Levy County Sheriff's Office says recovery will take time but is possible
Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Levy County got hit with a barrage of storm surge and strong winds last night as Helene made landfall.
Levy County Sheriff's Office public information officer Scott Tummond said the combination of three major hurricanes in the span of a year has made recovery efforts more difficult.
"This was much worse, but we expected much worse. I know that some of our residents out there are still dealing with leftover things from Idalia and definitely from Debby," Tummond said. "So this just compounds the amount of damage that our citizens are seeing to their property and to their homes."
Despite the challenges faced by the coastal communities of Levy County, Tummond said he expects a full recovery.
"It's gonna take a little while to recover. However, I can tell you that our folks, especially down in Cedar Key, they are very resilient. I expect that once the water gets out of their town, uh, within 24 to 48 hours, they'll be back to operations," he said. "Those folks down there are amazing."
Levy County is still over 80% without power, and the county is still working to clear the roads so emergency vehicles can pass.
— Kristin Moorehead
Another confirmed death in Dixie, thousands still without power, airports expected to resume flights
Friday, 10:15 a.m.
As Hurricane Helene impacted Florida late last night, Gov. Ron DeSantis reported one more death in Dixie county. While somebody was staying in for the storm a tree fell onto their house, causing them to die.
Over a million people are still without power, relief efforts have been dispatched and has been working to restore power and clear roads and debris.
DeSantis warned about down power lines and traffic light outages.
“If traffic lights are out in your area, remember to treat that as you would a four way stop. We don’t want to see any traffic accidents as a result of that. Some of those signals are out, they will be brought back online in due time, relatively quickly.”
The following airports have experienced flight cancellations or delays, they’re expected to resume flights sometime today:
Gainesville Regional Airport
Tampa International Airport
Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
Lakeland Linder International Airport
Tallahassee International Airport
— Lee Ann Anderson
Gainesville Mayor says city fared okay, but many trees down and roads blocked
Friday, 8:20 a.m.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward said Friday morning that no serious injuries were reported in the city due to Hurricane Helene.
Some roads remain blocked with debris, including the 5300 block of Northeast 39th Avenue, the 3300 block of Northwest 53rd Avenue, 3000 S Main St., the intersection of Northwest 34th Boulevard and Northwest 24th Terrace and the intersection of Northwest 16th Avenue and 8th Street.
Ward said of the roughly 250 traffic lights operated by the city, about 170 of them are out. Standard protocol for a broken traffic light is to treat it as a four-way stop. But, Ward said, "the real standard protocol for a day like this is don't go out and drive if you don't have to. Stay home, take the opportunity to clean up your front yard. That's the best thing to do this morning until we can get some of these cleared."
Ward also said as many as 60 trees were knocked down by the wind from the storm.
"We're a tree city and we had wind last night like I don't think we've experienced in my lifetime," he said.
— Kristin Moorehead
Massive power outages as public safety officials urge residents to stay off the roads
Friday, 6:45 a.m.
At sunrise, tree debris litters the roads across much of north central Florida, making driving ill-advised for now.
"Please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary," Alachua County wrote in a press release. "Thank you for your patience as we work with local utility crews to restore power."
Over 82,000 people in Alachua County are without power. Much of the Big Bend and northern Nature Coast is 100% in the dark to start Friday, according to PowerOutage.us.
Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved farther inland over Georgia, the National Hurricane Center said.
One dead as Helene makes landfall
Thursday, 11:45 p.m.
As Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday evening, Gov. Ron DeSantis reported one storm-related death so far.
A driver died after a sign fell on them while driving in Tampa.
DeSantis, speaking during a Tallahassee press conference, urged prayers for potential victims of the storm as Hurricane Helene continues to damage the state.
“When we wake up tomorrow morning, there will likely be more fatalities,” he said.
Helene made landfall east of the Aucilla River mouth, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening. It sustained winds of 140 mph and is expected to continue moving along Florida’s Big Bend and toward Greenville, Monticello and the Georgia state line.
DeSantis urged residents across the state to stay inside until morning to assess damages, regardless of whether the storm passed by already.
“Now is not the time to be going out,” he said. “You’re still seeing surge in water rising in parts of Florida far south from the Big Bend area.”
Once the storm passes, DeSantis said search and rescue operations will start.
— Aidan Bush
Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette counties in the dark
Thursday, 11:15 p.m.
Over 80% of customers are without power in Dixie, Gilchrist and Lafayette counties, according to utility company data.
In Alachua County, about a quarter of Gainesville Regional Utilities customers are without power and nearly half of Clay's are out. For Duke Energy and Central Florida Electric Cooperative customers in Alachua County, less than 10% have power as Thursday comes to a close.
The storm is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region within the hour.
Helene moving ashore as Category 4 hurricane
Thursday, 10:12 p.m.
Hurricane Helene’s eyewall will begin spreading winds onshore toward Florida’s Big Bend region, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening. The hurricane’s sustained winds have been measured at 140 mph, according to measurements by a government Hurricane Hunter plane flying through the storm,
The storm’s location was 65 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key and 65 miles south of Tallahassee, the hurricane center said.
– Aidan Bush
Over 500,000 Floridians are without power
Thursday, 9:05 p.m.
Utility companies on the state's Gulf Coast are reporting power outages, with the largest concentration in Pinellas County.
About 164,000 Pinellas customers, or just shy of 30%, are in the dark, according to PowerOutage.us.
On the Nature Coast, about 10% of customers are without power in Hernando, Citrus and Dixie counties. Levy County's outage total is closer to 15%.
In north central Florida, here are phone numbers for you to report power outages:
- Central Florida Electric Cooperative: 1-800-227-1302
- Clay Electric: 1-888-434-9844
- Duke Energy: 1-800-228-8485
- Florida Power & Light Company: 1-800-468-8243
- Gainesville Regional Utilities: 352-334-2871
- SECO Energy: 1-800-732-6141
- Withlacoochee River Electric Coop: 352-567-5133
Farmers should document any damage immediately, USDA says
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
Florida farmers should begin documenting damage from Hurricane Helene as soon as it's safe to do so on Friday.
That's the message from Michael Gavazzi, coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Southeast Climate Hub, who also urged them to consult the agency's commodity-specific recovery guides.
"Call your insurance, call your adjusters, whoever you need to call first," he said. "Don't do any cleanup until you've documented the damage that's occurred. You're assessing and documenting everything that's damaged — to your crops, to your forest land, to your structures."
He said farmers who report damage to federal agencies may have to wait "weeks or longer" until aid can become available.
— Rose Schnabel
Helene winds hit Category 4 status
Thursday, 6:25 p.m.
Hurricane Helene’s sustained winds have been measured at 130 mph, which makes it a Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening. The winds were measured by a government Hurricane Hunter plane flying through the storm.
The hurricane’s location was 120 miles west of Tampa and 165 miles south of Tallahassee at 6:20 p.m., moving north and northeast at 23 mph, the hurricane center said.
– Aidan Bush
UF closes campus on Friday for hurricane, too
Thursday 5 p.m.
All University of Florida offices will remain closed and classes canceled through Friday, the university announced at 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
The announcement came after the National Hurricane Center upgraded Hurricane Helene to a Category 3 hurricane. The storm is expected to make landfall Thursday evening.
Academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled through Friday, the university said.
Classes were already canceled Thursday. The university previously planned to reopen Friday at 7 a.m.
UF expects to reopen and resume normal operations Saturday.
— Zoey Thomas
Helene’s arrival interrupts peanut harvest for Florida farmers
Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Jeff Pittman, a peanut and cotton farmer based in Jackson County, said Hurricane Helene impending hit to the county has interrupted the beginning of his harvest.
“This is really bad timing for us, and the majority of my community and area. We're on a real specific harvest schedule when peanuts or cotton is concerned,” Pittman said. “Now, this rain event is going to keep us out another four days, at least, probably more like six days.”
Pittman said rain and flooding with hurricanes like Helene deteriorates the health of plants and makes them undesirable to harvest, which could make it hard for farmers like Pittman to survive financially.
“It's just not a good time for a typical row crop farm to be profitable. It's just about impossible to be profitable right now, especially when you have these types of weather events,” Pittman said.
— Lee Ann Anderson and Rose Schnabel
Santa Fe, Suwannee rivers become flood concern, depending on Helene rainfall
Thursday, 3:38 p.m.
Troy Roberts, a spokesman for the Suwannee River Management District, said groundlevel waters have been higher because of Hurricane Debby, and more rainfall could cause flooding by Hurricane Helene.
“Groundwater levels are higher now than they were before Hurricane Debby impacted us in August. So, with that, water has less place to go,” Roberts said.
If Suwannee is met with heavy rainfall, the Santa Fe River could flood into the Suwannee River, which could increase water levels for both rivers causing flooding in the county.
“One of the biggest issues that we see on the Santa Fe is the Santa Fe flows into the larger Suwannee. If we're seeing higher, higher river levels on the Suwannee, the Santa Fe has no place to drain into.”
Suwannee River Management District is still surveilling the area. Roberts doesn’t expect the hurricane to bring heavy rains into the county.
— Lee Ann Anderson and Rose Schnabel
Hurricane Helene upgraded to Category 3
Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Hurricane Helene is now a dangerous Category 3 major hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said at 2:25 p.m. Thursday.
The storm was previously moving toward Florida’s Gulf Coast at 105 mph as a Category 2 storm. The update came after Air Force Hurricane Hunters found maximum sustained winds increased to near 120 mph, the center said.
A Category 3 hurricane has wind speeds between 111 and 129 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. It can have devastating impact, including damaging well-built homes, snapping or uprooting trees and disrupting electricity and water for days to weeks.
Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday evening.
— Zoey Thomas
Florida Highway Patrol closes Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Thursday, 3:25 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Interstate 275 midday Thursday due to high winds from Hurricane Helene. A row of patrol cruisers with their blue lights activated and highway worker trucks blocked the roads at both ends of the bridge.
Wind gusts at the bridge reached 60 mph, making conditions unsafe for motorists. Helene strengthened into a Category 3 storm midday Thursday with sustained wind speeds of 120 mph, continuing its path up the Gulf Coast.
The Skyway connects Pinellas County and Manatee County. Both are expecting heavy flooding from Helene and have issued partial evacuation orders to residents.
The highway patrol urged residents to seek alternative routes and steer clear of flooded roads.
— Kylie Williams
Helene affecting high school sports event scheduling
Thursday, 3:20 p.m.
The Buchholz Bobcats football team will kick off Friday at Nease at 7 p.m., but Newberry High School will reschedule its game against Palatka.
It's part of a series of schedule changes brought on this week due to Hurricane Helene.
Newberry coach Edward Johnshon said the Alachua County School Board informed the team that there would be no activities Thursday or Friday. But according to Bobcats coach Mark Whittemore, his team's game is still on.
“Obviously we will asses the situation on Friday morning and make sure that it’s safe, and everything is intact,” Whittemore said.
Whittemore said the St. Johns County School Board canceled class for Thursday, but not Friday. According to Whittemore, the Bobcats were able to meet Wednesday before they left campus.
“We look forward to reconvening Friday afternoon, and Lord willing, getting on the bus and heading over there,” Whittemore said.
The Newberry Panthers rescheduled to play against the Palatka Panthers on Monday night. Johnson said they will practice on Sunday in preparation of the rescheduled game.
“The kids are really resilient, so they kind of go with the flow. Obviously, it will be different — we won’t have school — but we will get everyone in after church,” said Johnson.
— Evan Warner and Steve Russell
Helene a concern for commercial fishermen in Steinhatchee
Thursday, 2:30 p.m.
Eric Brazer, the deputy director of Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance said hurricanes have always been a problem, but they are getting to be bigger and more severe.
Brazer said the recent prevalence of hurricanes has damaged the commercial fishing industry in Steinhatchee, a community of 500 on the Gulf Coast.
“They (commercial fishermen) pay very close attention to the weather, so this has been on their radar screen for days, if not weeks,” Brazer said.
Brazen said the businesses with shoreside infrastructure will do what they have to do to protect their businesses and interests. He said they will spend a lot of time and money preparing to protect their businesses.
“Overall, nobody is taking this hurricane and any other storm systems like this. Nobody is taking them lightly anymore,” said Brazer.
Brazer said the fish who can move will often move or relocate during the storm. He said it is really hard to predict what will happen to the fish during hurricane Helene.
“The ocean is so dynamic, and these hurricanes are just one piece of the puzzle,” said Brazer.
Brazer said the Shareholders Alliance provides information to fishermen about where they can access resources after the storm.
“Hurricanes, natural disasters, things like this — we really see commercial fishermen pull together and come through after something like this happens,” Brazer said.
— Evan Warner
Alachua County to prepare for strong winds, City of Gainesville offices to be closed Friday
Thursday, 1:58 p.m.
All City of Gainesville offices will be closed on Friday, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward announced in a post on X. Closures include all Alachua County government offices, the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and the Rural Collection Centers. Other closures across the county on Friday include:
- City of Alachua
- City of Archer
- City of Hawthorne
- City of High Springs
- Town of LaCrosse
- City of Micanopy
- City of Newberry
- City of Waldo
- Property Appraiser
- Alachua County School Board
- Alachua County Libraries
- Children’s Trust of Alachua County
- Career Source
- Courts in all counties of the 8th Circuit, including Alachua County
The National Weather Service said Alachua County has a 100% chance of strong tropical storm-force winds. Prepare for 58 to 73 mph sustained winds with gusts to hurricane strength.
— Vivienne Serret
Citrus County officials urge residents to evacuate in preparation of Hurricane Helene, still Category 2
Thursday, 1:40 p.m.
Troy Slattery, the director of public works in the coastal city of Crystal River, said all city parks have been shut down and electricity shut off. He said barricades and road closures are ready to go in place in case surge waters rise.
“Even after the storm passes, if we’re impacted by the floods and stuff, we’re not going to have fuel stations, we will not have grocery stores, we will not have power and that is the long term,” Slattery said. “It could be days, weeks before everything is fully restored.”
Slattery said non-residents will not be allowed into the city as it comes back from the storm. He said the city’s first priority will be conducting potential rescue operations and residential inspections. They also want to get roadways reopened as soon as possible.
“Don’t just pay attention to the winds, evacuate the zone and come back when it’s safe,” Slattery said.
Audra Curts, Crystal River’s city manager, said Hurricane Helene could be very dangerous and hopes residents in affected areas have left their homes. If someone were in a compromised structure, it may be impossible for first responders to get to them quickly, she said.
“It is safer to be away than to try to ride this out,” Curts said.
She said the city’s preparations are as complete as they can be. She said the Citrus County Sheriff's Office website has continuous updates from the emergency operations center.
— Vivienne Serret
Tallahassee airport closed; Gainesville to follow
Thursday, 1:30 p.m.
The Tallahassee International Airport closed Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene, the airport announced on social media Wednesday. Operations will resume as soon as it is safe to do so, the post said.
The Gainesville Regional Airport will close 8 p.m. Thursday and reopen 7 a.m. Friday, it announced on its website. Runways and taxiways will remain open only to emergency, military and rescue aircraft. The storm is expected to make landfall there Thursday evening.
The airport suggested travelers check in with its three airlines — American Airlines, Delta and Silver — for the most up-to-date travel information.
Silver Airways announced Tuesday it would waive fees for customers traveling Wednesday through Thursday from Tallahassee, Gainesville, Key West, Tampa and Pensacola.
— Zoey Thomas
Helene strengthens into Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds
Thursday, 1:30 p.m.
Hurricane Helene lumbered Thursday toward Florida’s Gulf Coast as a massive, powerful storm expected to drown some rural, coastal communities in northern areas with a towering storm surge of up to 20 feet, plus torrential rains and destructive winds.
The Tin City retail district of Naples in southwest Florida flooded early Thursday as Helene moved north along the Gulf coast, still hundreds of miles off shore, driving seawater into Naples Bay until it surged over seawalls into streets and back yards. The Big Marco River crested over its banks.
Crashing ocean waves driven by powerful winds in Key West broke over the seawall and sprayed the famous tourist plaza that marks the southernmost point in the United States. A few plucky people tried to pose for photos near the brightly painted buoy as they were drenched in salt water.
— Aidan Bush and Kylie Williams
Read more:
Dock Street in Cedar Key begins to flood
Thursday, 1:15 p.m.
One of Cedar Key's signature landmarks is already experiencing storm surge from Hurricane Hermine.
Chiefland Fire Rescue posted a short video just before 12:30 p.m. showing Dock Street under a few inches of water.
Several businesses on the street burned in a fire last week.
— WUFT News staff
Now Category 2, Helene continues slog toward Florida’s Big Bend, Panhandle
Thursday, 10:10 a.m.
Hurricane Helene, now a Category 2 with 100 mph winds, continued to strengthen in the Gulf before it was expected to make landfall later Thursday evening in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to move or hunker down before it’s too late.
“Every minute that goes by brings us closer to having conditions that are simply too dangerous to navigate,” he said at a briefing in Tallahassee on Thursday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said storm surges across Florida’s Big Bend area could reach up to 20 feet, and DeSantis said the storm could land as a Category 3 or 4. Over a dozen tornado warnings were issued overnight as Helene approached the Gulf Coast.
At least 20 counties issued partial or total mandatory evacuations, urging thousands to leave their houses or trailers and seek inland, higher ground. More than 832,000 people live in Florida’s Big Bend region and nearby counties where Helene was expected to hit hardest on Thursday as a major hurricane.
To help Big Bend residents leave, the Division of Emergency Management will coordinate transport for anyone who calls 1-800-729-3413 from the region to shelters elsewhere. Rideshare service Uber also partnered with the state, providing free rides to shelters for anyone who uses the code HELENERELIEF.
DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, the state’s top emergency management official, warned those staying home for Helene not to drive during the storm, keep generators outside and head to an interior room if they hear trees around them breaking.
“If you hear trees snapping around your home, treat it like a tornado,” Guthrie said. “Act immediately.”
Several airports, including Tampa International, St. Pete–Clearwater International and Tallahassee International Airport closed for the storm.
– Aidan Bush
Here's a map of where to pick up sandbags across north central Florida:
Marion County prepares for Helene
Wednesday, 5:45 p.m.
Residents of Marion County are taking Hurricane Helene seriously by filling and loading sandbags to protect their homes from flooding.
County officials have set up multiple locations for residents to access resources. While the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday, the county is preparing for potential heavy rainfall, flooding, and storm surges.
Marion County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Zach Moore advises residents in flood-prone areas to stay out of flood waters and avoid driving through them. The American Red Cross also emphasizes the importance of preparedness to ensure community safety ahead of the storm.
- Sarah Hower and Tanya Fedak
Here is an updated list of Florida counties issuing evacuation orders:
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Florida counties are continuing to update orders for their residents to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Helene.
Counties that have issued emergency mandatory evacuations for all their residents include Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties in the Big Bend region. Those counties include more than 72,000 people.
Other counties have issued area-specific mandatory evacuations, according to Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
Charlotte County, north of Fort Myers, has issued mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, low-lying and flood prone areas, and for people living in manufactured homes or homes that don’t meet 1995 building codes.
Citrus County, north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for those living within evacuation zone A and any structures county-wide that are not able to withstand high speed winds. They previously issued mandatory evacuations for licensed skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities located in zone A.
Dixie County in the Big Bend region has issued mandatory evacuations for coastal communities Suwanee, Horseshoe Beach, Jena and surrounding areas. Officials also issued a mandatory evacuation for county recreational vehicles, those living in mobile and manufactured homes and those living in any low-lying areas.
Gulf County in the Panhandle has issued mandatory evacuations for all non-residents and recreational vehicles in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas and Simmons Bayou.
Hernando County, north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for all areas west of US-19, including evacuation zones A, B and C. They also issued mandatory evacuations for any residents living in low-lying areas or in manufactured homes.
Jefferson County, east of Tallahassee, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in mobile homes, modular homes, RVs, flood-prone areas and homes not up to hurricane standards.
Lafayette County in the Big Bend region has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in mobile homes–including travel trailers–structurally compromised housing and low-lying areas. These mandatory evacuation orders will go into effect Thursday at 8 a.m.
Leon County, home to the state’s Capitol, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in manufactured or mobile homes.
Levy County, southwest of Gainesville, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents living in coastal communities, low-lying areas or in mobile and manufactured homes. Officials also ordered the evacuation of county recreational vehicles.
Hillsborough and Manatee counties, which includes Tampa and areas south of the city, have issued mandatory evacuations for all mobile homes and manufactured housing in evacuation Zone A.
Pasco County, just north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for anyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or recreational vehicle as well as those in low-lying areas. The county also issued mandatory evacuations for anywhere local authorities order evacuations for, due to life-safety hazards.
Pinellas County, located on the coast of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for all residents in zone A and those living in mobile homes. Previously, the county ordered evacuations for just hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Sarasota County, located on the coast just south of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for level A manufactured home communities after declaring a local state of emergency Wednesday.
Counties that have issued voluntary evacuations for residents include: Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton, Madison, Suwannee and Union counties.
– Kairi Lowery
Governor warns electric vehicle owners to keep them dry from seawater
Wednesday: 4:15 p.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis urged owners of electric vehicles in Florida on Wednesday to drive them to higher ground to avoid them being exposed to seawater as part of Hurricane Helene.
DeSantis said such vehicles can catch fire when seawater from storm surges inundates the battery packs, and those fires can be difficult for firefighters to extinguish.
“Just know that when you have saltwater intrusion in that, they can catch fire,” DeSantis said. He said there were instances during Hurricane Ian when a home survived the Category 5 hurricane, but the vehicle parked in the garage caught fire and burned down the house.
“Really big homes, but the EV caught fire and burned the house down,” the governor said. He urged EV owners to drive them to higher ground.
DeSantis also warned users of generators not to run generators inside a home or near a home’s doors or windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
:”If you run the generator in your home, it can kill you,” he said. “They’re great to use but you’ve got to use them appropriately.”
– Kairi Lowery
Uber to offer free rides to hurricane shelters in Florida counties
Wednesday 4 p.m.
The ride-share service Uber is offering free rides to hurricane shelters in any Florida county that is under a state of emergency, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
DeSantis said users should use the coupon code, “Helenerelief,” on the Uber app to qualify for a free ride. The governor earlier invoked emergency orders for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties.
The governor said Uber was offering the free rides as part of a partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
– Kiley Vaughan
DeSantis says Helene could hit Florida as high as Category 4 hurricane
Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday afternoon that some forecast models predict Hurricane Helene to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as big as a Category 4 storm, although many officials expect it will come ashore as a Category 3. Both are considered major hurricane levels.
“Most of the models have this becoming a major hurricane, some even have it coming as a Category 4,” DeSantis warned. “You have time to implement your plan so that you’re prepared for this storm.”
The governor urged residents to get gasoline, non-perishable food and water ahead of the storm’s landfall.
“It’s not a matter of whether we’re going to get effects, it’s just a question of how significant those effects will be,” DeSantis said.
During a 3:30 p.m. briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, DeSantis said Hurricane Helene will bring damaging winds, up to 12 inches of rain and high storm surges along the coastal areas. He said Tallahassee was likely to see the eye, or center, of the hurricane pass over it.
“You’re going to have both wind and water hazards from this storm,” he said.
– Kiley Vaughan
Attorney general solicits reports of price gouging ahead of hurricane
Wednesday 3:30 p.m.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated the state’s price gouging hotline, soliciting reports of dramatic increases in the prices of goods or services. The law prohibiting such gouging affects items that are essential to preparing or recovering from a storm.
On social media, Moody urged residents to report price gouging as Hurricane Helene approached.
The hotline phone number is 1-866-966-7226. Moody said residents also can submit reports on her agency’s website, MyFloridaLegal.com, or using the free “No Scam” phone app.
– Kiley Vaughan
National Hurricane Center updates estimates of storm surge as high as 18 feet
Wednesday, 3 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday afternoon that the storm surge expected to sweep through Florida’s Big Bend region may be as high as 18 feet. That is significantly higher than earlier predictions for the storm surge associated with Hurricane Helene.
The area potentially affected by the highest storm surge prediction runs from Carrabelle in Franklin County in the Panhandle along the Gulf Coast down to Chassahowitzka in Citrus County, north of Tampa. The new storm surge figures were announced at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
At a news briefing earlier Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis reminded storm victims that winds can be damaging, but he said, “You’ve got to run from the water.”
– Kiley Vaughan
In Wakulla County, all residents ordered to evacuate but some inmates are left behind
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m.
Residents in Wakulla County in Florida’s Big Bend region are under mandatory orders to evacuate by 8 a.m. Thursday, but some inmates are being left behind.
The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said it has no plans to evacuate the jail. It has capacity for 350 inmates. A spokesperson said the jail isn’t full but couldn’t say exactly how many inmates were there Wednesday.
There are two state prison facilities in the county, the Wakulla Correctional Institution and its satellite, the Wakulla Correctional Institution Annex. Those prisons weren’t evacuated Wednesday. They can hold more than 2,500 prisons combined.
The Florida Department of Corrections has already announced it had completed the evacuations of about 2,500 other inmates from 25 other prisons across 14 counties. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Wakulla County prisons would be evacuated later, ahead of the hurricane making landfall.
– Valentina Sandoval
Tampa airport to close early Thursday ahead of hurricane landfall
Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Tampa International Airport says it is suspending all commercial flights and cargo operations starting at 2 a.m. Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Helene.
The airport, one of the largest in Florida, plans to reopen Friday but will remain closed until any potential damage can be assessed. Three other smaller airports in the area also will close at 2 a.m. Thursday. They include the Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City airports.
Further north, the Gainesville Regional Airport in Alachua County remained open Wednesday and said it was monitoring the storm. Officials there urged passengers to check with their carriers for delays or cancellations.
Tallahassee International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport and Orlando International Airport all remained open Wednesday.
– Kiley Vaughan
UF, Santa Fe College cancel classes for Thursday, close down campuses
Wednesday, 11:45 a.m.
The University of Florida and nearby Santa Fe College have announced they are canceling classes for Thursday and shutting down their campuses. UF said its main campus in Gainesville would close starting at 12:01 am Thursday due to Hurricane Helene.
UF said all academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time. The school said students who live in residence halls on campus should plan to shelter in place within their residence hall. The campus dining halls will continue to serve food during the storm.
UF said its campus will reopen and classes resume Friday at 7 a.m.
Santa Fe College said its campus will remain closed Thursday and Friday to support the safety and well-being of students and employees.
Unlike UF, the Santa Fe campus will remain closed to assess damage after the hurricane has passed, they said.
“The college is announcing this closure to provide students and employees with the opportunity to prepare before the storm and to assess any potential damage once it has passed,” the school said in a statement.
– Kairi Lowery
Helene becomes a hurricane, officially
Wednesday, 11:15 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm Helene officially became a hurricane with sustained winds of about 80 mph around 11 a.m. Wednesday, while the storm was still in the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters said it was expected to bring what they described as a “life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains” to large parts of Florida and the southeastern United States.
– Kairi Lowery
More Florida counties update evacuation orders: Here is a list
Wednesday, 11 a.m.
More Florida counties are ordering their residents to evacuate.
Counties that have issued emergency mandatory evacuations for all their residents include Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties in the Big Bend region. Those counties include more than 72,000 people.
Other counties have issued area-specific mandatory evacuations, according to Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
Charlotte County north of Fort Myers has issued mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, low-lying and flood prone areas, and for people living in manufactured homes or homes that don’t meet 1995 building codes.
Citrus County, north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for licensed skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities located in Zone A.
Gulf County in the Panhandle has issued mandatory evacuations for all non-residents and recreational vehicles in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas and Simmons Bayou.
Hillsborough and Manatee counties, which includes Tampa and areas south of the city, have issued mandatory evacuations for all mobile homes and manufactured housing in evacuation Zone A.
Pasco County, just north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for anyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or recreational vehicle.
Pinellas County, located on the coast of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Zone A.
Counties that have issued voluntary evacuations for residents include: Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Suwannee and Union counties
– Kairi Lowery
Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers hurricane updates in Tampa press conference
Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a press conference in Tampa Wednesday morning alongside Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie, warning Floridians of the potentially catastrophic effects Tropical Storm Helene could have as it intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico.
The governor said 61 counties across Florida are under state of emergency, while 64 are under some type of watch or warning alert. Southern Florida has already started to experience Helene’s outerbands as it moves past Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula.
State officials are preparing for anywhere between a category 1 and category 4 storm with a projected storm path of the North Florida panhandle or the Big Bend region.
DeSantis encouraged residents to read up on their evacuation zones, sign up for government alerts and finalize their plans. He also prompted evacuees to gather important personal belongings and pets before leaving, stating that at least one shelter in every county is pet-friendly.
Helene has the power to bring life-threatening storm surges, flooding, high winds and tornadoes, Guthrie said. Residents will feel the effects as far as 250 miles from the center of the storm, which is expected to make landfall Thursday evening.
– Ella Thompson
Manatee County says it needs dog lovers to help shelter dogs during storm
Wednesday, 8:15 a.m.
In Manatee County, north of Sarasota, emergency officials are asking for help from anyone willing to provide a short-term foster home for any of their dogs from the animal shelter during the storm.
The county says it wants to move as many of its shelter dogs into safe homes through the weekend, depending on the weather. It said it will provide all the food and supplies needed by foster families.
It is coordinating fosters from its Palmetto shelter from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
– Kairi Lowery
Florida says prescriptions can be refilled early ahead of storm
Wednesday, 7:55 a.m.
Florida emergency management officials are reminding patients who need prescriptions that they can get them refilled in advance of the approaching storm regardless of typical limits.
The new rule kicked in under an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this week designating a state of emergency.
It affects anyone who needs medication and lives in a county where there is a hurricane warning, where the governor has announced a state of emergency and where the county has activated its emergency operations center.
– Kairi Lowery
Florida offers help line for evacuees ahead of storm
Wednesday, 7:45 a.m.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management says anyone who needs help evacuating the Big Bend region ahead of the approaching storm can call for help.
The number is 1-800-729-3413.
State officials said coordinators there will today be contacting anyone who calls for help needing transportation out of Big Bend to shelters in safer areas.
Taylor and Wakulla counties have already announced mandatory evacuations for everyone in those counties, more than 56,000 people. Nearby Franklin County has ordered the evacuations of the outer barrier islands and low-lying areas further inland.
– Kairi Lowery
USF cancels classes, closes campus
Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.
The University of South Florida announced it would close all campuses ahead of Tropical Storm Helene, effective Wednesday.
All USF classes will be canceled through Monday. Residence halls will also be closed. Campus operations could resume as early as Saturday, but the university will release an official announcement by Saturday.
The Tampa Bay area is under a storm watch and is preparing for winds of 74 mph or higher. The storm could reach Category 3 Hurricane status by Thursday, with winds around 111 mph, according to forecasters.
– Sophia Bailly
Taylor, Franklin counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast order mandatory evacuations
Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Two more counties along Florida’s Big Bend region have ordered all residents to evacuate ahead of the approaching storm.
Leaders in Taylor County, which includes the communities of Perry and Steinhatchee, told everyone late Tuesday they must leave effective immediately. The county has about 22,000 residents.
The sheriff’s office said in a statement that the approaching storm was predicted to be a “catastrophic and life threatening storm system” that would be “unlike anything we have experienced to date.”
The sheriff put in place a curfew effective from sunset to sunrise. Emergency management officials there urged residents to seek help in shelters in Gainesville.
In nearby Franklin County, the sheriff said the mandatory evacuation order affected people living near Alligator Point, Dog Island, St. George Island or low-lying areas of the county. The county has about 12,500 residents.
– Sophia Bailly
St. Petersburg mayor worries about delayed evacuations
Tuesday, 5:45 p.m.
In St. Petersburg, along Florida's Gulf Coast, the mayor said he is worried that residents may wait too long to evacuate ahead of the approaching storm.
At a news conference late Tuesday, Mayor Ken Welch said the city could see storm surges of up to 8 feet -- bigger than those experienced during Hurricane Idalia, which caused major flooding along Florida's west coast.
"I worry about folks responding when we get an evacuation order, that is what I'm most concerned about," Welch said.
A city fire official said once sustained winds exceed dangerous levels - about 40 mph - rescue trucks are grounded for the safety of emergency workers. Storm victims would need to wait until winds calm down before they could be rescued.
– Sophia Bailly
Wakulla County along Florida’s Gulf Coast orders mandatory evacuation
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
Political leaders in Wakulla County along Florida’s Gulf Coast have ordered all residents to evacuate by 8 a.m. Thursday ahead of what is expected to be a major hurricane. The county with about 34,000 residents is immediately south of Tallahassee.
The sheriff and county commissioners said widespread flooding is expected from a storm surge that could be 12 feet high or more, which they described as “ an historic event and not survivable for those along coastal or lowing areas.”
They also said strong winds were expected to cause building damage and widespread power outages.
No hurricane shelters will be open in Wakulla County. The county government said it was still working with state and local agencies to try to arrange for shelters, but the storm’s impact was expected to affect every county in the region.
– Sophia Bailly
Approaching storm delays Thursday space launch from Florida
Tuesday, 4:45 p.m.
The approaching storm has caused NASA and Space X to delay the launch of one of its upcoming astronaut missions.
The Crew-9 mission was expected to launch Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, ahead of the predicted landfall of what will be Hurricane Helene along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
That launch has now been pushed to no earlier than 1:17 p.m. Saturday, NASA and Space X said Tuesday in a news release.
Although Helene was expected to hit along Florida’s Gulf Coast, they said the storm system is predicted to be large enough that high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast.
The spacecraft rolled out to the launch pad Tuesday for hardware checks and rehearsals. Crews were expected to move the rocket and capsule back into its hangar to protect it ahead of any storm effects from Helene.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida politician says Weather Channel’s Cantore is on his way
Tuesday, 4 p.m.
When Florida expects a hurricane is coming, one of the key questions is, where is Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel? Cantore’s appearance often famously coincides with some of the worst anticipated storm damage.
At a news conference Tuesday, Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, who is from Panama City in Florida’s Panhandle, said he texted Cantore to ask about his travel plans and whether he expected to be in Panama City.
Patronis said Cantore texted back: “Pack up, I’ll see you soon.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Patronis said. He urged people to heed warnings from local emergency management directors and to stay tuned to reporting from news organizations for trusted weather updates.
“The storm is going to be a very fast-moving storm,” he said, comparing Helene’s anticipated path with areas hit by Hurricanes Idalia and Debby. “I definitely have concerns along these coastal areas.”
– Sophia Bailly
UF to remain open Wednesday, could close Thursday
Tuesday, 4 p.m.
The University of Florida says its main campus in Gainesville will remain open Wednesday ahead of the approaching storm.
UF notified students and faculty late Tuesday that administrators were expected to meet on Wednesday to decide whether to close the university for Thursday or Friday. It expected a decision on that by noon.
College football will not be affected in Gainesville, either way. The Gators were in a bye week and won’t play again until their home game Oct. 5 against the University of Central Florida.
– Sophia Bailly
Report: Hurricane Debby caused more than $93 million in losses for agricultural production
Tuesday, 3 p.m.
Florida is estimated to have lost at least $93 million and as much as $264 million in agricultural production to Hurricane Debby, according to a new preliminary study from the University of Florida.
The scope of the economic loss will be more precisely known in the coming months when the final report is published from the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Despite being a Category 1 storm, Hurricane Debby brought excessive rainfall to 2.2 million acres of land and caused extreme flooding after it made landfall on Aug. 5. Hurricane Idalia, which was a Category 3 storm, affected 3.5 million acres of land and caused $267 million in agricultural production loss.
The damaged lands from Hurricane Debby previously produced $3 billion worth of products each year, according to the report.
North-central Florida faced the worst of the storm, although tropical storm winds extended south to Lee County. Other areas, including Suwannee, Manatee and Sarasota counties, faced more than 15 inches of rain between Aug. 2 and Aug. 8.
– Sophia Bailly
Tallahassee offers sandbags for residents in flood-prone neighborhoods
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
The City of Tallahassee says it’s expecting up to 10 inches of rain starting as early as Wednesday morning.
It started offering residents in flood-prone neighborhoods sandbags at three locations early Tuesday: Jack McLean Community Center, Mike Blankenship Skate Park and Northwood parcel.
The city is limiting sandbags to no more than 25 per household, and says residents need to bring shovels to fill bags themselves. The sites will remain open until the storm threat has passed, the city said.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida State cancels classes, closes campus through weekend
Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Florida State University says it will cancel classes and close its campus starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday through the weekend ahead of the approaching storm.
The school in Tallahassee said it expects to resume normal operations early Monday morning.
It said students who live in campus housing can remain there but should plan for possible power outages and expect to be stuck inside most of the day Thursday. Dining halls will be open as long as it’s safe for students, but the schedule may be adjusted for food service, FSU said.
The school urged students to prepare as though dining halls may not open for Thursday.
Florida A&M University has not yet announced whether it will close. The school said earlier Monday it was monitoring the potentially dangerous tropical weather system that could bring severe weather conditions to the Florida Panhandle later this week.
– Sophia Bailly
Alachua County issues local emergency notice, offers sandbags
Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Alachua County says it has issued a local state of emergency for residents due to Tropical Storm Helene, after the county commission approved the order. It said the storm is projected to become a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday, when it’s expected to make landfall that evening.
Alachua County, home to the University of Florida in north-central Florida, has a number of neighborhoods in low-lying areas that suffer extensive flooding during heavy rains.
The county said it is offering to load pre-filled sandbags at Wayside Park for anyone who needs them until 5 p.m. Tuesday and will continue again at 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 p.m. if weather permits.
The county said outside those hours, sand, bags and shovels are available for self service.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida readies National Guard ahead of possible hurricane
Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says he has signed a declaration of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties ahead of what was expected to be Hurricane Helene.
“We expect effects could reach significantly inland,” he said.
The measure allows state officials to make available resources to local governments ahead of any storm impacts. About 3,000 Florida National Guard troops are on standby to assess post-storm damage, and 150,000 flood prevention devices are being deployed across the Gulf Coast ahead of increased rainfall, DeSantis said in a briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Florida State Guard are on standby with 54 amphibious vehicles.
“We prepare for the worst, we hope for the best, but we would rather be prepared and hope it does not intensify,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis warned against residents downplaying potential damage from a major hurricane. He said the area between the Big Bend as far west as Panama City may experience the worst effects.
“We are, of course, on full activation,” DeSantis said.
Counties have started opening sandbag stations.
– Sophia Bailly