Here's a map of where to pick up sandbags across north central Florida:
National Hurricane Center updates estimates of storm surge as high as 18 feet
Wednesday, 3 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday afternoon that the storm surge expected to sweep through Florida’s Big Bend region may be as high as 18 feet. That is significantly higher than earlier predictions for the storm surge associated with Hurricane Helene.
The area potentially affected by the highest storm surge prediction runs from Carrabelle in Franklin County in the Panhandle along the Gulf Coast down to Chassahowitzka in Citrus County, north of Tampa. The new storm surge figures were announced at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
At a news briefing earlier Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis reminded storm victims that winds can be damaging, but he said, “You’ve got to run from the water.”
– Kiley Vaughan
In Wakulla County, all residents ordered to evacuate but some inmates are left behind
Wednesday, 2:45 p.m.
Residents in Wakulla County in Florida’s Big Bend region are under mandatory orders to evacuate by 8 a.m. Thursday, but some inmates are being left behind.
The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said it has no plans to evacuate the jail. It has capacity for 350 inmates. A spokesperson said the jail isn’t full but couldn’t say exactly how many inmates were there Wednesday.
There are two state prison facilities in the county, the Wakulla Correctional Institution and its satellite, the Wakulla Correctional Institution Annex. Those prisons weren’t evacuated Wednesday. They can hold more than 2,500 prisons combined.
The Florida Department of Corrections has already announced it had completed the evacuations of about 2,500 other inmates from 25 other prisons across 14 counties. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Wakulla County prisons would be evacuated later, ahead of the hurricane making landfall.
– Valentina Sandoval
Tampa airport to close early Thursday ahead of hurricane landfall
Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Tampa International Airport says it is suspending all commercial flights and cargo operations starting at 2 a.m. Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Helene.
The airport, one of the largest in Florida, plans to reopen Friday but will remain closed until any potential damage can be assessed. Three other smaller airports in the area also will close at 2 a.m. Thursday. They include the Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City airports.
Further north, the Gainesville Regional Airport in Alachua County remained open Wednesday and said it was monitoring the storm. Officials there urged passengers to check with their carriers for delays or cancellations.
Tallahassee International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport and Orlando International Airport all remained open Wednesday.
– Kiley Vaughan
UF, Santa Fe College cancel classes for Thursday, close down campuses
Wednesday, 11:45 a.m.
The University of Florida and nearby Santa Fe College have announced they are canceling classes for Thursday and shutting down their campuses. UF said its main campus in Gainesville would close starting at 12:01 am Thursday due to Hurricane Helene.
UF said all academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time. The school said students who live in residence halls on campus should plan to shelter in place within their residence hall. The campus dining halls will continue to serve food during the storm.
UF said its campus will reopen and classes resume Friday at 7 a.m.
Santa Fe College said its campus will remain closed Thursday and Friday to support the safety and well-being of students and employees.
Unlike UF, the Santa Fe campus will remain closed to assess damage after the hurricane has passed, they said.
“The college is announcing this closure to provide students and employees with the opportunity to prepare before the storm and to assess any potential damage once it has passed,” the school said in a statement.
– Kairi Lowery
Helene becomes a hurricane, officially
Wednesday, 11:15 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm Helene officially became a hurricane with sustained winds of about 80 mph around 11 a.m. Wednesday, while the storm was still in the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters said it was expected to bring what they described as a “life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains” to large parts of Florida and the southeastern United States.
– Kairi Lowery
More Florida counties update evacuation orders: Here is a list
Wednesday, 11 a.m.
More Florida counties are ordering their residents to evacuate.
Counties that have issued emergency mandatory evacuations for all their residents include Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties in the Big Bend region. Those counties include more than 72,000 people.
Other counties have issued area-specific mandatory evacuations, according to Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
Charlotte County north of Fort Myers has issued mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, low-lying and flood prone areas, and for people living in manufactured homes or homes that don’t meet 1995 building codes.
Citrus County, north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for licensed skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities located in Zone A.
Gulf County in the Panhandle has issued mandatory evacuations for all non-residents and recreational vehicles in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas and Simmons Bayou.
Hillsborough and Manatee counties, which includes Tampa and areas south of the city, have issued mandatory evacuations for all mobile homes and manufactured housing in evacuation Zone A.
Pasco County, just north of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for anyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or recreational vehicle.
Pinellas County, located on the coast of Tampa, has issued mandatory evacuations for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Zone A.
Counties that have issued voluntary evacuations for residents include: Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Suwannee and Union counties
– Kairi Lowery
Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers hurricane updates in Tampa press conference
Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a press conference in Tampa Wednesday morning alongside Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie, warning Floridians of the potentially catastrophic effects Tropical Storm Helene could have as it intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico.
The governor said 61 counties across Florida are under state of emergency, while 64 are under some type of watch or warning alert. Southern Florida has already started to experience Helene’s outerbands as it moves past Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula.
State officials are preparing for anywhere between a category 1 and category 4 storm with a projected storm path of the North Florida panhandle or the Big Bend region.
DeSantis encouraged residents to read up on their evacuation zones, sign up for government alerts and finalize their plans. He also prompted evacuees to gather important personal belongings and pets before leaving, stating that at least one shelter in every county is pet-friendly.
Helene has the power to bring life-threatening storm surges, flooding, high winds and tornadoes, Guthrie said. Residents will feel the effects as far as 250 miles from the center of the storm, which is expected to make landfall Thursday evening.
– Ella Thompson
Manatee County says it needs dog lovers to help shelter dogs during storm
Wednesday, 8:15 a.m.
In Manatee County, north of Sarasota, emergency officials are asking for help from anyone willing to provide a short-term foster home for any of their dogs from the animal shelter during the storm.
The county says it wants to move as many of its shelter dogs into safe homes through the weekend, depending on the weather. It said it will provide all the food and supplies needed by foster families.
It is coordinating fosters from its Palmetto shelter from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
– Kairi Lowery
Florida says prescriptions can be refilled early ahead of storm
Wednesday, 7:55 a.m.
Florida emergency management officials are reminding patients who need prescriptions that they can get them refilled in advance of the approaching storm regardless of typical limits.
The new rule kicked in under an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this week designating a state of emergency.
It affects anyone who needs medication and lives in a county where there is a hurricane warning, where the governor has announced a state of emergency and where the county has activated its emergency operations center.
– Kairi Lowery
Florida offers help line for evacuees ahead of storm
Wednesday, 7:45 a.m.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management says anyone who needs help evacuating the Big Bend region ahead of the approaching storm can call for help.
The number is 1-800-729-3413.
State officials said coordinators there will today be contacting anyone who calls for help needing transportation out of Big Bend to shelters in safer areas.
Taylor and Wakulla counties have already announced mandatory evacuations for everyone in those counties, more than 56,000 people. Nearby Franklin County has ordered the evacuations of the outer barrier islands and low-lying areas further inland.
– Kairi Lowery
USF cancels classes, closes campus
Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.
The University of South Florida announced it would close all campuses ahead of Tropical Storm Helene, effective Wednesday.
All USF classes will be canceled through Monday. Residence halls will also be closed. Campus operations could resume as early as Saturday, but the university will release an official announcement by Saturday.
The Tampa Bay area is under a storm watch and is preparing for winds of 74 mph or higher. The storm could reach Category 3 Hurricane status by Thursday, with winds around 111 mph, according to forecasters.
– Sophia Bailly
Taylor, Franklin counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast order mandatory evacuations
Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Two more counties along Florida’s Big Bend region have ordered all residents to evacuate ahead of the approaching storm.
Leaders in Taylor County, which includes the communities of Perry and Steinhatchee, told everyone late Tuesday they must leave effective immediately. The county has about 22,000 residents.
The sheriff’s office said in a statement that the approaching storm was predicted to be a “catastrophic and life threatening storm system” that would be “unlike anything we have experienced to date.”
The sheriff put in place a curfew effective from sunset to sunrise. Emergency management officials there urged residents to seek help in shelters in Gainesville.
In nearby Franklin County, the sheriff said the mandatory evacuation order affected people living near Alligator Point, Dog Island, St. George Island or low-lying areas of the county. The county has about 12,500 residents.
– Sophia Bailly
St. Petersburg mayor worries about delayed evacuations
Tuesday, 5:45 p.m.
In St. Petersburg, along Florida's Gulf Coast, the mayor said he is worried that residents may wait too long to evacuate ahead of the approaching storm.
At a news conference late Tuesday, Mayor Ken Welch said the city could see storm surges of up to 8 feet -- bigger than those experienced during Hurricane Idalia, which caused major flooding along Florida's west coast.
"I worry about folks responding when we get an evacuation order, that is what I'm most concerned about," Welch said.
A city fire official said once sustained winds exceed dangerous levels - about 40 mph - rescue trucks are grounded for the safety of emergency workers. Storm victims would need to wait until winds calm down before they could be rescued.
– Sophia Bailly
Wakulla County along Florida’s Gulf Coast orders mandatory evacuation
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
Political leaders in Wakulla County along Florida’s Gulf Coast have ordered all residents to evacuate by 8 a.m. Thursday ahead of what is expected to be a major hurricane. The county with about 34,000 residents is immediately south of Tallahassee.
The sheriff and county commissioners said widespread flooding is expected from a storm surge that could be 12 feet high or more, which they described as “ an historic event and not survivable for those along coastal or lowing areas.”
They also said strong winds were expected to cause building damage and widespread power outages.
No hurricane shelters will be open in Wakulla County. The county government said it was still working with state and local agencies to try to arrange for shelters, but the storm’s impact was expected to affect every county in the region.
– Sophia Bailly
Approaching storm delays Thursday space launch from Florida
Tuesday, 4:45 p.m.
The approaching storm has caused NASA and Space X to delay the launch of one of its upcoming astronaut missions.
The Crew-9 mission was expected to launch Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, ahead of the predicted landfall of what will be Hurricane Helene along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
That launch has now been pushed to no earlier than 1:17 p.m. Saturday, NASA and Space X said Tuesday in a news release.
Although Helene was expected to hit along Florida’s Gulf Coast, they said the storm system is predicted to be large enough that high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast.
The spacecraft rolled out to the launch pad Tuesday for hardware checks and rehearsals. Crews were expected to move the rocket and capsule back into its hangar to protect it ahead of any storm effects from Helene.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida politician says Weather Channel’s Cantore is on his way
Tuesday, 4 p.m.
When Florida expects a hurricane is coming, one of the key questions is, where is Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel? Cantore’s appearance often famously coincides with some of the worst anticipated storm damage.
At a news conference Tuesday, Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, who is from Panama City in Florida’s Panhandle, said he texted Cantore to ask about his travel plans and whether he expected to be in Panama City.
Patronis said Cantore texted back: “Pack up, I’ll see you soon.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Patronis said. He urged people to heed warnings from local emergency management directors and to stay tuned to reporting from news organizations for trusted weather updates.
“The storm is going to be a very fast-moving storm,” he said, comparing Helene’s anticipated path with areas hit by Hurricanes Idalia and Debby. “I definitely have concerns along these coastal areas.”
– Sophia Bailly
UF to remain open Wednesday, could close Thursday
Tuesday, 4 p.m.
The University of Florida says its main campus in Gainesville will remain open Wednesday ahead of the approaching storm.
UF notified students and faculty late Tuesday that administrators were expected to meet on Wednesday to decide whether to close the university for Thursday or Friday. It expected a decision on that by noon.
College football will not be affected in Gainesville, either way. The Gators were in a bye week and won’t play again until their home game Oct. 5 against the University of Central Florida.
– Sophia Bailly
Report: Hurricane Debby caused more than $93 million in losses for agricultural production
Tuesday, 3 p.m.
Florida is estimated to have lost at least $93 million and as much as $264 million in agricultural production to Hurricane Debby, according to a new preliminary study from the University of Florida.
The scope of the economic loss will be more precisely known in the coming months when the final report is published from the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Despite being a Category 1 storm, Hurricane Debby brought excessive rainfall to 2.2 million acres of land and caused extreme flooding after it made landfall on Aug. 5. Hurricane Idalia, which was a Category 3 storm, affected 3.5 million acres of land and caused $267 million in agricultural production loss.
The damaged lands from Hurricane Debby previously produced $3 billion worth of products each year, according to the report.
North-central Florida faced the worst of the storm, although tropical storm winds extended south to Lee County. Other areas, including Suwannee, Manatee and Sarasota counties, faced more than 15 inches of rain between Aug. 2 and Aug. 8.
– Sophia Bailly
Tallahassee offers sandbags for residents in flood-prone neighborhoods
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
The City of Tallahassee says it’s expecting up to 10 inches of rain starting as early as Wednesday morning.
It started offering residents in flood-prone neighborhoods sandbags at three locations early Tuesday: Jack McLean Community Center, Mike Blankenship Skate Park and Northwood parcel.
The city is limiting sandbags to no more than 25 per household, and says residents need to bring shovels to fill bags themselves. The sites will remain open until the storm threat has passed, the city said.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida State cancels classes, closes campus through weekend
Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Florida State University says it will cancel classes and close its campus starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday through the weekend ahead of the approaching storm.
The school in Tallahassee said it expects to resume normal operations early Monday morning.
It said students who live in campus housing can remain there but should plan for possible power outages and expect to be stuck inside most of the day Thursday. Dining halls will be open as long as it’s safe for students, but the schedule may be adjusted for food service, FSU said.
The school urged students to prepare as though dining halls may not open for Thursday.
Florida A&M University has not yet announced whether it will close. The school said earlier Monday it was monitoring the potentially dangerous tropical weather system that could bring severe weather conditions to the Florida Panhandle later this week.
– Sophia Bailly
Alachua County issues local emergency notice, offers sandbags
Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Alachua County says it has issued a local state of emergency for residents due to Tropical Storm Helene, after the county commission approved the order. It said the storm is projected to become a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday, when it’s expected to make landfall that evening.
Alachua County, home to the University of Florida in north-central Florida, has a number of neighborhoods in low-lying areas that suffer extensive flooding during heavy rains.
The county said it is offering to load pre-filled sandbags at Wayside Park for anyone who needs them until 5 p.m. Tuesday and will continue again at 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 p.m. if weather permits.
The county said outside those hours, sand, bags and shovels are available for self service.
– Sophia Bailly
Florida readies National Guard ahead of possible hurricane
Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says he has signed a declaration of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties ahead of what was expected to be Hurricane Helene.
“We expect effects could reach significantly inland,” he said.
The measure allows state officials to make available resources to local governments ahead of any storm impacts. About 3,000 Florida National Guard troops are on standby to assess post-storm damage, and 150,000 flood prevention devices are being deployed across the Gulf Coast ahead of increased rainfall, DeSantis said in a briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Florida State Guard are on standby with 54 amphibious vehicles.
“We prepare for the worst, we hope for the best, but we would rather be prepared and hope it does not intensify,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis warned against residents downplaying potential damage from a major hurricane. He said the area between the Big Bend as far west as Panama City may experience the worst effects.
“We are, of course, on full activation,” DeSantis said.
Counties have started opening sandbag stations.
– Sophia Bailly
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