At least 320,000 households have been left without power in Florida due to Hurricane Helene, which has intensified to a Category 4 storm. The storm is also affecting neighboring states, with over 12,500 homes without power in Georgia and 15,500 in North Carolina. South Carolina has reported more than 2,200 households experiencing intermittent blackouts.
Hurricane Helene, expected to reach Florida's coast on Thursday, is projected to bring strong winds and heavy rains across much of the southeastern United States. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for nearly all Florida counties and has mobilized the National Guard in preparation for potential search and rescue operations.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in ten Florida counties, with health facilities evacuating patients. Residents are urged to stock up on essentials and prepare for power outages as the storm approaches, with predictions of storm surges of up to 15 feet in some areas.
The storm, which formed in the Caribbean, is anticipated to rapidly intensify over warm waters, leading to concerns about severe flooding and wind damage. As Helene approaches, federal and state emergency teams are mobilizing to assist affected communities.
