- Experts warned that the hurricane could cause damage that would mark a milestone in meteorological history in that state. Main photo: EFE
The rains and winds of Hurricane Helene, which rose to category 4 on Thursday, September 26, caused flooding and caused power outages to more than 200,000 homes in various areas of Florida, in the United States. Additionally, it caused damage in Georgia and North Carolina.
The hurricane strengthened in the last few hours and, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC, in English), it is heading towards the west coast of Florida with maximum winds of 215 kilometers per hour.
Helene is expected to make landfall the night of September 26 in northwest Florida in the Big Bend region; However, its effects have already begun to be felt on the Gulf of Mexico coast of this state.
Helene’s Passage through Florida
The American media are beginning to broadcast the first images of the strong winds and high tide in coastal areas of this southern US state, while streets in Tampa Bay are already registering flooding due to the rains, which can reach up to 50 centimeters in certain areas.
Likewise, more than 173 thousand homes and offices on the west coast of Florida were without power this Thursday afternoon after the impacts of the outer bands of the hurricane, according to the specialized website PowerOutages.
For Florida, the storm surge brought by Helene could set a record: according to meteorologists, in some areas the sea level will rise up to 4.5 meters above average, that is, almost two floors of a building, one brand not seen in this state.
Mandatory evacuation
More than 30 counties, of the 67 that make up Florida, have mandatory evacuation orders.
In Taylor County, for those who have not complied, their sheriff made a particular request: “Please write your name, date of birth and important information on your arm or leg with a permanent marker so that you can be identified and their relatives notified.”
The US National Weather Service (NWS) warned that in Apalachee Bay, south of Tallahassee (the state capital), the storm surge will be “insurmountable.”
Schools and offices in Florida were closed since September 26, and at least a thousand flights to or from this state were cancelled, while the Tampa airport and other airfields did not operate this Thursday.
According to local media, in Tallahassee, students from Florida State University y Florida A&M University Those who remained in their bedrooms were evacuated to shelters where they will be until the hurricane passes.
“There is going to be bad weather during the last part of the day here in the state of Florida,” warned the state governor, Ron DeSantis, who has declared a state of emergency, as have his counterparts in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
Statements from the authorities
The governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, pointed out that Helene may not be the strongest category hurricane that has impacted this state, where curfews have been imposed in some southern towns, but he warned of the “potential for damage” carried by its winds and what it can cause throughout the state.
“This is one of the biggest storms we have had,” the governor of this state said during a press conference, where some school districts canceled classes for Friday, September 27.
In western North Carolina, meteorologists warn of unprecedented rainfall in recent times, especially in towns like Asheville, which has already recorded heavy rains in the last two days and is now being joined by those from Helene.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, signed an emergency declaration for Georgia this Thursday, as he did days before in favor of Florida, measures that allow the sending of federal assistance, including emergency personnel and food, water and electric generators.
With information from EFE.
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2024-09-28 06:32:09
