High alert in the United States for Hurricane Helene. The American Hurricane Center (NHC) had warned that the hurricane, classified as “very dangerous”, would hit Florida on Thursday 26 September. And so it was. The Tallahassee region, the state capital with around 200,000 inhabitants, is the area most at risk. In recent days, many people have fled the area for fear of the storm.
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Hurricane Helene caused two deaths on Friday as it passed through the state of Georgia, after killing one person in Florida.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said two people had lost their lives in the central part of the state, urging all residents “to prepare for the coming impacts of Helene, to remain vigilant and to pray for all those affected.” This was his message published on X. Local media reported that the victims, a man and a woman, died when a caravan was hit by a tornado. The news was confirmed by Steve Adams, director of the Wheeler County Emergency Management Agency.
“We haven’t seen a storm of this magnitude in a long time,” said Governor Ron DeSantis, underlining the severity of the situation. With winds reaching 165km/h, the flooding ahead could be “catastrophic”. DeSantis warned residents of the risk of falling trees and urged those who have not yet evacuated to do so as soon as possible.
The greatest risk is linked to marine submersion, with a possible rise in water levels of up to 6 meters in some coastal areas, equivalent to the height of a two-storey building. According to Mike Brennan, director of the NHC, this situation represents an “unsurvivable scenario,” with destructive waves capable of sweeping away homes and displacing vehicles. Inland areas will also be affected by strong winds, and widespread power outages are expected.
Satellite images already show the grandeur of the phenomenon, which on Thursday will continue its path in the Gulf of Mexico, advancing towards north-west Florida.
