“Hurricane Helene Threatens Catastrophic Storm Surge in Florida: What You Need to Know”

Hurricane Helene, a fast-moving Category 2 storm, is barreling towards Florida, with forecasters predicting it will make landfall as a major hurricane on the state’s northwestern coast. The storm is expected to bring catastrophic storm surges, damaging winds, heavy rains, and flash floods across a wide swath of the southeastern U.S.

Governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia have declared emergencies in their states, with mandatory evacuation orders in place for low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service has warned of storm surges of up to 20 feet in Florida’s Apalachee Bay, which could be “catastrophic and unsurvivable.”

Residents in the path of the storm are taking precautions, with many boarding up their homes and businesses. School districts and universities along Florida’s Gulf Coast have canceled classes, and residents are stocking up on supplies and preparing for power outages.

Hurricane Helene is one of the largest storms in breadth to hit the region in years, with forecasters warning of prolonged power outages, toppled trees, and dangerous flooding across the southeastern United States. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland but will still bring strong, damaging winds well inland.

In addition to Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Isaac has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen as it moves eastward. Meanwhile, former Hurricane John has reformed as a tropical storm in the Pacific, threatening areas of Mexico’s western coast with flash flooding and mudslides.

Federal authorities have positioned resources, including generators, food, water, search-and-rescue teams, and power restoration crews, in preparation for the storm. The Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, is predicted to be above average this year due to record-warm ocean temperatures.

As residents in Florida and the southeastern U.S. brace for the impact of Hurricane Helene, officials are urging everyone in the storm’s path to take evacuation orders seriously and prepare for potentially devastating conditions.