Hurricane Helene has claimed its first casualty as fierce winds caused a sign to topple and crush a car in Tampa, Florida, tragically resulting in the driver’s death on Thursday night. The storm had intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with winds estimated at 130mph before making landfall.
Florida Highway Patrol is tight-lipped about the full extent of fatalities from the toppling sign incident, describing it only as a “deadly crash.” Footage from traffic cameras shows a large highway sign precariously atop a crushed vehicle on the I-4.
As Hurricane Helene bears down, Florida officials are imploring residents to stay off the roads. Despite this, social media is awash with images of drivers braving bridges, surrounded by the violent lashings of wind and water. One motorist’s life has been confirmed lost amidst these perilous conditions
With the eye of Hurricane Helene striking Florida’s Big Bend area, the National Weather Service has sounded the alarm. Now a formidable Category 4 hurricane, Helene has put 40 million Americans on high alert due to its destructive potential.
Dire warnings have been broadcasted, cautioning of an ‘unsurvivable’ storm surge and catastrophic winds at 130mph from Hurricane Helene, predicting extensive destruction across affected regions.
The US National Hurricane Center has issued a stark warning about the vast reach of Hurricane Helene, indicating its impacts will stretch far beyond the normally affected zones, with heavy rains commencing by 7 pm local time near the Florida-Georgia boundary. Over a dozen Georgian counties are on high alert as winds escalate to a ferocious 110 mph.
Hurricane Helene’s approach brings “catastrophic winds” and imminent chaos to the area, as a Category 4 storm, according to the center’s alarming statements.
The hurricane center has voiced a grave concern, stating: “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” urging people to stay within their shelters during the hazardous conditions.
The center warned of deceptive tranquility when the eye of the storm makes landfall, followed by a resurgence of perilous winds. Early this morning at 3 am GMT, Helene was positioned 65 miles south of Florida’s Tallahassee, boasting destructive 140 mph sustained winds.
Extreme flooding risks loom large over a significant portion of the southeast, potentially affecting areas up to North Carolina as Helene continues inland. Agencies predict copious rainfall of up to 18 inches in Tallahassee, metro Atlanta, and western North Carolina.
Before Helene’s ominous arrival onshore, already half a million Florida properties were plunged into darkness, as power outages preceded the tempest, with the threat of infrastructural devastation by floodwaters and windstorms looming overhead.
The majority of power outages were reported along Florida’s west coast, where Hurricane Helene was closing in. Major energy providers, including Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light Company, reported over 150,000 outages each.
Several airports near the storm’s landfall, including Tampa, Clearwater, and Tallahassee, suspended flights, while Orlando International Airport remained operational despite 65 cancellations on Thursday. Tornado warnings were issued for much of Florida and southeastern Georgia, expected to remain in place until early Friday morning.
Although strong winds may cause structural damage, the storm surge poses the greatest threat from Helene.
“The leading cause of death from hurricanes is water, not wind,” warned Craig Fugate, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
