One dead as Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as catastrophic Category 4 storm: Latest

WorldEnvironment
27 Sep 2024 • 1:24 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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At least one person has died as Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as one of the most powerful storms to strike the United States, bringing “catastrophic” and “unsurvivable” conditions.

Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend region just after 11pm ET as a Category 4 storm packing sustained winds of around 130 mph (209 kph), the National Hurricane Center said.

Even before it made landfall, the storm had flooded the Gulf Coast and knocked out power for at least 1 million customers in the state. Apart from Florida, Alabama, and parts of the Carolinas are also at risk of flooding.

One death has been confirmed dead, according to governor Ron DeSantis, who added that there are likely to be more fatalities in the state as the storm moves through and the full scale of the devastation becomes clear in the morning.

All parts of Florida are under a hurricane or tropical storm warning.

Helene’s size is massive compared to previous hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm was forecast to be one of the largest storms in breadth to hit the region in years, with only three bigger since 1988.

Key Points

  • Satellite images show Hurricane Helene as charts path to Florida coast
  • More than 40 million under hurricane, tropical storm warnings
  • Hurricane becomes category 4 storm
  • Category 4 Hurricane Helene roars ashore in Florida

One dead and more fatalities likely after Helene landfall

06:22

Stuti Mishra

At least one person has died in Florida after the Category 4 storm made landfall causing severe flooding.

The identity of the person and the cause has not been shared but in a press conference governor Ron DeSantis said it happened at Interstate 4 near the Tampa area.

He urged people to not travel, saying the "roads can be hazardous" and it's "very, very dangerous".

"Stay put!"

Mr DeSantis warned that there are likely to be "additional" fatalities in the state as the storm moves through.

"When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we're going to be waking up to a state where very likely there's been additional loss of life," he says. "And certainly, there's going to be loss of property."

He notes emergency crews don't know the extent of the impact yet due to it being night time in Florida.

"We're not getting a full picture yet," he says.

Photos show Tampa’s Florida High Patrol close the Sunshine Skyway Bridge

05:45

Michelle Del Rey

The Florida Highway Patrol in Tampa said it was closing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Thursday afternoon, as conditions in the area are continuing to devolve.

“As weather conditions continue to deteriorate & wind gusts have reached 60 MPH, FHP is closing the #Skyway,” the patrol wrote on X.

“Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, do not drive through flooded roads & unless absolutely necessary stay off area roadways.”

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Appalachians will see catastrophic flooding, landslides

05:15

Michelle Del Rey

The southern Appalachians are expected to see strong, damaging winds and rainfall of up to a foot, with some isolated amounts of 20 inches.

“This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

The National Weather Service’s office in South Carolina’s Greenville-Spartanburg warned of “one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era.”

“Record flooding is forecasted and has been compared to the floods of 1916 in the Asheville area,” it said.

Read it: Category 4 Hurricane Helene roars ashore in Florida

05:02

Michelle Del Rey

Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday night, bringing with it deadly winds of 140mph and a “catastrophic” storm surge.

Read more here.

One million people in Florida without power

04:55

Michelle Del Rey

Poweroutage.us is now reporting over a million people are without power.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri warns residents about playing ‘stupid games’ ahead of Helene

04:45

Michelle Del Rey

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri warned residents in evacuation zones about playing “stupid games.”

Storm surge in the county could top between five and eight feet there.

“We’ve all heard the adage, play stupid games win stupid prizes. Somebody is going to win a stupid prize because they’re not going to get out and we’re not coming,” Gualtieri said.

People in evacuation zone A should get out now.

National Hurricane Center announces Helene makes landfall

04:40

Michelle Del Rey

DeSantis delivers remarks

04:34

Michelle Del Rey

“When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we’re going to be waking up to a state where there’s been additional loss of life and certainly theres going to be loss of property,” DeSantis said during the news conference. “You’re going to have people losing their homes because of this storm.”

DeSantis advised people against going out in the storm as it hits land. He told Floridians to expect additional power outages.

Residents could be prepared for wind damage and falling trees.

Governor Ron DeSantis holding press conference

04:21

Michelle Del Rey

A look at Hurricane Helene from space

04:20

Michelle Del Rey

Videos capture Hurricane Helene from space. Satellites and the ISS are capturing jaw-dropping footage of this colossal force of nature, OrbitalToday.com wrote on X.

Live: Hurricane Helene moves up Florida coast hitting Tampa

04:15

Michelle Del Rey

Live video shows impacts from Hurricane Helene as it moves up the Florida coast, hitting Tampa.

WATCH IT: Hurricane eyewall hitting Perry, Florida

04:00

Michelle Del Rey

Helene inching closer

03:48

Michelle Del Rey

Hurricane Helene will make landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm, forecasters say

03:40

Michelle Del Rey

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Hurricane Helene will bring maximum sustained winds of 140 to 155mph

“A surge of water from the Gulf of Mexico could reach 23 feet in the hardest-hit coastal areas of the Big Bend of Florida. This is two stories high and unsurvivable for people in the area,” warned AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “The life-threatening storm surge risk extends down through Tampa Bay where six to 10 feet of water inundation is possible.”

The greatest risk of water surge is expected along and near the coast and conditions are expected to be extremely dangerous after nightfall.

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Destructive winds are expected to reach far inland, with catastrophic flash flooding hundreds of miles away from where Helene makes landfall.

“We are forecasting Helene to make landfall as a destructive Category 4 Hurricane in the Apalachicola area between Mexico Beach and Horseshoe Beach,” said Bernie Rayno.

The number of people without power in Florida has now risen to 700,000

03:39

Michelle Del Rey

That’s according to poweroutage.us. The number has risen over the past several hours from 400,000 to 700,000.

Storm has the potential to create additional storms

03:29

Michelle Del Rey

NBC News is reporting that there are three mesovortices that are small rotational patterns within the storm. The patterns can create tornadoes after landfall. Parts of Georgia are facing tornado threats from the storm.

Driver in Florida killed after sign falls on car

03:14

Michelle Del Rey

The crash happened around 7.53pm in Tampa, according to ABC News. The driver died in the incident and police are encouraging people to stay off the roads.

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Helene 70 miles south of Tallahassee

03:06

Michelle Del Rey

The National Hurricane Center is reporting that the eyewall of Hurricane Helene is beginning to move ashore along the Florida Coast of the Big Bend. The storm is minutes away from landfall.

Biden approves emergency funding for Alabama from Hurricane Helene

02:56

Michelle Del Rey

The president has authorized FEMA to respond to devastation in Alabama after hurricane.

Read Biden’s proclamation here.

Over 6,000 people have died in hurricanes since 1980

02:42

Michelle Del Rey

Hurricanes are the deadliest natural disasters, according to ABC News. In 2017, 2900 people died in Hurricanes Maria after it reached Dominica and Puerto Rico.

US Coast Guard rescued man, dog from sailboat during storm

02:34

Michelle Del Rey

US Coast Guard officials saved a man and his dog from drowning as Hurricane Helene made its way to Florida shores.

His 36ft sailboat became disabled and started taking on water 25 miles off of Sanibel Island in Lee County. The man and his dog are ok, a Coast Guard official wrote on X.

President Biden comments on Hurricane Helene

02:28

Michelle Del Rey

Helene strengths as it moves toward land

02:19

Michelle Del Rey

The National Hurricane Center has said Helene has become slightly stronger as its eye approaches the Florida coast’s Big Bend area.

Coastal waters are rising along the west coast of Florida as storm conditions spread northward, the agency at 9pm.

Over 1,000 people sheltering in place in Florida county

02:02

Michelle Del Rey

In Leon County, Florida, 1,652 individuals and 234 pets are sheltering in place at county facilities.

More than 600,000 people without power in Florida

01:37

Michelle Del Rey

That is according to poweroutage.us, an entity that tracks power outages across the country.

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Water is seen splashing over Tampa’s Howard Frankland Bridge as a car whizzes across

01:15

Michelle Del Rey

More than 40 million under hurricane, tropical storm warnings

Friday 27 September 2024 00:43

Michelle Del Rey

37,464,260 people are under tropical storm warnings and 2,852,691 people are under hurricane warnings, according to the National Weather Service.

Walt Disney World cancels experiences in response to Hurricane Helene

Friday 27 September 2024 00:40

Michelle Del Rey

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Florida’s Walt Disney World cancelled some experiences in response to Hurricane Helene.

Its Typhoon Lagoon water park was temporarily closed and Beachcomber Shack and Typhoon Lagoon Umbrella rentals were cancelled.

A Halloween-themed even, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, was cancelled. Guests would be refunded for that event.

Mini golf courses at Fantasia Garden and Fairways and Winter Summerland were also temporarily closed.

Photos show surfers take to the beach as Hurricane Helene bears down on Florida

Friday 27 September 2024 00:20

Michelle Del Rey

Surfers took to the beach in Panama City ahead of Hurricane Helene on Thursday afternoon.

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Hurricane becomes cat 4 storm

Friday 27 September 2024 00:00

Michelle Del Rey

The National Hurricane center announced Helene had become a category 4 storm shortly after 6.20pm.

The agency described the storm as “extremely dangerous,” with maximum sustained winds increasing to 130 mph.

Florida sheriff says residents who won’t evacuate could die

Thursday 26 September 2024 23:42

Michelle Del Rey

In an interview with ABC News, Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett says residents who are refusing to evacuate low-lying areas by the coastline, about 200 people, could very well die.

“That’s a death threat because you’re looking at, they’re calling for 18- or 20-foot storm surge,” he told the outlet.

“We’ve never had a storm surge like this in this county. These old houses, some of them on this coast, have been there for years and years and years, and they’re just not going to stand up to it. The water — you can kind of hide from the wind — but you can’t hide from that water.”

Vice President urging Florida residents to take storm 'seriously’

Thursday 26 September 2024 23:22

Michelle Del Rey

As of 5 pm ET, Helene had sustained winds of 125 mph. Forecasters warned Helene would likely strengthen into a Category 4 storm before it makes landfall tonight in Florida’s Big Bend.

Kamala Harris has said, “The President and I, of course, are monitoring the case and the situation closely, and we urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously and please follow the guidance of your local officials.

“President Biden and I, of course, will continue to work closely with state and local officials to ensure that everyone is safe and to protect communities before, during, and after the storm.”

Hurricane rips off part of home in Tampa

Thursday 26 September 2024 23:22

Michelle Del Rey

World Central Kitchen in Tallahassee preparing to deliver meals

Thursday 26 September 2024 23:12

Michelle Del Rey

The charity’s staff is setting up to deliver sandwiches to communities in Florida impacted by the storm on Friday.

WATCH IT: Water pours onto Tampa Bridge

Thursday 26 September 2024 23:02

Michelle Del Rey

Water seen flowing onto water in Howard Frankland Bridge.

West Virginia Governor issues state of preparedness for 22 counties

Thursday 26 September 2024 22:26

Michelle Del Rey

Governor Jim Justice issued a state of preparedness on Thursday for 22 West Virginia counties.

They are: Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Wayne, Webster and Wyoming.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office tells residents to write personal information on their bodies in permanent marker

Thursday 26 September 2024 21:31

Julia Musto

Officials in the rural Taylor County, along Florida’s Big Bend region, are telling their residents to write identifying information on their bodies in permanent marker before the storm hits.

“If you or someone you know chose not to evacuate, PLEASE write your, Name, birthday and important information on your arm or leg in A PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified,” the office wrote on Facebook.

The sheriff’s office asked residents to email them other vital information, including the location of their home and the number of people and animals who live there.

Hurricane Helene accelerates toward Florida’s Big Bend

Thursday 26 September 2024 21:20

Julia Musto

https://x.com/CIRA_CSU/status/1839370438985855326

Hurricane Helene is accelerating toward Florida’s Big Bend, where it is expected to make landfall later this evening.

The category 3 storm is bringing tropical storm conditions across most of the state’s western coast.

Winds at the entrance to Tampa Bay have been picking up, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Satellite imagery shows lightning surrounding Hurricane Helene’s eyewall

Thursday 26 September 2024 20:21

Julia Musto

Storm surge and winds were increasing along the Florida west coast at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

A station at the entrance to Tampa Bay measure a sustained wind speed of 50mph and a gust of 62mph.

As Helene moved closer to the US Gulf Coast, NOAA satellite imagery captured lightning around the storm’s eyewall.

National Guard arrives in Treasure Island

Thursday 26 September 2024 19:56

Julia Musto

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The City of Treasure Island said that the National Guard had arrived in the area on Thursday afternoon.

“The National Guard has now arrived to help get the message out for people to take this last call to evacuate seriously. City emergency officials are briefing them now,” the city said on Facebook. “They will stay in the area to help with rescue operations if needed.”

Hurricane Helene is a ‘dangerous’ Category 3 storm

Thursday 26 September 2024 19:35

Alex Lang

The National Hurricane Center said its Air Force hurricane hunters have found Helene to be a “dangerous” major hurricane on Thursday afternoon.

The system has strengthened into a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds increasing to 120mph.

The National Weather Service in Miami said Hurricane Helene has made its closest passage to South Florida.

Now, it’s is lifting further north in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

“Expect a few more hours of strong wind gusts, intermittent downpours, as well as hazardous coastal and marine conditions,” the agency said.

Additional strengthening is expected before Helene makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend.

Helene is nearly a major hurricane

Thursday 26 September 2024 19:19

Julia Musto

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Helene was nearly a major hurricane on Thursday afternoon, as Floridians raced to prepare for the storm.

The Category 2 storm is expected to rapidly strengthen before making landfall on Florida’s northwestern coast Thursday evening.

Florida Republican Gov Ron Desantis said on X that Helene would make landfall in Big Bend, but that dangerous conditions were expected throughout the Sunshine state and “even outside the forecast cone.”

“To stay safe from hazards like debris, downed power lines, and standing water, do not try to do any work in the dark tonight. State and local emergency management officials are ready to assist seniors and others in need of help clearing debris after the storm passes,” he wrote.

Helene’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the hurricane’s center.

Tornado warnings were issued through Georgia, South Carolina, and in northern Florida, as the system swirled fewer than 200 miles southwest of Tampa.

Tampa’s airport was closed, as well as those in Tallahassee and Clearwater.

School districts and multiple universities had canceled classes.

With reporting from The Associated Press

View Original Article

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