September 27th 2024.
Hurricane Helene arrived in Florida on Thursday evening, moving at a rapid pace and causing widespread concern among forecasters. With the strength of a Category 4 storm, it posed a serious threat to the Big Bend area of the state's northwestern coast. Its powerful winds, heavy rains, and potential for flash floods had the potential to cause catastrophic damage across the southeastern United States.
As Helene approached, authorities in Georgia reported two fatalities due to a possible tornado and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sadly announced the death of one person who was driving on Interstate 4 when a sign fell onto their car. The storm also caused power outages for over 1 million homes and businesses in Florida and over 50,000 in Georgia, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene was evident as states of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Alabama. The storm's impact was not limited to land, as it also posed a threat to areas in the Pacific. Former Hurricane John regained strength on Thursday morning, causing flash flooding and mudslides in Mexico's western coast. However, it was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved along the Mexican state of Michoacan.
At the same time, Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday and was expected to become a hurricane by the end of the week. It was projected to move east, away from the United States, but still posed a potential threat to other areas.
Governor DeSantis urged residents to take caution and stay safe, as the death toll and property damage continued to rise. He expressed gratitude for the 3,500 National Guardsmen who were ready to assist with the aftermath of the storm.
Meanwhile, Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami warned of "catastrophic" flooding along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Florida's Apalachee Bay. Hurricane and flash flood warnings extended to areas beyond the coast, including northern Georgia and western North Carolina.
As the storm's impact continued, power outages continued to rise in Florida. As of 11 p.m. EDT, over 885,000 customers were without power, with the Big Bend area experiencing the highest number of outages.
In the Pacific, John was no longer a hurricane, having been downgraded to a tropical storm. However, it still posed a threat to coastal areas in Mexico with its strong winds and potential for severe flash flooding. The storm initially made landfall in Acapulco on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane, causing significant damage. After weakening inland, it regained strength and was once again classified as a hurricane on Thursday.
The National Hurricane Centre stated that John was expected to weaken further on Thursday night and into Friday. However, the storm's initial impact was severe, causing destruction and chaos in its path. As the storm continued to move along the coast, residents were advised to take caution and prepare for potential flash flooding and other hazards.
The state of Florida was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, a fast-moving storm that made landfall in the Big Bend area of the northwestern coast on Thursday evening. Forecasters predicted that it would bring catastrophic storm surge, strong winds, heavy rain, and flash floods to not only Florida, but also other southeastern states.
As the storm approached, two people were tragically killed in Georgia, possibly due to a tornado, and one person in Florida lost their life while driving on Interstate 4 when a sign fell onto their car. Over a million homes and businesses in Florida and over 50,000 in Georgia were left without power as the storm moved inland, according to poweroutage.us.
States of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Alabama. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane John regained strength after weakening, posing a threat to Mexico's western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. On the other side of the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Isaac formed and is expected to become a hurricane by the end of the week.
During a news conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared the heartbreaking news of the one confirmed fatality and warned that there may be more as the storm continues. He urged people to stay safe and reminded them to keep those affected by the storm in their thoughts and prayers.
Helene officially made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The National Hurricane Centre warned of potentially catastrophic flooding along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Florida's Apalachee Bay area. Hurricane and flash flood warnings were also issued for areas further inland, including northern Georgia and western North Carolina.
Power outages continued to rise in Florida, with over 885,000 customers left without power as of 11 p.m. EDT. The majority of these were in the Big Bend area where Helene made landfall.
In the meantime, John, which initially hit Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane, was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved slowly along the coast of Michoacan. Despite its weakened state, it still posed a threat with wind speeds of 70 mph and the potential for severe flash flooding. The hurricane centre predicted that it would continue to weaken as it moved further inland.
Overall, the situation was dire and uncertain, with Hurricane Helene causing devastation and loss of life, and Hurricane John and Tropical Storm Isaac still posing a threat. The affected states declared states of emergency, and people were urged to take necessary precautions and support those impacted by the storms.
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