Florida bracing for direct hit ahead of potentially devastating Hurricane Helene

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said Florida is preparing for a direct hit from a major hurricane that could intensify quickly before it makes landfall in the Panhandle later this week.

The National Hurricane Center predicted a tropical storm currently in the Gulf of Mexico will become Hurricane Helene as it moves north toward Florida by Thursday. DeSantis said during a news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday that Helene is expected to hit the state as a Category 3 storm or higher, but it could quickly strengthen before it makes landfall.

“We're rocking and rolling, just like we are guaranteed to have a major hurricane,” DeSantis said. “The fact that this would be forecasted as a major storm at this point without formation shows that this has a potential to be a really, really significant storm.”

National Weather Service forecasters determined on Tuesday morning that Helene had intensified to a tropical storm, threatening to bring storm surge and hurricane force winds by Thursday. “The risk of impacts from life threatening storm surge and hurricane force winds continues to increase along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida West Coast,” forecasters wrote in an advisory posted at 11 a.m.

DeSantis said hurricane forecasters believe Helene could be similar to Hurricane Michael, which rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm before it slammed into a stretch of the Panhandle with 160 mph winds in October 2018, leaving Panama City Beach and other coastal communities in shambles.

“It’s got a pretty good runway through the Gulf of Mexico, and the Panhandle and the Big Bend should prepare for a direct impact,” DeSantis said.

Hurricane Helene threatens to hit the state almost two months after Florida’s Big Bend region was battered by another storm. Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee with 80 mph winds that left thousands of people without power, and triggered heavy rains that left rivers flooded for weeks. Helene is predicted to move faster than Debby, bringing high winds that would easily snap tree limbs in heavily wooded communities such as the capital city.

However, Helene’s threat on Tallahassee was not enough for DeSantis to make plans to relocate some state government facilities.

“We’re not getting out of dodge — we’re good,” DeSantis said, later adding that Tallahassee could also see winds up to 120 mph. “Even 100 mph winds could cause a lot of damage.”

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), himself a former governor who had to navigate hurricanes, posted on social media that he spoke to the National Hurricane Center director Mike Brennan on Tuesday. "Expect a major hurricane and widespread impact. Don’t rely on the cone," he wrote. "It could move. Don’t ignore this storm!"

DeSantis signed an emergency declaration on Monday for 41 counties that could be impacted by Helene. He added another 20 counties to the declaration on Tuesday, leaving only the counties in Southeast Florida out of harm’s way. The state Division of Emergency Management has also summoned 18,000 power utility crews and rescue workers to staging areas outside the area of direct impact.

Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida could also see deadly storm surge flooding from Helene, especially if it veers east. DeSantis said residents should listen when county emergency management officials call for evacuations for residents in low lying areas.

“We always say you run from the water and hide from the wind, and we may very will may see county emergency officials issue evacuation orders for low lying areas,” DeSantis said. “Be sure you’re taking the appropriate steps to protect you and your family.”