Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged people within the path of Hurricane Helene to get out while they can, before it’s too late.
Speaking in Tallahassee Thursday afternoon, DeSantis encouraged people in evacuation zones to take the incoming storm seriously.
“We can’t control how strong this hurricane’s going to get. We can’t control the track of the hurricane, but what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way that’s going to be safe,” the governor said.
Helene has rapidly intensified over the past 24 hours, now an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane. The storm is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Thursday night.
DeSantis said the state is prepared to handle the devastation, saying electrical workers from several companies are staged throughout the state. The governor also urged residents to not try to drive through flooded streets, which could hinder emergency response.
“Don’t try to drive in your car through the flooded streets. You’re going to end up stalling out and getting stuck,” he said.
Soldiers with the Florida National Guard have prepared helicopters and have loaded gear and supplies as they prepare for Helene-related missions in coming hours, including search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, security operations, and more.
Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states.
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