Helene volition marque landfall connected Thursday evening on Florida’s Big Bend seashore and is expected to beryllium the worst tempest to ever deed the region. Currently a Category 4 hurricane with 130-mile-per-hour winds, the tempest had already brought dense rainfall and flooding to parts of the authorities arsenic of Thursday morning.
Many residents of the region, adjacent hardened veterans of Florida hurricanes, person chosen to evacuate, leaving immoderate areas deserted.
Streets were flooded successful the Shore Acres vicinity of St. Petersburg, Fla., connected Thursday.
Businesses successful Old Town, Fla., were boarded up.
A tiny coastal community, Dark Island, was surrounded by rising tidewaters.
Forecasters are predicting record-breaking tempest surges, perchance rising 15 to 20 feet supra mean tide levels.
James and Maddie Burmeister boarded up their business.
Floodwaters reached the Twin City mobile location parkland successful St. Petersburg.
A postulation camera showed waves crashing implicit highways adjacent Tampa.
Residents filled sandbags successful Clearwater, Fla., connected Wednesday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunter squad flew done Tropical Storm Helene connected Tuesday.