by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix
September 24, 2024
A day after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 41 counties, he added 20 more on Tuesday, warning nearly the entire state to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene.
The National Hurricane Center upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine to tropical storm status at 11 a.m. Tuesday, predicting it would develop into as a Category 4 hurricane over the next 12 to 24 hours.
“The models currently range from it developing into a tropical storm all the way to a major hurricane at Category 4. If you look at the National Hurricane Center, they have put out their cone, and they’re actually forecasting it to be a major hurricane by the time it reaches landfall, which is Category 3 or higher,” DeSantis said during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
“And they’ve never, in their history, forecasted a major at this stage of development. And part of it, I think, is because there’s some similarities to the track that was taken on Hurricane Michael.”
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane at Mexico Beach on Oct. 10, 2018, causing nearly $1.48 billion in agricultural damage, including $1.3 billion in wrecked timber. Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation estimated the damage to homes, public buildings, and infrastructure within the state at $6.9 billion.
The earliest storm-force winds arrival time for Helene, according to the NHC, is Wednesday morning for the Keys, Wednesday evening for southwest Florida, and Thursday morning for the northern Gulf Coast.
The agency has issued a storm surge watch for Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Indian Pass south to Flamingo, at the tip of the Florida Peninsula.
The center issued a hurricane watch between Englewood and Indian Pass and Tampa Bay and a tropical storm watch from Flamingo to Walton County, as well as parts of the Keys.
DeSantis warned not to get “wedded to these cones,” referring to graphics depicting predictions of where a storm’s eye might land, saying that damage could happen as far as 200 miles distant. Southwest Florida may and Tampa should expect to feel the effects.
“That’s one of the reasons why we’ve done the 61 counties, because we understand that you could have impacts that are outside of where the current cone,” DeSantis said. “And in fact, we anticipate there to be impacts beyond the current cone.”
DeSantis stressed, along with Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, that Floridians have time to prepare, and urged them to do so.
“Review your hurricane plan and make sure that you are executing your hurricane preparedness plan, you have gas tanks filled, water, non-perishable food that will last you, particularly when you have power outages,” DeSantis said. “Clear up any loose objects in your yard that could become a flying object in strong winds. Know your evacuation zone.”
The governor and Guthrie said some counties may issue evacuation warnings and, if they do, to heed to them.
“But for the state of Florida, you know, we’ve turned on everything, starting yesterday. We’re rocking and rolling just like we are guaranteed to have a major hurricane,” DeSantis said.
Stay up to date
The state of emergency activates government agencies to address power outages, blocked roads, and reduced access to health services. That includes calling up the Florida National Guard as needed.
Counties under a state of emergency are eligible for increased access to services, including prescription refills up to 30 days early, shelters at public facilities, and more.
The Division of Emergency Management will provide updates, including county emergency management information, sandbag use, evacuation information, and more on its website.
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