Remnants of Hurricane Helene have made their way from Florida to Ohio after the Buckeye State faced a prolonged drought. This storm is predicted to bring damaging winds and heavy rain as we go into the weekend.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a High Wind Warning for all the counties in Northern Kentucky, Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana from noon through 10 p.m. Friday. Tree damage and power outages could happen, per a story by The Enquirer .
The Midwest isn't a common hot spot for hurricanes, getting bits and pieces of them from time to time. Having Helene's remnants come this far inland isn't common, but parts of Ohio have endured a windstorm from a hurricane over a decade ago. Here's a little history lesson.
Windstorms from Hurricane Ike hit Ohio in September 2008
Sixteen years ago, Ohio faced severe damage from Category 2 Hurricane Ike as it made its way from the Texas and the Gulf region.
According to a 2018 story by The Enquirer , Sept. 14, 2008 began as a typical Sunday, until the winds started to pick up. Warm and cold air masses mixed, and the resulting windstorm turned extratropical, producing strong winds as it ripped through cities.
This caused damage in cities such as Cincinnati and Dayton, causing trees and telephone poles to fall over, roofs to fly off houses, and power outages.
Recovery from the mess Hurricane Ike left was slow. People went for days or weeks without electricity.
How strong were Hurricane Ike's winds?
Wind gusts from Ike were as strong as 74 mph, the same as a Category 1 hurricane.
From Hurricane Helene, winds are expected to be from 25 to 35 mph, and gusts of up to 60 mph are possible. Just in case the remnants we receive from Hurricane Helene turn into a severe windstorm, it's important to be aware of how to stay safe.
The NWS says the safest place to be during high winds is indoors.
If you are caught outdoors during high winds, the NWS recommends taking cover next to a building or under a shelter, staying clear of roadways or train tracks, and watching for flying debris.
When driving, drive slowly with both hands on the wheel, watch for objects blowing into your path, and keep a safe distance from other cars as strong gusts could push them out of their lane.
If you're dealing with a downed power line, never try to remove it yourself; call police or the utility company. Stay in your car (unless it's on fire) and don't attempt to leave if a power line falls on top of it.
Navigating insurance claims in case of damage from Helene's remnants
As life without electricity united communities, the process of storm damage repairs presented new challenges: dealing with insurance claims.
From a story by The Enquirer , it is suggested to put in your call as soon as possible for a quick turnaround on claims, but be patient.
The remnants of Hurricane Ike left a trail of destruction in parts of Ohio. The widespread nature of the storm left some insurance companies short-handed after sending adjusters to help with claims. Make the most out of your claims if you need money to get repairs underway and be patient but persistent—it's your home.
Duke Energy preparing for power outages from Hurricane Helene windstorm in Ohio
Duke Energy is preparing for possible power outages as remnants of Hurricane Helene are forecast to hit the Tri-State area.
Jeff Brooks, a Duke Energy spokesperson, said the region could experience heavy rains and tropical storm-force winds. Drought conditions throughout much of the area could also make trees more brittle, increasing the risk of them breaking and falling into powerlines.
While a couple of hundred Duke line and tree workers are heading to the Gulf Coast where the Category 4 hurricane made landfall, the majority of the company’s resources will stay in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to respond to possible outages.
Brooks added that if an outage were to occur, workers wouldn't be able to restore power until winds are under 29 mph. Duke Energy customers can text OUT to the number 57801 to report an outage.
Cheryl Vari and Haadiza Ogwude contributed to reporting
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Helene’s winds hit Ohio, just like Hurricane Ike did in 2008. Here's what happened then
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