Florida authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for various parts of the state to safeguard residents from the imminent threats posed by Hurricane Helene. The storm brings with it powerful winds, flooding, and storm surges.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Helene “will grow significantly larger and more powerful before making landfall,” with predictions that it will intensify into a major hurricane before reaching Florida.
As favorable conditions in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday support its strengthening, Helene has placed several regions, including parts of Cuba and Mexico, on high alert. Thousands of Florida residents will need to evacuate to safer areas as the tropical storm Helene rapidly intensifies.
Evacuation Areas
The mandatory evacuation zones include:
Citrus County: Mandatory evacuation in certain coastal regions. Located on Florida’s west coast, north of the Tampa Bay area.
Hillsborough County: Mandatory evacuation in specific coastal areas. This includes the city of Tampa in central-west Florida.
Charlotte County: Mandatory evacuation in some coastal regions. Situated on the southwest coast of Florida, north of Fort Myers.
Gulf County: Mandatory evacuation in certain coastal regions. Located in Florida’s Panhandle on the northwest coast.
Manatee County: Mandatory evacuation in some coastal areas. Just south of Tampa Bay on Florida’s west coast.
Pinellas County: Mandatory evacuation in certain coastal regions. Includes the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, located on Florida’s west coast.
Taylor County: Mandatory evacuation throughout the county, with a curfew in effect. Located southeast of Tallahassee in the Big Bend region.
Franklin County: Mandatory evacuation for the entire county. Positioned on the Panhandle coast, south of Tallahassee in the Big Bend area.
Wakulla County: Mandatory evacuation for the entire county. Located just south of Tallahassee in the Big Bend region.
St. Petersburg, Florida: Mandatory evacuation for all coastal residential health centers. A major city in Pinellas County on Florida’s west coast.
These regions, located along the Gulf of Mexico, are particularly vulnerable to Hurricane Helene’s impacts.
Urgent Preparations Needed
Residents in other coastal areas of the Big Bend region and southeast Florida are also advised to keep a close watch on evacuation orders.
Hurricane Helene has intensified rapidly over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to reach Category 4 status before making landfall on Florida’s northern coast on Thursday night.
Conditions will deteriorate swiftly as Helene approaches the coast, making it crucial for evacuations and preparations to be completed by the end of the day.
Tropical storm Helene formed in the northwest Caribbean Sea on September 24, with forecasts predicting its quick escalation into a hurricane.