September 27th 2024.
The people of Florida and the southeastern United States were on high alert as Hurricane Helene, a fast-moving Category 4 storm, made landfall on Thursday evening. The powerful storm brought with it the potential for catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds, and flash floods that could reach hundreds of miles inland. Forecasters warned of the devastating impact that Helene could have on the region.
As the storm approached, authorities in Georgia reported two fatalities from a possible tornado, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the death of one person who was driving on Interstate 4 when a sign fell onto their car. The storm also knocked out power to over 1 million homes and businesses in Florida and over 50,000 in Georgia, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
States of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Alabama as Helene continued its destructive path. In the Pacific, former Hurricane John re-strengthened into a hurricane as it threatened the western coast of Mexico with flash flooding and mudslides. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to become a hurricane by the end of the week as it moved away from the US.
The devastation caused by Helene was evident as Governor DeSantis announced the death of a driver on Interstate 4 due to a falling sign. He urged people to take caution and stay safe as the storm continued to wreak havoc in the region. The governor also warned that there could be more fatalities as the storm advanced and assured that 3,500 National Guardsmen were on standby to help with the response efforts.
As Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued warnings of catastrophic flooding along the Gulf Coast. The storm reached land with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, causing widespread damage and power outages. The governor urged people to keep those affected by the storm in their thoughts and prayers.
The impact of Helene was felt far beyond the coast, with hurricane and flash flood warnings extending into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. As the night went on, the number of power outages continued to rise, with over 885,000 customers in Florida without power, according to poweroutage.us. The majority of these outages were in the Big Bend area, where Helene made landfall.
Meanwhile, former Hurricane John was downgraded to a tropical storm as it slowly moved along the coast of the Mexican state of Michoacan. However, the US National Hurricane Centre warned that it still posed a threat of severe flash flooding to coastal areas. John had initially hit Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane, causing significant damage and destruction. After weakening inland, it reemerged over the ocean and re-strengthened into a hurricane before being downgraded again on Thursday evening. The hurricane centre predicted that John would continue to weaken as it moved along the coast.
On Thursday evening, the fast-moving Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida's northwestern coast, specifically the Big Bend area, as a powerful Category 4 storm. The forecasters warned of a potential "catastrophic" storm surge, along with damaging winds, heavy rains, and flash floods that could reach hundreds of miles inland across the southeastern United States.
As the storm approached, authorities in Georgia reported two fatalities due to a possible tornado, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that one person had died while driving on Interstate 4 when a sign fell onto their car. The storm caused widespread power outages, affecting over 1 million homes and businesses in Florida and over 50,000 in Georgia, according to poweroutage.us.
The situation was so severe that states of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Alabama. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, former Hurricane John regained its strength on Thursday morning, becoming a hurricane again as it threatened Mexico's western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. However, it was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved along the coast of the Mexican state of Michoacan.
Another tropical storm, Isaac, formed on Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to gain strength as it moves away from the US. Forecasters predict that it may become a hurricane by the end of the week.
Governor DeSantis expressed his concern for the safety of his state's residents, saying that the dangerous conditions posed a significant threat. He also mentioned that there could be more fatalities as the storm progresses and that 3,500 National Guardsmen were on standby to assist with the response efforts.
The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, made landfall near Perry, Florida, in the Big Bend area around 11:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of potential storm surges reaching up to 20 feet, particularly in Florida's Apalachee Bay, which could be "catastrophic and unsurvivable."
The hurricane and flash flood warnings extended beyond the coast, up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. As of 11 p.m. EDT, more than 885,000 customers in Florida were without power, with the majority of outages occurring in the Big Bend area where Helene made landfall.
Meanwhile, former Hurricane John, now a tropical storm, continued to move slowly along the coast of Michoacan, Mexico, causing severe flash flooding. The US National Hurricane Center reported that John had sustained wind speeds of 70 mph and was expected to weaken further on Thursday night and into Friday.
The hurricane initially hit Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Monday as a Category 3 storm, causing damage and destruction in Acapulco. After weakening, it moved inland before reemerging over the ocean and strengthening back into a hurricane on Thursday. The hurricane centre also mentioned that the storm could weaken further in the coming days.
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