Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly strengthening as it advances across Mexico’s coast towards the US, with the threat of powerful winds, floods and life-threatening storm surge causing thousands of Americans to evacuate Florida.
Just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State, Helene now threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year as it is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late on Thursday.
President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.
Helene is now expected to be upgraded from a tropical storm to a category 3 hurricane later on Wednesday with wind speeds increasing dramatically from 40mph to 65mph in just over 24 hours, the National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday morning.
The storm’s center approached the Yucatán Peninsula on Wednesday morning, lying between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Upper Florida Keys and Florida’s northeast coast, a tropical storm watch presides over parts of the South Carolina coast, and a flood watch has been issued to more than 20 million residents in Florida through the southern Appalachians, the NHC said.
Florida’s Task Force 2 search and rescue team deployed
Miami Fire Rescue’s search and rescue team Task Force 2 has been deployed, as its 80-member team were on standby with equipment and supplies in its warehouse on Wednesday morning.
Task Force 2 which specializes in swift water rescue and disaster response.
Equipped with SUVs, box trucks, tractors and boats loaded with food and medical supplies, the unit will head to Orlando where it will be stationed until the storm passes.
“We are expecting a Category 3 (hurricane) to enter through the Big Bend, not exactly sure where it’s going to enter, but on the west coast and as you see the storm surge is the biggest concern. So we have water specialists who are specially trained for swift water rescues to help the victims,” he told CBS News.
James Liddell25 September 2024 13:58
Tropical Storm Helene ‘close to hurricane strength’ as wind speeds hit 70mph
Tropical Storm Helene is close to being upgraded to a category 1 hurricane with its wind speeds reaching 70mph, National Hurricane Center announced at 7am ET in its latest advisory.
Hurricanes occur when maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Helene is situated just offshore the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, as per the NHC’s update. It continues to move north west at approximately 9mph.
Its tropical storm warning has been extended northward to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.
James Liddell25 September 2024 13:38
Latest satellite imaging shows storm Helene’s path to Florida’s Golf Coast
James Liddell25 September 2024 13:18
Just in: Helene just offshore Yucatan Peninsula’s northeastern coast as winds intensify
James Liddell25 September 2024 12:58
Blood donations requested ahead of Helene making landfall at Florida’s west coast
Blood donation charity OneBlood, that operates across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, has called for more donations in preparation of Tropical Storm Helene’s prospective landfall at the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Big Bend on Thursday.
O Negative, O Positive and platelet donations are particularly in demand, OneBlood said in a press release.
“Hurricanes and tropical systems can disrupt blood collections. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to the storm in order to ensure a ready blood supply during and immediately after the event,” the charity added.
Helene threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year, with winds potentially strengthening to up to 120mph by the time the storm hits the Florida Gulf Coast.
James Liddell25 September 2024 12:53
NASA and SpaceX Florida rocket launch delayed by days due to Helene
James Liddell25 September 2024 12:32
Schools announce closures across 51 of Florida’s 67 counties
The Florida Department of Education has announced that K-12 schools across 51 counties will be closed from either Wednesday, Thursday or both days in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene making landfall.
A further 17 college systems and eight universities have announced closures, as of Wednesday morning.
“The Florida Department of Education works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible,” the departmen wrote on its website.
“We will continue collaborating with district leadership to address questions as they arise. At this time, the Department is monitoring the storm.”
James Liddell25 September 2024 12:16
Evacuation orders issued across 20 Florida counties
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expanded a state of emergency declaration to 61 counties, while the state made evacuation orders effective in 20 counties ahead of Tropical Storm Helene making landfall.
According to the latest update from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, nine counties have been given mandatory orders to evacuate – including Wakulla County, Taylor County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Hillsborough County, Gulf County, Franklin County, Citrus County and Charlotte County.
A further six counties – Baker County, Gadsden County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Suwannee County and Union County – have been issued voluntary orders to evacuate.
Dixie County, Hernando County, Levy County, Pasco County and Sarasota County have been issued information about a prospective evacuation.
James Liddell25 September 2024 11:54
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis places search and rescue crews on standby
James Liddell25 September 2024 11:38
Mapped: Wind speed, storm surge and flash flood threats ahead of Helene making landfall
James Liddell25 September 2024 11:28