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HOURS FROM LANDFALL: Tracking Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene is a Category 4 storm, and its strong winds are already impacting Florida ahead of landfall. As of this report, more than 600,000 homes and businesses are without power in Florida. The governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas and Virginia all declared emergencies in their states. Mayor Kevin Anderson of Fort Myers, Florida, joins LiveNOW from FOX to share insight to his community's preparation for the major incoming storm.
PERRY, Fla. - The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in the Big Bend of Florida is taking the dire step of asking residents who chose not to heed mandatory evacuation warnings for Hurricane Helene to write their name and other identifying information in permanent marker on their arms or legs for ease of identification should you become a victim.
Taylor County is under a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning with up to 20 feet of storm surge expected, according to the National Hurricane Center. Those storm surge levels would be historic and what the NWS in Tallahassee called "catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable."
The mandatory countywide evacuation order was issued for Taylor County on Tuesday.
"If you or someone you know chose not to evacuate, PLEASE write your name, birthday and important information on your arm or leg in A PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified," officials said in a statement.
The Taylor County Sheriff's office asked those who stayed behind or their relatives to email them with a roster of who is staying put, including whether their address is inland or along the coastline, their address, and how many people will be staying there.
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Hurricane Helene first fatality reported
A deadly crash was reported in the westbound lanes of I-4 as Hurricane Helene continued bringing severe weather to Tampa Thursday evening. Traffic cameras in the area show one of the highway signs on top of a vehicle in that area. The Florida Highway Patrol said this was a deadly crash on the highway, but have not said how many deaths were related to the crash or if anyone else was injured.
Officials have also asked residents, guests and those who did evacuate to refrain from returning to Taylor County until they receive an official statement from the Emergency Operations Center. Officials foresee many roads being impassable, along with dangerous conditions, such as fallen trees and downed power lines.
Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend of Florida Thursday night or early Friday morning, possibly as a Category 4 hurricane.