For the past few days, weather watchers have been tracking the movements (or predicted movements) of a named storm, Hurricane Helene, developing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Earlier on Thursday, weather experts said the storm had been upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane, classifying it as a major weather event that threatens to bring potentially damaging and deadly winds, massive flooding and deaths: the first target on its path the USA: in the state of Florida and further north through Georgia and Appalachia.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) sent an urgent message to constituents via X on Thursday morning:
The post read:
Hurricane Helene will make landfall in Big Bend tonight, but the rest of the state will experience unsafe conditions – even outside the forecast cone. To protect yourself from hazards such as debris, downed power lines and standing water, avoid working in the shadowy tonight. State and local emergency management officials are ready to lend a hand seniors and others who need lend a hand clearing debris after the storm passes.
Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio warned of the frightening storm surge forecasts:
If you can’t see the post it reads:
A storm surge of 15 to 20 feet is forecast for parts of Florida’s Big Bend
Nobody will survive such an enhance
If you find yourself in an evacuation zone, please leave immediately!
But in the last few hours the situation has worsened and the latest news is that Helene is now a Category 4 hurricane.
Like the New York Times Reports In the latest update, even seasoned veterans of previous major hurricanes are panicking:
size and strength: Helene became a Category 4 hurricane just after 6 p.m. Thursday. National Hurricane Center meteorologists predicted the hurricane would make landfall at that strength. In terms of size, Helene is at the upper limit of what hurricanes can reach, they added.
Impact of the Appalachian Mountains: Meteorologists predicted “significant landslides.” through the southern Appalachians through Friday. The Blue Ridge Mountains could see 15 to 20 inches of rain as the hurricane approaches — and some areas could be flooded with up to 30 inches.
More evacuees: Some longtime Florida coastal residents, seasoned hurricane veterans who said they had never evacuated before, were leave the housegiven Helene’s size and strength. But Michael Bobbitt, a novelist who decided to stick around, said worry had given way to tranquil: “There’s a resignation here now.”
Power outages: As of Thursday evening, more than 200,000 customers were already without power in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Widespread damage to the power grid could lead to outages lasting days if not weeks, forecasters warned.
If it makes landfall at the same altitude (which is the current forecast), it will create violent waves and the storm surge will be monstrous. It would be wise to heed the warnings of state and local officials if anyone reading this finds themselves in the path of this storm; To repeat what Rubio wrote: Get out ASAP.
I also ask readers to join me, along with the Republican vice presidential nominee, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), in the wrote This touching – and poignant – message as I pass on the Rubio warning:
Say a prayer for our friends in Florida and Georgia who are preparing for what appears to be a very bad storm. And if you know anyone in the evacuation areas listed below, please tell them to get out immediately (or lend a hand them)!
I believe (but I don’t know for sure) that he wanted to include every state that might dangerously get in his way, including the state of colleague Sister Toldjah (North Carolina).
I say goodbye with this “Instant Classic” clip:
Stay safe and sound, RedStaters!
