee and Beyond Brace for Impact

In Tallahassee, where gas stations are running dry, Florida A&M student Kameron Benjamin prepared by filling sandbags to protect his apartment. "This hurricane is heading straight to Tallahassee, so I really don't know what to expect," said Benjamin, as Florida A&M and Florida State universities both shut down.

Memories of 2018’s Hurricane Michael, which devastated the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 storm, loom large in the minds of Big Bend residents. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service warned of a potentially "catastrophic and unsurvivable storm surge" in Appalachia Bay.

"People are taking heed and hightailing it out of there for higher ground," said Kristin Korinko, a Tallahassee resident and commodore of the Shell Point Sailboard Club, located about 48 kilometers south of the city.

Robbie Berg, a coordinator at the National Hurricane Center, urged Floridians not to underestimate Helene. “Please do not compare it to other storms you may have experienced over the past year or two," Berg said. Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach added that Helene could be one of the largest storms to hit the region in years.

Impact on the Southeast and Beyond

Areas as far as 160 kilometers north of the Georgia-Florida line can expect hurricane conditions, with significant power outages anticipated across the Southeast. More than half of Georgia’s public school districts, as well as several universities, have canceled classes in preparation for the storm. Metro Atlanta, which hasn’t experienced sustained tropical storm winds since Hurricane Irma in 2017, is under a tropical storm watch, and experts fear it could see its worst storm in over three decades.

The governors of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina have declared states of emergency, and warnings have been issued across the Southeast as Helene threatens widespread damage, including landslides in southern Appalachia and catastrophic flooding across Georgia and the Carolinas. Rainfall from the storm could even reach as far as Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Mexico and Caribbean Experience Helene’s Wrath

As Helene moves across the Gulf of Mexico, parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula remain under hurricane warnings. Helene formed in the Caribbean on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, flooding streets, and toppling trees as it passed near the resort city of Cancun. In Cuba, the government relocated cattle, deployed medical brigades, and shut off power in vulnerable areas as waves as high as 5 meters lashed Cortes Bay.

Across the Cayman Islands, residents continued pumping water from homes as schools remained closed.

Federal and State Response

In the U.S., federal authorities have pre-positioned generators, food, water, and emergency response teams in anticipation of Helene’s landfall. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned that Helene could make landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane and that the state was deploying buses to help evacuate residents from the Big Bend region to shelters in Tallahassee.

Despite the impending threat, Walt Disney World in central Florida, near Orlando, only plans to close its Typhoon Lagoon water park and miniature golf courses on Thursday.

As the Atlantic hurricane season continues, Helene marks the eighth named storm, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting an above-average season due to record-warm ocean temperatures.

In the Pacific, Tropical Storm John, which formed after Hurricane John weakened, continues to pose a threat to Mexico’s southwestern coast. Earlier this week, John hit the country’s southern Pacific coast, killing two people and causing mudslides before re-emerging over the ocean.

With Hurricane Helene on the horizon, the Southeast braces for the storm's impact, as emergency services and residents prepare for the worst.

Conclusion

As Hurricane Helene barrels toward the Southeastern U.S., authorities and residents are taking every possible precaution to brace for its impact. The storm's potential to become a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with life-threatening storm surges, severe flooding, and widespread power outages has sent communities across Florida, Georgia, and beyond into high alert. With states of emergency declared and evacuation orders in place, the region is on edge, remembering the devastation caused by past hurricanes like Michael. As Helene draws closer, the focus remains on safety, preparation, and hoping for the best amid the rising threat of one of the largest storms in recent years.