Mandatory Evacuations Begin Ahead Of Hurricane

September 25, 2024 News, Weather

Yahoo News reports:

Evacuations are underway and time is running out for Floridians to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene, which threatens to hit as the strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in over a year. Evacuations began late Tuesday for some coastal areas of Florida facing potentially dangerous storm surge. Officials ordered mandatory evacuations in parts of at least seven counties, including Pinellas, Hernando, Charlotte, Gulf, Manatee and Sarasota.

Mandatory evacuations have also been ordered for the entirety of Franklin, Wakulla and Taylor counties. The last hurricane to make landfall in the US as a Category 3 – Idalia – also came ashore in the Big Bend region and generated a record-breaking storm surge from Tampa to the Big Bend in August last year. The Big Bend area is where Helene is currently projected to come ashore, and it faces the most serious storm surge: up to 15 feet of it is possible.

The Weather Channel reports:

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida’s Big Bend into southwest Georgia, including Tallahassee. Storm surge warnings extend from Indian Pass southward to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

V​arious tropical storm warnings and watches and hurricane watches cover most other parts of Florida northward into south Georgia and southern South Carolina.

T​hese alerts mean hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge conditions are either expected (warnings) or possible (watches) in these areas within the next 36 to 48 hours. Interests in the warned areas should implement their hurricane plans and heed any advice from local emergency managers.

CBS News reports:

Many areas are forecast to see dangerous storm surges, especially between Panama City and Tampa. The coast stretching from the Ochlockonee River to Chassahowitzka could see a surge between 10 and 15 feet.

Nearby areas could see between 5 and 10 feet of surge, and the Tampa Bay area is forecast to experience between 5 and 8 feet of storm surge. Strong winds are forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle on Thursday morning, with the storm expected to weaken as it heads into Georgia throughout the day.

The storm is expected to grow, supported by record-warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, and accelerate toward the Eastern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

Via press release:

U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box portable container use to people in the path of soon-to-be Hurricane Helene, projected as a major storm that will make landfall Thursday along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Nineteen U-Haul Companies have preemptively made 241 facilities available across Florida (136 stores), Georgia (70 stores) and Alabama (35 stores) to offer a month of free storage services, allowing those making hurricane preparations access to the disaster relief program in addition to people who will need help after the storm.

The free offer applies to new self-storage and U-Box rentals and is based on availability at each individual Company-owned and -operated location.

Most coastal cities are offering a limited number of sandbags to residents who provide local ID. Schools, government offices, beaches, parks, and other public spaces will be closed starting today. At this writing, Helene is on the verge of formally gaining hurricane status. Social media users are reporting long lines at gas stations and grocery stores.



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