US' Florida on high alert as Hurricane Helene approaches

Florida ’s Gulf Coast and the Panhandle in the US are bracing for a Tropical Storm , as Hurricane Helene is likely to form this week, as per the New York Post .

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 41 counties on Monday to facilitate preparations. “We will continue to monitor the storm ’s path and keep Floridians updated. Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” DeSantis said on X.

We are tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone #9, which is likely to strengthen this week as the system enters the Gulf of Mexico. I have issued Executive Order 24-208, declaring a state of emergency in 41 counties in Florida that could see potential impacts from the storm and…

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 23, 2024

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is strengthening as it moves toward the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico , prompting warnings from the National Hurricane Center for millions in the region to prepare for impacts that could begin as early as Wednesday. The system is expected to bring dangerous rip currents, life-threatening storm surges, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall to Florida’s West Coast.

In Leon County, home to the state capital Tallahassee, officials are distributing sandbags to residents in anticipation of torrential rain and potential flooding. The city government is also making additional preparations ahead of the storm.

The Florida Panhandle has a history of devastating hurricanes. In 2018, Hurricane Michael was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, with winds reaching 140 mph, leaving many beach towns still in recovery. Monday marks the 49th anniversary of Hurricane Eloise, a major hurricane that struck the Panhandle in 1975, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to such storms.