Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declares state of emergency as Helene approaches Florida – 41NBC News

Tropical Storm Helene formed in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday and could strengthen into a powerful hurricane as it moves north toward the United States, forecasters said. Heavy rains and large waves have already battered the Cayman Islands, and some Floridians have begun evacuating or filling sandbags ahead of predicted flooding.

AP – Tropical Storm Helene formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea and could strengthen into a powerful hurricane as it moves north toward the U.S., forecasters said. Heavy rains and large waves have already lashed the Cayman Islands, and some Floridians have begun evacuating or filling sandbags ahead of predicted flooding.

Hurricane warnings were issued for parts of Cuba, Mexico and a section of the Florida coast, including Tampa Bay, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. A tropical storm warning was issued for parts of the Florida Keys.

The storm was 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of the western tip of Cuba, had sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). It was expected to strengthen into Hurricane Helene on Wednesday as it neared the Gulf Coast and could become a strong hurricane by Thursday.

In the U.S., federal authorities are deploying generators, food and water, and sending search and rescue and power restoration teams, as President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida.

Before the storm hit the Gulf Coast late Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis increased the number of counties in a high-risk zone Tuesday from 41 to 61.

The tropical storm prompted NASA and SpaceX to push back Thursday’s planned astronaut launch until at least Saturday. And Florida A&M University postponed its upcoming college football game against Alabama A&M.

Hurricane center specialist Larry Kelly warned that the storm’s strength meant there was little focus on where it was moving, while about 10 counties in Florida had called for or ordered evacuations.

“This is going to be a very large system that will impact all of Florida,” he said. “Stay up to date with the latest forecasts and listen to your local officials.”

Hal Summers, a restaurant worker in Mexico Beach, Florida, didn’t need a reminder after he miraculously survived Hurricane Michael in 2018. DeSantis said Helene was like a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught residents by surprise before causing devastating damage across the Florida panhandle.

When it hit, Summers was wading with a cat in his arms as the water in his parents’ home began to rise rapidly. Their home and his home were destroyed.

“It was so traumatic, I didn’t need a place like this,” he said Tuesday, as he evacuated with a friend to Marianna, a town farther inland.

If Tropical Storm Helene follows the same path as the two previous hurricanes that hit Florida in the past year, the state could recover more quickly and not suffer as much economic damage, Florida’s chief financial officer said Tuesday.

That’s because Hurricane Idalia, which hit Florida in August 2023, and Hurricane Debby, which made landfall last August, knocked down vulnerable structures and trees that would otherwise have created debris, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said.

Helene is expected to move over deep, warm waters, which will increase its intensity. People in regions under the watch and warning should be prepared for power loss and should have enough food and water for at least three days, forecasters warned.

Helene, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, could strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane — with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph) — before it approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast. Since 2000, eight major hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, according to Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.

Given the projected large size, storm surge, wind and rain will extend far from the center of the expected storm, especially on the eastern side. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency. And states as far inland as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana could experience rain associated with the storm.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Dry Tortugas in Florida; the lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge; Rio Lagartos to Tulum in Mexico; and the Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and Isle of Youth. A tropical storm warning for Grand Cayman has been lifted. Authorities urged people to stay indoors as the storm receded and said crews would be moving out soon to assess damage.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Tampa Bay, Florida, Charlotte Harbor, and from Indian Pass south to Flamingo. A tropical storm warning was issued for the central Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge; Flamingo south of Englewood; and from west of Indian Pass to the Walton Bay county line.

The sun was shining in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Tuesday, but residents were already filling sandbags in preparation for potential flooding.

Cayman Islands authorities closed schools, airports and government offices as strong winds caused power outages in parts of Grand Cayman, while heavy rains and waves as high as 3 meters (10 feet) triggered flooding.

Many Cuban residents are worried about the storm, which is likely to reach the capital of Havana, which is grappling with a severe water shortage, piles of uncollected garbage and ongoing power outages.

Helene is expected to pass between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday morning before heading north across the Gulf of Mexico.

Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain is forecast for western Cuba and the Cayman Islands with isolated totals of 12 inches (30 centimeters). Up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain is forecast for the eastern Yucatan with isolated totals of more than 8 inches (20 centimeters).

Heavy rainfall was also forecast for the southeastern United States starting Wednesday, threatening flash flooding and river flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center. Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain was forecast for the region, with isolated totals of 12 inches (30 centimeters).

Storm surges were forecast to reach 15 feet (5 meters) from the Ochlockonee River in Florida to the Chassahowitzka River, and up to 10 feet (3 meters) from the Chassahowitzka River to the Anclote River and from Indian Pass to the Ochlockonee River.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a warmer than average Atlantic hurricane season this year due to record-high ocean temperatures. It is predicting 17 to 25 named storms, including four to seven major hurricanes that are Category 3 or higher.

In the Pacific, Hurricane John killed two people as it slammed into Mexico’s southern coast, authorities said Tuesday, ripping off tin roofs from homes, triggering mudslides and downing dozens of trees.