Hurricane Helene reaches Category 3 status before hitting Big Bend region

A graphic showing the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene, released at 2 p.m. EST, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, before the storm makes landfall in the Big Bend region. Red represents a hurricane warning, blue represents a tropical storm warning. (Screenshot via National Hurricane Center) Hurricane Helene has now produced maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, according to a Thursday afternoon National Hurricane Center update.

Maximum sustained winds at that level make the storm a “dangerous Category 3 hurricane,” according to the report from the center, which warns that additional strengthening is expected before Helene makes landfall in the Big Bend region Thursday evening.

During a news conference Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis said some models show the storm potentially reaching Category 4 with winds in excess of 130 mph.

Officials warn Floridians facing extreme winds, especially those in wooded areas, to take cover to avoid being injured by falling trees and other debris.

“If you hear trees snapping around your home, treat it like a tornado,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of emergency Management, instructing people to cover themselves with a heavy blanket, a comforter, or a “very, very small, thin mattress.”

“Get to that point, put it over the top of yourselves and hunker down there,” Guthrie said. “Treat it just as you would a tornado. You will hear tree snapping. Pine trees snapping sound an awful lot like fireworks or potentially gunshots.”

As of Thursday, storm surge was expected along the entire west coast of Florida, reaching up to 20 feet in the Big Bend region, according to National Hurricane Center forecasts.

The Division of Emergency Management posts updates, including county emergency management information, sandbag use, evacuation information, and more on its website.

Shelter information can be found on the Division of Emergency Management website.

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