‘All hands on deck’: Hillsborough officials give update on Hurricane Helene aftermath

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County officials are discussing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

In the press conference Friday morning, officials said they had five vehicles sink and six structure fires over an 8-hour period.

Hillsborough County had more than 500 victim rescues within eight hours.

“This is the worst storm I’ve seen in 33 years,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.

“While the storm has passed, the danger has not,” the Hillsborough County Fire Chief said.

Crews are continuing their rescue efforts throughout the day as residents deal with the aftermath of the storm.

“Stay safe at home the rest of the weekend,” the Fire Chief added.

Hillsborough County Administrator, Bonnie Wise, said to stay put and off the roadways until the all-clear is given to residents.

More than 1,600 residents took advantage of local shelters during the storm.

County offices and facilities will remain closed on Friday. Trash and yard waste service will resume on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Clean-up after the storm can be the most dangerous, as heat exhaustion, dehydration, and misuse of tools like chainsaws and ladders can cause fatalities.

More than 56,000 TECO customers are still dealing with power outages out of the initial 100,000 since the storm began.

If residents have standing water in their homes, officials urge them to turn off their power breakers. Those picking up debris are asked to wait for crews to deal with power lines.

“We have all hands on deck,” a TECO representative said.

For the latest updates on road closures, visit HCFL.gov/HCroadclosures .

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