Florida is bracing for “unsurvivable” storm surge as Hurricane Helene is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 storm before making landfall later today.
Just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State, Hurricane Helene now threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year. It is expected to make landfall near Florida’s Big Bend region late on Thursday.
Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 1 storm, has 90mph winds as of Thursday morning, with sustained winds potentially building up to 135mph. Florida officials are warning residents to brace for life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and several areas remain under hurricane warnings. Florida’s Big Bend will see the worst of the storm surge, with up to 20ft possible this week.
On Wednesday, Florida Senator Rick Scott told residents that those in the path of the storm surge won’t survive.
“In the Big Bend, they’re talking about possibly 18ft of storm surge,” Scott said in Taylor County. “I’m a little over six feet — that’s three times my height. None of us are living that….You’re not going to survive.”
Mapped: Which counties have been issued evacuation alerts?
James Liddell26 September 2024 12:20
Airports hunker down for Hurricane Helene
James Liddell26 September 2024 12:00
‘Unsurvivable’ storm surge and vast inland damage: Threats Hurricane Helene poses
Fast-moving Hurricane Helene was advancing Thursday across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, threatening an “unsurvivable” storm surge in northwestern parts of the state as well as damaging winds, rains and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern US, forecasters said.
James Liddell26 September 2024 11:41
Mapped: Hurricane Helene wind arrival times
James Liddell26 September 2024 11:20
Residents urged to evacuate in face of life-threatening storm surge
James Liddell26 September 2024 11:00
Watch live from Cancun as Hurricane Helene heads north to Florida
James Liddell26 September 2024 10:40
Florida senator says catastrophic storm surge ‘not survivable’
Florida Senator Rick Scott gave a grave warning that storm surge produced from Hurricane Helene isn’t survivable.
Helene, which was upgraded from a tropical storm to hurricane on Wednesday, could be a Category 4 hurricane before it makes landfall on Thursday evening.
With it, it brings potential storm surge of up to 20ft-high in some areas on Florida’s Golf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“In the Big Bend, they’re talking about possibly 18-foot of storm surge,” Scott said in Taylor County. “I’m a little over 6 feet — that’s three times my height. None of us are living that.”
He added: “You’re not going to survive. I mean, you’re not going to live through this stuff.”
James Liddell26 September 2024 10:20
Just in: Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen as catastrophic winds and storm surge set to pummel Gulf Coast
James Liddell26 September 2024 10:00
Pictured: Parts of Cuba’s southern coast left underwater as Helene passes through
James Liddell26 September 2024 09:39
Satellite: Helene’s 85mph hurricane-force winds hurtle towards Florida’s Gulf Coast
James Liddell26 September 2024 09:19