Helene Strikes Florida and Georgia as One of the Largest Storms to Impact the U.S. – Reuters

By Rich McKay, Brendan O’Brien, and Andrew Hay

Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region as one of the most formidable storms in U.S. history, leaving officials concerned about potential casualties and widespread destruction as the hurricane advanced inland.

As of now, authorities confirmed at least one death in Florida tied to the hurricane, which made landfall shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Before even arriving, Helene had already caused power outages for over a million customers and led to significant flooding in multiple regions.

With wind gusts reaching up to 140 mph, officials expressed fears that more fatalities might be confirmed as the storm passed through. Helene is expected to generate storm surges that could inundate land with as much as 20 feet of seawater, along with additional rainfall.

Rescue personnel may not be able to assist affected individuals for several hours, according to authorities.

Helene ranks as the 14th most powerful hurricane on record in the U.S. and is the seventh most powerful to strike Florida, based on data from the National Hurricane Center.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported that the lone fatality associated with Helene involved a driver whose vehicle was hit by debris. "When we wake up tomorrow morning, the chances are there will likely have been more fatalities," DeSantis noted.

Officials urged residents in the storm’s path to remain sheltered due to life-threatening conditions. Storm surge predictions for the Big Bend area of the Panhandle hover between 15 and 20 feet.

Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, warned of a "really unsurvivable scenario" for coastal areas, where powerful water flows could demolish buildings and push vehicles inland.

Strong rain bands were impacting parts of Florida’s coastline, with rainfall also battering Georgia, South Carolina, central and western North Carolina, and areas of Tennessee. A tropical storm warning was issued for Atlanta, which is located hundreds of miles north of Florida’s Big Bend.

In Pinellas County, a peninsula bordered by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, roads began flooding before noon. Officials cautioned that the storm’s effects could parallel last year’s Hurricane Idalia, which inundated 1,500 homes in the low-lying coastal region.

Videos from the county’s social media platforms depicted swamped beachside roads, with water levels rising above boat docks.

Air travel was grounded at airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Helene is projected to maintain hurricane status while it moves through the Macon, Georgia area on Friday, with forecasts suggesting it could bring 12 inches of rain or more, potentially devastating crops like cotton and pecans that are currently being harvested.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp noted, "The current forecast for Hurricane Helene suggests this storm will impact every part of our state."

After making landfall in Florida, Helene is expected to progress slowly through the Tennessee Valley over the next couple of days.

Mandatory evacuations were issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Sarasota and Charlotte counties.

In Taylor County, the Sheriff’s Department advised residents opting to stay put to write their names and birth dates on their arms with permanent ink for identification by family members.

In coastal Dunedin, located about 25 miles west of Tampa, state ferry operator Ken Wood planned to ride out the storm with his cat, Andy. "We’re under orders, but I’m going to stay right here at the house," he said.

Tallahassee officials voiced concerns about the hurricane potentially causing unprecedented damage.

Preliminary estimates from reinsurance broker Gallagher Re suggest private insurance losses could range from $3 billion to $6 billion, with additional federal insurance program losses nearing $1 billion.

Energy operations along the U.S. Gulf Coast were scaled back and some production facilities evacuated.

The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, announced plans to visit Florida on Friday to assess the situation.

Helene is predicted to drop up to 15 inches of rain in isolated areas following its landfall in Florida, which could lead to significant flash flooding and urban inundation, the hurricane center stated.