Eye wall of Helene moving onshore
The eye wall of Hurricane Helene is moving onshore in Florida’s Big Bend region, the National Weather Service said.
An area of the Big Bend that includes the community of Perry was under an extreme wind warning, which is when an eye wall of a hurricane is approaching.
“Treat these warnings as if they were tornado warnings and get to the interior most portion of your home, putting as many walls between you and the outside, and stay away from windows. Remain sheltered until the eye-wall passes,” the weather service said in a local statement.
For some in Florida, cost a consideration in decision to stay
Connie Russo didn’t decide to stay at her mobile home park in the Tampa-area community of Palm River out of pride or self-confidence. It came down to dollars and cents.
“It’s real challenging, because everyone lives off the check, Social Security,” she said yesterday ahead of Hurricane Helene, which brought high winds and storm surge to the Florida’s Gulf Coast today.
“We just can’t pick up and move. They get paid once a month, and that’s all they’ve got, and then they’re done,” she said. “We can’t afford to get a hotel or somewhere. Most of these people don’t have family members to go to.”
Shelters are open, but Russo said many in the mobile home park don’t drive, some because they are too old or have disabilities.
“We’re not lazy. We’re hunkering down here, and that’s about all we can do,” she said.
Extreme wind warning for Perry, Madison, Monticello
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme wind warning for several Florida cities, including Perry, Madison and Monticello. The area covered by the warning is in the direct path of the hurricane.
The warning for "extremely dangerous hurricane winds" is in effect until midnight ET.
The weather service said to treat the extreme winds "as if a tornado was approaching" and warned residents in those cities to "move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!"
Coast Guard rescues man, dog from water off Sanibel Island
A man and his dog were rescued today when the man's 36-foot sailboat started taking on water, the Coast Guard said on social media.
The Coast Guard's Clearwater air station saved the two about 25 miles off Sanibel Island, Florida.
A photo posted by the Coast Guard Southeast showed a man and a dog, both appearing to be wearing life jackets, floating in the water and a helicopter overhead.
Helene continues to strengthen as it moves toward land
Hurricane Helene is slightly stronger as the eye of the storm makes its way toward Florida's Big Bend region, according to a 9 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center.
Maximum sustained winds are now at 140 mph — 10 mph higher than they were an hour ago.
A storm becomes a Category 5 when maximum wind speeds reach 157 mph.
More than 600,000 customers without power in Florida
More than 600,000 customers in Florida are without power tonight.
At 9 p.m. ET, more than 600,100 customers were in the dark, according to the website PowerOutage.us.
Hurricane Helene is a powerful Category 4 storm that is expected to make landfall later tonight near Florida’s Big Bend.
Biden approves emergency declaration for Alabama
President Joe Biden today approved an emergency declaration for Alabama to assist with hardships brought on by Hurricane Helene.
The declaration authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts, "which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by" the storm "and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures," according to a statement from the White House.
More than 30 counties were named in the declaration.
Hurricane Helene is a Category 4 storm and was expected to make landfall tonight along Florida’s Big Bend region.
More than 1,650 people and 230 pets at shelters in Leon County schools
There were 1,652 evacuees and staff members, as well as 234 pets, taking shelter at schools in the Leon County school district, the district said on social media at around 7:40 p.m., a few hours before Hurricane Helene was expected to make landfall.
Leon County includes Tallahassee.
Palma Sola Causeway is closed
The Palma Sola Causeway is closed, police in Bradenton, Florida, said.
The police department cited "water over road, loose sailboat, and multiple trees down," which could be seen in a video on X.
The causeway connects the Bradenton area to Ana Maria Island. Officials in Manatee County said rescue units would be unable to respond to the island and Longboat Key because of "rising surge on the gulf islands of 3-5 feet."
Residents should call 911 and rescuers will respond when it is safe, officials said.
In Georgia, Helene will be a ‘statewide event,’ governor warns
Hurricane Helene’s anticipated fast speed once it hits land has prompted hurricane and tropical storm warnings for all of Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp warned it “will be a statewide event.”
“For the next several days, keep devices charged with the sound on, be mindful of weather alerts and updates, and follow the links below for up-to-date emergency information,” Kemp said today on X.
The hurricane, currently a Category 4, is forecast to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, but it will move so fast that there is a risk to a large part of the Southeast, the National Hurricane Center said.