Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Major General John D. Haas, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director, and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue, held a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center to update Floridians on Hurricane Helene’s approach.
Hurricane Helene has intensified to a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and higher gusts. Further strengthening is expected, and Helene is forecast to reach the Florida Big Bend coast as a major hurricane tonight.
Read: USGS Deploys Wave Sensors In Florida To Track Hurricane Helene
In preparation, 68 shelters have opened across the state, including two state-operated shelters in Tallahassee and DeFuniak Springs, housing over 2,500 residents from areas likely to be impacted.
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, amending EO 24-208, and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This declaration ensures state resources are available to communities in advance of the storm.
Following the Governor’s request, FEMA has approved Florida’s pre-landfall disaster declaration. This enables federal resources and assistance, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and provides funding for emergency protective measures in 41 counties included in Executive Order 24-208.
Read: Generator Safety: Crucial Tips To Stay Safe During A Hurricane
Both voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for multiple counties statewide. Residents under mandatory evacuation orders are urged to leave. A full list of evacuation orders can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/EvacuationOrders.
Residents in the Big Bend area seeking shelter can call (800) 729-3413 for assistance. FDEM staff are actively responding to calls and coordinating shelter access. For more general help, residents can contact the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at (800) 342-3557, with services available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole.
Read: Hurricane Helene’s Potential Insurance Impact In Florida: $3 Billion To $6 Billion
Current Watches and Warnings:
- Hurricane Warning: Western Alachua, coastal Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, coastal Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, western Marion, coastal Pasco, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla counties.
- Hurricane Watch: Inland Citrus, inland Hernando, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee, inland Pasco, Pinellas, coastal Sarasota.
- Tropical Storm Warning: Central and eastern Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, inland Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, inland Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe (including the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas), Manatee, central and eastern Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, inland Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Union, Volusia, Walton, Washington.
- Storm Surge Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla counties.
Residents are advised to stay informed and prepared as Hurricane Helene nears landfall.
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