Fast-moving made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida's northwestern coast as a Category 4 storm Thursday evening, as well as damaging winds, rains and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S., forecasters said.
Authorities in Georgia reported two people killed in a possible tornado in south Georgia as the storm approached, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said one person died while driving on Interstate 4 when a sign fell onto their car.
The storm knocked out power to over 1 million homes and businesses in Florida and over 50,000 in Georgia as it approached and came ashore, according to the tracking site .
States of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Alabama.
In the Pacific, strengthened Thursday morning back into a hurricane as it threatened areas of Mexico鈥檚 western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. It was then downgraded to a tropical storm as it crept along the coast of the Mexican state of Michoacan..
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to strengthen as it moves east away from the U.S., possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said.
Follow AP鈥檚 coverage of tropical weather at .
Here's the latest:
1 person dies in Florida while driving on Interstate 4, governor says
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there was a report of one person dying when a sign fell onto their car as they were driving on Interstate 4 in Tampa.
鈥淚t just shows you that it鈥檚 very dangerous conditions out there. You need to be, right now, just hunkering down,鈥� he said at a news conference late Thursday.
DeSantis said more fatalities were possible as the storm advances and that 3,500 National Guardsmen were standing by to help respond.
鈥淲hen Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we鈥檙e going to be waking up to a state where, very likely, there鈥檚 been additional loss of life. And certainly, there鈥檚 going to be loss of property,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have people that are going to lose their homes because of this storm. So please keep those folks in mind, keep them in your prayers.鈥�
Helene makes landfall in northwestern Florida
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warned of 鈥渃atastrophic鈥� flooding along the Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Helene roared ashore around 11:10 p.m. EDT near the Perry, Florida, in the Big Bend area of the state's Gulf Coast. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph).
Officials have forecast of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly 鈥渃atastrophic and unsurvivable鈥� in Florida鈥檚 Apalachee Bay.
Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina.
Power outages continue to rise in Florida
As of 11 p.m. EDT, more than 885,000 customers in Florida were without power, according to tracking site .
The site鈥檚 map showed multiple counties in Florida鈥檚 Big Bend area 鈥� where Helene is expected to make landfall 鈥� where a majority of customers did not have power.
John is no longer a hurricane. The tropical storm is moving slowly along Mexico鈥檚 coast
John was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday evening as the slow-moving storm crept along the coast of the Mexican state of Michoacan, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The former hurricane was sustaining wind speeds of 70 mph (110 kph) and still threatened coastal areas with severe flash flooding, the center said.
John late Monday when it made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Acapulco on the country鈥檚 southern Pacific coast. It blew tin roofs off houses, triggered mudslides and toppled scores of trees. After weakening inland, it reemerged over the ocean, reforming as a tropical storm Wednesday and strengthening back into a hurricane Thursday.
The hurricane center said the storm is expected to weaken Thursday night and into Friday.
2 killed in Georgia in possible tornado as storms from Hurricane Helene hit
Two people have died after a possible tornado struck a mobile home in south Georgia on Thursday night, Wheeler County Sheriff Randy Rigdon told WMAZ-TV.
The damage was reported as heavy thunderstorms from Hurricane Helene raked much of the state. Wheeler County is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Macon.
Tropical Storm Isaac will likely become a hurricane soon, forecasters say
Tropical Storm Isaac in the mid-Atlantic Ocean strengthened Thursday night and was expected to become a hurricane soon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was moving east away from the U.S. at 12 mph (19 kph) and was 910 miles (1,470 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda. Its maximum wind speeds were 65 mph (100 kph).
There were no coastal watches or warnings associated with the storm, but the hurricane center said Bermuda was experiencing swells that could lead to life-threatening rip currents.
Helene鈥檚 turbulent eyewall begins to move ashore
Hurricane Helene鈥檚 eyewall has begun moving ashore in the Big Bend area of Florida鈥檚 northwestern coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The Category 4 storm is expected to produce 鈥渃atastrophic winds鈥� in the area over the next few hours, the center said.
鈥淭his is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,鈥� the hurricane center said. 鈥淧ersons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.鈥�
The center warned when the storm鈥檚 eye comes ashore, conditions will temporarily calm, but the eye鈥檚 other side will quickly arrive and produce hazardous winds again.
As of 10 p.m., the storm was 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Tallahassee, Florida, with sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph).
Power outages rapidly increase along Florida鈥檚 west coast
More than 500,000 homes and businesses had lost power in Florida as of 8:30 p.m., and that number is rising quickly, according to tracking site .
Most outages were along the state's west coast, where Hurricane Helene was approaching. Duke Energy, a major energy provider serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle, and Florida Power & Light Company, the state's largest energy provider, were reporting over 150,000 outages each.
Tornado watch issued for much of Florida and southeastern Georgia
A tornado watch was issued late Thursday for much of Florida and southeastern Georgia, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said.
Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast, including Tampa and the Big Bend area, where Helene is expected to make landfall, were under the watch, as was the state鈥檚 Atlantic coast, including Orlando. The tornado watch will be in effect through early Friday morning.
Florida sees mass power outages ahead of Helene鈥檚 landfall
More than 340,000 homes and businesses were without power in Florida shortly as of 7:30 p.m. local time, according to tracking site .
Among them were 120,000 customers of Duke Energy, a major energy provider serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle. The utility鈥檚 outage map showed most of its affected customers 鈥� some 105,000 鈥� were concentrated in the Tampa area on the state鈥檚 Gulf Coast.
While Tampa is south of where Helene is expected to make landfall, the area was still under a storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning, with forecasters expecting dangerous surges of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) and winds topping 40 mph (64 kph).
___
This entry has been updated to correct the name of a major Florida utility to Duke Energy, not Duke Power.
Rain picks up near the Florida-Georgia border
VALDOSTA, Ga. 鈥� Heavy rains began falling and winds were picking up in Valdosta, Georgia, near the Florida state line shortly before 7 p.m. ET.
The National Weather Service said more than a dozen Georgia counties could see winds exceeding 110 mph, including Lowndes County where Valdosta is located along Interstate 75.
Other inland cities in rural southern Georgia where the hurricane threat was highest included Thomasville, Moultrie and Tifton.
Biden declares state of emergency for Alabama
WASHINGTON 鈥� President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Thursday ahead of Hurricane Helene's landfall in nearby Florida.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has said Hurricane Helene is unusually large and expected to have far-ranging impacts beyond Florida's Big Bend, where the storm is expected to make landfall Thursday evening. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia already declared emergencies in their states.
Florida governor says there's still time for residents to evacuate 鈥� but not much
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 鈥� Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that models have Hurricane Helene making landfall most likely in a rural coastal county of almost 22,000 people in the state鈥檚 Big Bend area.
The fast-moving storm will likely reach Taylor County, Florida late Thursday, DeSantis said at an evening news conference at the state鈥檚 emergency operation center in Tallahassee.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have hurricane force winds for probably 50 miles outside the eye of the storm, and then you鈥檙e going to continue to see surge, particularly in that Big Bend area,鈥� DeSantis said.
About five hours before the expected landfall, the governor said residents of vulnerable areas of northern Florida 鈥渟till have time鈥� to evacuate but that the window was shutting quickly. The governor warned residents they would likely lose power and that intercoastal bridges across the state were being closed to traffic.
North Carolina officials warn of severe flooding from Helene
ASHEVILLE, N.C. 鈥� As night falls in the North Carolina mountains, emergency officials are asking anyone who lives in a place that has ever flooded to find safety at higher ground as Hurricane Helene nears land.
Flooding has already started in some areas after 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 centimeters) of rain fell from a storm unrelated to the hurricane.
Forecasters predict an additional 9 to 14 inches (23 to 36 centimeters) of rain could fall as what remains of Helene moves across the area Thursday night into Friday.
鈥淎 storm like this, we鈥檙e seeing flooding where we have never seen it before,鈥� said Jimmy Brissie, emergency services director for Henderson County south of Asheville.
Already the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers are predicted to reach levels not seen since the benchmark in western North Carolina that killed 80 people and isolated Asheville for weeks.
Emergency officials also fear mudslides as rushing water could pick up dirt and boulders and send them all cascading down mountainsides.
Helene strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane
Helene strengthened into an 鈥渆xtremely dangerous鈥� Category 4 hurricane ahead of its expected landfall on Florida鈥檚 northwest coast Thursday night, forecasters said.
The hurricane was about 120 miles (195 kilometers) west of Tampa and had sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Category 4 hurricanes have sustained winds over 130 mph (209 kph) that can severely damage homes, snap trees and down power lines. Strong winds have already cut power to over 250,000 homes and businesses in Florida, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
Storm surge: Deadlier than a hurricane鈥檚 winds
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 鈥� In 2005, Hurricane Dennis landed near the Alabama-Florida state line as a Category 3 hurricane. Far to the east, Florida鈥檚 Big Bend 鈥� where Hurricane Helene is expected to come ashore 鈥� never even felt tropical storm strength winds, but it was still hit with a mass of water that devasted coastal communities.
That鈥檚 storm surge. It鈥檚 more deadly and destructive than wind and can make a significant impact far from the center of a storm.
While wind can tear off roofs, knock down trees and snap power lines, storm surge can push buildings completely off their foundations, can trap and even drown people in their homes, wash out roads and bridges, toss boats inland and hammer anything in its path.
鈥淭he leading cause of death from hurricanes is water, not wind,鈥� said Craig Fugate, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
And in the case of Hurricane Helene, predicted storm surge as high as 20 feet could be devastating in the coastal areas of the state鈥檚 Big Bend.
鈻� Read more about the destructive power of
Atlanta's usually bustling roads are deserted in anticipation of Helene
ATLANTA 鈥� What is normally evening rush hour for metro Atlanta鈥檚 more than 6 million residents revealed a city that had already gone home to button up for Hurricane Helene.
The city鈥檚 downtown office district was nearly deserted, and normally traffic-choked freeways were all flowing freely.
Most areas of metro Atlanta received 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of rain during the day Thursday, atop heavier rain Wednesday. Forecasters extended hurricane warnings even farther north, pushing them into Atlanta鈥檚 southern exurbs, as officials continued to warn that the area is likely to see significant storm winds.
Vice President Harris urges people in Helene鈥檚 path to heed local orders
WASHINGTON 鈥� Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday urged people in Hurricane Helene's path to heed the orders of local officials.
鈥淲e urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously,鈥� she said during a gun violence prevention event in the East Room of the White House.
Orlando International Airport remains open despite impending storm
ORLANDO 鈥� Florida鈥檚 busiest airport remained open Thursday despite Hurricane Helene being on a path to make landfall in the northern part of the state.
Orlando International Airport had a total of 65 flight cancellations, as of Thursday afternoon. Other Florida airports were closed in Tampa, Clearwater and Tallahassee because of the storm.
Passengers with canceled flights were urged to contact their airlines for information on rebooking, the airport said in a news release.
Orlando International Airport was the seventh busiest airport in the United States, and Florida鈥檚 busiest, with more than 28 million passengers boarded last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Backup batteries, solar microgrid trailers and generators headed to Florida
NEW ORLEANS 鈥� In New Orleans, members of the nonprofit Footprint Project have spent the day preparing solar microgrid trailers, backup batteries and atmospheric water generators for deployment to county emergency departments and relief organizations in Florida in anticipation of widespread and prolonged power outages.
More than 160,000 people in Florida have already lost power according to . The zero-emission equipment is meant to offset the need for gas and diesel-powered generators, which pollute the air and can be costly to fuel. Some of the equipment was being transported from southeast Louisiana where it was used during power outages caused by Hurricane Francine.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clean, it鈥檚 quiet, it鈥檚 safer,鈥� said program director Jamie Swezey. 鈥淥ur goal is to offset use of traditional gas and diesel generators that are always in the field and that exacerbate extreme weather events.鈥�
Overnight curfews imposed in south Georgia
ATLANTA 鈥� Several cities and counties in south Georgia have imposed overnight curfews in advance of Hurricane Helene鈥檚 expected arrival Thursday evening, including Albany, Valdosta and Thomasville 鈥� the largest cities in the region.
Students at 2 Florida universities moved into shelters
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 鈥� Students who remained in the dorms at Florida State University and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee have been moved into shelters for the duration of Hurricane Helene.
At Florida State, university officials assisted students in moving from their dorms to the Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center, which opened Thursday morning. The conference center has been upgraded to withstand extreme conditions, university officials said.
At nearby Florida A&M, students who remained in on-campus housing were also asked to shelter at the Al Lawson Center until the storm passes.
Rural sheriff's office offers dire warning to anyone who didn't evacuate
PERRY, Fla. 鈥� Officials in mostly rural Taylor County, along Florida鈥檚 Big Bend region where Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall, offered a very dire warning on Facebook for anyone who didn鈥檛 evacuate:
鈥淧lease write your name, birthday, and important information on your arm or leg in a PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified.鈥�
The sheriff鈥檚 office further asked residents to email them vital information including the location of their home, and the number of people and animals who live there.
They also asked residents who followed evacuation orders to have patience when it鈥檚 time to return home. They noted that there will likely be many impassable roads, downed trees and power lines.
Taylor County has a population of about 22,000.
Georgia鈥檚 governor: 鈥楾his is one of the biggest storms we鈥檝e ever had鈥�
Georgia officials are urging people to stay home while emergency teams disperse to manage Helene鈥檚 impact as the storm moves swiftly across the state.
鈥淭his is one of the biggest storms we鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters on Thursday. 鈥淚t may not be the strongest category, but from a wind field perspective and the amount of damage it has the potential to do statewide, it鈥檚 better to be safe than sorry.鈥�
Extended power outages across the state are likely tonight and tomorrow, especially in South Georgia, Kemp said. The storm is expected to move through South Georgia from around sunset Thursday to sunrise Friday, and through middle Georgia between 10 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday, and through North Georgia from midnight to noon Friday.
There are currently eight emergency shelters and 30 American Red Cross teams ready to set up shelters if more are needed.鈥淚 can assure you we will respond with every asset that we have available as soon as its safe to do so,鈥� Kemp said.
鈥楾here will be no place for you to go if things get bad鈥�
CEDAR KEY, Fla. 鈥� Lumber and other debris from a fire in Cedar Key a week ago were crashing ashore in the rising water Thursday afternoon, well ahead of Hurricane Helene鈥檚 arrival along the Big Bend region on Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast.
Officials with Cedar Key Fire Rescue posted on Facebook a video of the debris-filled waves. They advised people to stay away from the water鈥檚 edge to avoid being hit by debris that was crashing ashore.
The fire along Dock Street damaged several buildings on Sept. 19, officials said.
On Wednesday afternoon, the agency pleaded with residents to evacuate the island, which is southwest of Gainesville.
鈥淭here will be no place for you to go if things get bad,鈥� the post said. 鈥淲e do not have shelters on the island. There will be no food, no water or sewage and more than likely you will lose power. It could possibly be days before it鈥檚 restored. This is going to be a life-threatening surge. It is nothing to take lightly.
They offered a dire warning: 鈥淚f you choose to stay and things change for the bad, you are putting your first responder鈥檚 life in danger unnecessarily.鈥�
Flooding in North Carolina from Helene could be historic, forecasters say
ASHEVILLE, N.C. 鈥� Forecasters responsible for much of the North Carolina mountains say flooding in the region from Hurricane Helene could be worse than anything seen in the past century.
The National Weather Service in Greer, South Carolina, said 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 centimeters) of rain have already fallen the past two days along a front before Helene-related storms arrive.
They predict an additional 9 to 14 inches (23 to 36 centimeters) of rain could fall as what remains of the hurricane moves across the area Thursday into Friday.
鈥淭his will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era,鈥� forecasters said in a statement Thursday.
They said it could be the worst flooding since when two decaying tropical systems rained themselves out over the region causing widespread floods and mudslides that killed 80 people, wiped out dozens of miles of railroad tracks and brought down boulders that still sit in fields today. Asheville and other mountain towns were cut off for weeks.
Helene also could bring hurricane force wind gusts to the highest peaks in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina and gusts over 60 mph (97 kph) to the rest of the region.
Some intersections in St. Pete Beach are already underwater
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. 鈥� Some intersections in St. Pete Beach along Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast were underwater by Thursday afternoon.
Photos posted by the Pinellas County Sheriff鈥檚 Office showed roads underwater in a commercial district of the beachside city located about 30 miles southwest of Tampa.
鈥淲e are already seeing concerning conditions,鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 office posted.
Hurricane Helene is unusual 鈥� but it鈥檚 not an example of the Fujiwhara Effect
The National Weather Service鈥檚 hurricane center warned Thursday that Hurricane Helene will 鈥減enetrate well inland across the southeastern United States鈥� after making landfall in Florida.
Tropical storm warnings were posted as far north as North Carolina.
The unusual reach as far north and inland as forecasters expect 鈥� and the potential impacts 鈥� is raising questions about the , a rare weather event where two storms rotate around a shared midpoint.
But Hurricane Helene isn鈥檛 interacting with another tropical storm at surface level, so it鈥檚 not technically an example of the Fujiwhara Effect. Instead, Helene is feeling the effects of a low-pressure weather system in the upper levels of the atmosphere.
The potential impact is still severe: The hurricane center has warned of prolonged power outages, downed trees and dangerous flooding miles away from the Florida coastline in parts of Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Helene becomes a major Category 3 hurricane
Helene strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane Thursday as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico on a path to Florida.
The hurricane was about 195 miles (315 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and had sustained winds of at least 111 mph (179 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The huge storm鈥檚 center is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida鈥檚 northwestern coast Thursday evening.
Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states.
Helene became a tropical storm Tuesday in the western Caribbean Sea and became a hurricane Wednesday.
Coastal conditions near Sarasota are beginning to deteriorate, officials say
SARASOTA, Fla. 鈥� Conditions along the coastal areas near Sarasota were beginning to deteriorate early Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The Sarasota County Sheriff鈥檚 Office posted photos on social media showing water lapping over a road at Nora Patterson Park, which is on the northern tip of Siesta Key.
Sarasota is about 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Tampa on Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast.
鈥業t鈥檚 a wakeup call for everybody鈥�
VALDOSTA, Ga. 鈥� Some businesses began closing early Thursday afternoon in Valdosta, Georgia, near the Florida line. The inland city was under a hurricane warning, with forecasters predicting dangerous winds late Thursday as Helene鈥檚 center churns northward through southern Georgia.
Employees of a Walmart in Valdosta were turning away customers in the parking lot before 1:30 p.m. Red and blue pallets stacked high blocked the store鈥檚 entrances.
Margaret Freenman, 67, and her two grandchildren found the store closed when they showed up to buy a few extra snacks before Helene arrives. Freeman said she鈥檇 already stocked up on essentials.
Freeman has lived in Valdosta her entire life and said hurricanes have only seemed like a real threat in recent years.
Hurricane Idalia uprooted a tree that punched a hole in Freeman鈥檚 roof and broke some windows when it tore through Valdosta a year ago. Tropical Storm Debby knocked out electricity for thousands in August.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wakeup call for everybody,鈥� said Freeman, who planned to ride out the latest storm again at home.
Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay closes
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. 鈥� The Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay has closed as wind gusts have reached 60 mph, the Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday afternoon.
Florida sheriff says his community is in for 鈥榓 rough 24 hours鈥�
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. 鈥� The sheriff of a coastal Florida county in the path of Hurricane Helene said Thursday that his community is in for 鈥渁 rough 24 hours and a long recovery.鈥�
Wakulla County Sheriff Jared Miller said the county likely has a long road ahead of it once the storm passes after making an expected landfall Thursday night. The storm could grow to a Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico before landing in the Big Bend area where Wakulla County is located, with a storm surge up to 20 feet (6 km).
鈥淚 have lived here my entire life and have never witnessed some of the storm predictions we are currently seeing,鈥� Miller said in a social media post. 鈥淚 hope that I am mistaken.鈥�
The sheriff urged residents to stay off local roads, including evacuees who may be itching to return to see the conditions of their homes after the storm passes through.
鈥楾his is not a maybe 鈥� this is on track to happen鈥�
ASHEVILLE, N.C. 鈥� Emergency officials in the North Carolina mountains are warning that heavy rains before Hurricane Helene even arrives have set the stage for potentially historic flooding.
The French Broad River and Swannanoa River, which run in and around Asheville and then south, are already predicted to break 100-year-old records Friday into Saturday. The flooding could be worse than in 2004 when water rose to car rooftops in Biltmore Village just outside the gates of the historic Biltmore estate built by George Vanderbilt.
鈥淭his is a potentially historic event with catastrophic, deadly consequences. This is not a maybe. This is on track to happen. So please, please take every precaution to take yourself out of harm鈥檚 way,鈥� Buncombe County Emergency Services Director Taylor Jones said.
Seven inches (18 centimeters) of rain has already fallen in Asheville while some other areas have seen even more. All of the water is flowing downhill out of the mountains.
Mudslides are also a danger as swiftly flowing rivers and runoffs cut their own channels and bring down rocks, trees and other debris, said Andrew Kimball, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greer, South Carolina.
Pre-landfall emergency declarations help states get needed resources ahead of Helene, FEMA head says
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Federal Emergency Management Agency鈥檚 administrator Deanne Criswell said Thursday that the pre-landfall emergency declarations for Hurricane Helene are important to help states have the resources they need to open shelters and get people to safety.
She also noted changes to Small Business Administration policies to make it easier for people including those who work from home to qualify for help.
FEMA deployed more resources ahead of Helene due to increased severity of extreme weather
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Federal Emergency Management Agency鈥檚 administrator Deanne Criswell said the increased severity of extreme weather has led her agency to put more resources in place ahead of landfall by Hurricane Helene.
The FEMA head warned about flash flooding from rain and said it鈥檚 better to have more search and rescue teams ready to help people than to have too few teams.
FEMA head anticipates Helene will be a multi-state event
WASHINGTON 鈥� The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Deanne Criswell said her agency has been preparing for Hurricane Helene for 鈥渁 number of days鈥� and they began moving resources into Florida on Monday.
Speaking at Thursday鈥檚 White House briefing, Criswell said she anticipates the storm will be a multi-state event with impacts from Florida to Tennessee. She added that there are 1,100 people distributed across the federal government to address any damage from Helene and that an additional 700 personnel are ready to provide support after the storm hits.
She added that people in the hurricane鈥檚 path should listen to local government officials about whether to evacuate or shelter in place.
Criswell said she will travel to the region on Friday at President Joe Biden鈥檚 direction to assess the situation.
North Carolina鈥檚 governor warns residents to prepare for heavy rain and flooding
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned residents in western and central counties to prepare for heavy rain and 鈥減otentially catastrophic flooding鈥� Thursday night and Friday from Hurricane Helene.
Speaking at a Thursday morning briefing, Cooper said the mountains also likely will see landslides, river flooding and debris flows. And cities not necessarily in Helene鈥檚 direct path, like Charlotte and Asheville, could see flash flooding, he said.
鈥淭he impacts of Helene should not be ignored and all North Carolinians should remain informed,鈥� said state emergency management director Will Ray. Areas of western North Carolina could receive from 9 to 14 inches (23 to 36 centimeters) of rain, with amounts reaching 20 inches (51 centimeters) possible, Ray said.
Cooper said some shelters were already open and 175 National Guard service members were activated to help in the storm response.
Additionally, he said people in the mountains and foothills who don鈥檛 have to travel shouldn鈥檛, the governor said.
鈥淚鈥檓 concerned about our mountain areas, seeing the amount of rain that鈥檚 already on the ground and this storm coming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen firsthand the devastation that it can cause.鈥�
Death toll from Hurricane John rises to 5
Mexico President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador raised the death toll from Hurricane John to five Thursday as the communities along the country鈥檚 Pacific coast prepared for the storm to make a second landfall.
State parks and 9 shelters open to evacuees in Georgia
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said nine shelters were opening for Hurricane Helene, mostly in the southern parts of the state. The state has also opened its state parks to evacuees, saying it鈥檚 welcoming people and pets, including horses.
Parks officials say they are currently housing 15 evacuees.
Biden declares an emergency in North Carolina
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina on Thursday, according to the White House. The approval follows one issued for Georgia earlier in the day and one issued for Florida earlier in the week.
Federal Emergency Management Agency teams were already deployed to Florida and Alabama to support local first responders. Federal authorities have positioned generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams.
鈥楾his has been my livelihood鈥�
ST. MARKS, Fla. 鈥� As Hurricane Helene barreled toward Florida鈥檚 Big Bend, Philip Tooke sat in a rocking chair on the back deck of his fish house overlooking the St. Marks River, watching and waiting.
A commercial fisherman who took over the business his father founded in the town of St. Marks, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Apalachee Bay, Tooke plans to ride out this storm like he did Hurricane Michael and others 鈥� on his boat.
鈥淭his has been my livelihood. This is what pays my bills,鈥� Tooke said of his boats. 鈥淚f I lose that, I don鈥檛 have anything.鈥�
Tooke said he鈥檒l wait until the water is about knee-deep and then he, his brother Richard and some of their employees will hunker down on the La Victoria, the Jenny Lee and the Susan D, loosening the lines that fasten the boats to the dock as the water rises, in the hopes they won鈥檛 be battered apart.
St. Marks sits at the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers and is known to flood during storm events. On Thursday morning, water was already beginning to cover Riverside Drive, which runs through downtown.
Filling sandbags in Clyattville, Georgia
VALDOSTA, Ga. 鈥� Rain drizzled Thursday morning outside a fire station where residents filled sandbags in the unincorporated Clyattville community outside Valdosta near the Georgia-Florida line. Helene was forecast to pass nearby as a hurricane Thursday night.
Jose Gonzales and his 14-year-old son, Jadin, shoveled sand into bags and piled them into the back of a pickup truck. Though their home is inland, Gonzales said heavy rains during Hurricane Idalia a year ago got blown under his doors and cracked a window. Some of the carpet inside got so wet he had to replace it.
For Helene, he planned to fortify his doors in hopes of preventing it from happening again.
鈥淚f it blows sideways, we might get more water inside the house,鈥� Gonzales said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just mother nature.鈥�
Biden approves emergency declaration in Georgia
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Georgia on Thursday morning after issuing one for Florida earlier in the week.
Federal authorities have positioned generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams. And Florida officials have sent more than 130 generators to gas stations to ensure that people will be able to fill their cars after the storm, and extra fuel has been shipped into Florida, DeSantis said.
John again pelts the coast of Mexico with rain
MEXICO CITY 鈥� As John became a hurricane for the second time, rain continued to pelt the Pacific coast state of Guerrero in Mexico where the storm caused three deaths in its first landfall earlier this week.
Authorities in Guerrero reported flooding in some low-lying neighborhoods in Acapulco. Soldiers and National Guard officers were posted outside stores in Acapulco to prevent the kind of widespread looting that broke out in the resort after Hurricane Otis hit last October.
鈥楾his old house was built in 1903 鈥� I think it鈥檒l hold up鈥�
VALDOSTA, Ga. 鈥� Joe Overby, 67, and his family were preparing Thursday to ride out the hurricane at their home in the unincorporated Clyattville community outside Valdosta, Georgia, where Hurricane Idalia a year ago toppled trees and damaged about 1,000 homes.
Overby boarded up the open front of a large storage building next to his house. He had a generator to power his refrigerator and freezer and planned to move cars to his neighbor鈥檚 yard across the street where there were no trees.
He said Idalia last year bent some sturdy oaks in his backyard, exposing the roots.
鈥淚鈥檓 afraid this time they鈥檙e going to come down,鈥� Overby said, adding that he planned to hunker down at home overnight with his wife, two children and four dogs.
鈥淭his old house was built in 1903,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檒l hold up. You can鈥檛 even pull the nails out, the wood is so hard.鈥�
Florida officials warn residents of hazards they may face even after Helene hits
State officials warned Florida residents of the potential risks they face even after Hurricane Helene rips through the northern part of the state, which was expected Thursday night.
Driving on roadways and tree branches falling on homes were the two biggest hazards during storms, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference in Tallahassee.
Drivers should stay off roads because of potential flooding and people should stay in the interior parts of their homes if they hear tree limbs snapping, which sounds like fireworks or a gun being fired, officials said.
鈥淚t will likely be dark by the time this storm passes,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淒o not try to do any work in the dark. You don鈥檛 know what hazards are out there. The sun is going to come out. You鈥檙e going to have time to take stock of this.鈥�
State emergency officials have sent more than 130 generators to gas stations to ensure that people will be able to fill their cars after the storm, and extra fuel has been shipped into Florida, DeSantis said.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 seen fuel shortages, only some lines,鈥� the governor said. 鈥淪o we feel good about the fuel situation.鈥�
Associated Press journalists are stationed across Florida and Georgia to report on Helene
Associated Press journalists are stationed across parts of Florida and Georgia to report on Hurricane Helene and the storm鈥檚 aftermath.
Photographer Gerald Herbert and videographer Stephen Smith are in Crawfordville, Florida, which is south of Tallahassee in what鈥檚 known as the Big Bend region. Reporters Brendan Farrington and Kate Payne are reporting from Tallahassee, the state鈥檚 capital.
The AP also has photographer Mike Stewart, video journalist Sharon Johnson and reporter Russ Bynum reporting from Valdosta, Georgia, which is about 72 miles northeast of Tallahassee, just across the state line.
Helene knocked out power and forced evacuations in western Cuba
Helene knocked out power in western Cuba as it brushed past the island, affecting some 160,000 customers in the province of Artemisa and another 70,000 in the neighboring province of Pinar del R铆o.
The hurricane also forced some 800 people in the region to evacuate flood-prone zones, according to Guerrillero, a local newspaper.
Pictures posted on social media showed overflowing rivers that turned some streets into creeks as people traveled by boat with their personal belongings.
On the Isle of Youth, some 25 hectares (62 acres) of tobacco seedbeds of export quality were damaged, said Ra煤l Fern谩ndez, director of a local company, adding that an anticipated planting schedule for October could be delayed. In addition, some 3,000 customers, about 12% of the municipality, were without power.
The Cuban government was still assessing overall damage on Thursday.
Airports across multiple states see flight delays and cancellations
Airports in the Florida cities of Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater were closed Thursday, while more than half the flights to airports in Sarasota and Fort Myers were canceled Thursday morning, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
More than a hundred flights in and out of the world鈥檚 busiest airport in Atlanta had also been canceled while more than 100 others were delayed, but that鈥檚 a relatively small fraction of flights there. Airports in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Florida cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando were seeing a smaller number of delays and cancellations
Chances for a direct hit on Tallahassee have slightly lessened, DeSantis says
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 鈥� A shift in models nudging Hurricane Helene鈥檚 projected landfall further east lessens the chances for a direct hit on Florida鈥檚 capital city if that trajectory holds, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday morning.
The shift placed the storm closer to the sparsely-populated Big Bend area where two hurricanes in the past year made landfall 鈥� Idalia in August 2023 and Debby last August. The Tallahassee metro area has a population of almost 393,000 residents.
Helene was expected to make landfall Thursday night, possibly as a Category 4 storm.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 significant when you are talking about Tallahassee because yesterday we were talking about an eye wall that鈥檚 on the western part of the city,鈥� DeSantis said at a news conference from the state鈥檚 emergency operations center in Tallahassee.
The Tallahassee area hadn鈥檛 seen a major hurricane of Helene鈥檚 expected magnitude at landfall in recent memory, the governor said.
鈥淭he more the track shifts east, the better off for Tallahassee,鈥� DeSantis said.
Florida鈥檚 emergency operations building will be tested when Helene hits the state
Even the building where Florida鈥檚 emergency response to Hurricane Helene is organized will be put to the test when the fast-moving storm plows through Tallahassee late Thursday, possibly as a Category 4 hurricane, state officials said.
The building that houses the state鈥檚 emergency operations center in Tallahassee has walls that were built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. But during construction in the 1990s, there wasn鈥檛 enough money to ensure the roof could withstand a hurricane that strong, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Backup plans were in place should there be any problems with the building.
鈥淚t should be fine, but we鈥檒l see,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e taken precautions just in case something happens to be able to continue the continuity without any major interruption.鈥�
John strengthens into a hurricane again near southwestern Mexico
MEXICO CITY 鈥� restrengthened into a hurricane on Thursday morning as it threatened areas of Mexico鈥檚 western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. Officials posted hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico.
John hit the country鈥檚 southern Pacific coast late Monday, killing at least two people, triggering mudslides, and damaging homes and trees. It in a matter of hours and made landfall east of Acapulco. It reemerged over the ocean after weakening inland.
Rain is falling and the roads are empty near where Helene is expected to make landfall
PANACEA, Fla. 鈥� Rain was beginning to blow in the predawn darkness Thursday along coastal U.S. Highway 98, which winds through countless fishing villages and vacation hideaways along Florida鈥檚 Big Bend.
Shuttered gas stations dotted the two-lane highway, their windows boarded up with plywood to protect against the storm. The road was largely empty at first light, with what drivers there mostly heading northeast, towards higher ground.
This stretch of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast has been largely spared by the widespread condo development and commercialization that dominates so many of Florida鈥檚 beach communities. The sparsely populated region is loved for its natural wonders 鈥� the vast stretches of salt marshes, tidal pools and barrier islands; the dwarf cypress trees of Tate鈥檚 Hell State Forest; and Wakulla Springs, considered one of the world鈥檚 largest and deepest freshwater springs.
Helene upgraded to Category 2 hurricane as it barrels toward Florida
MIAMI 鈥� Helene was upgraded Thursday morning to a Category 2 storm and 鈥� meaning a Category 3 or higher 鈥� when it makes landfall on Florida鈥檚 northwestern coast Thursday evening.
As of early Thursday, hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states.
Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen, forecasters say
MIAMI 鈥� Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said.
Isaac was about 690 miles (1,115 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda with top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was moving east at about 12 mph (19 kph).
Isaac is the ninth named storm in what is predicted to be a , which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 in the Atlantic. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts between 17 and 25 named storms, with as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The Associated Press
