Hurricane Helene Strikes Florida’s Big Bend as a Devastating Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Helene made a dangerous landfall in Florida's Big Bend area late Thursday night, bringing life-threatening storm surges, powerful winds, and widespread damage. The National Hurricane Center had already warned that the storm could be "catastrophic and deadly," with storm surges reaching as high as 20 feet in certain areas. As Helene moved through the Gulf of Mexico, it quickly intensified into a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph.

Landfall Near Perry, Florida

Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, shortly after 11:20 p.m. Eastern Time. With sustained winds of 140 mph, the storm hit with tremendous force, flooding roads, damaging homes, and leaving a path of destruction in its wake. CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson reported that the storm’s surge, combined with heavy rainfall, made conditions especially dangerous for those who had not yet evacuated.

Ben Brennan, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center, warned that the storm surge could cause massive destruction. "That kind of water level can destroy houses, move cars, and rise quickly, cutting off escape routes," Brennan explained.

Widespread Power Outages

As of Thursday night, more than 885,000 customers in Florida were already without power, according to PowerOutage.us, a utility tracker monitoring outages. Power lines were knocked down by the strong winds, and recovery teams are expected to work around the clock to restore power once conditions improve.

A Dangerous and Rapidly Strengthening Storm

Helene strengthened throughout the day on Thursday, quickly turning into what the National Hurricane Center described as "an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane." At 11 p.m. Eastern Time, Helene was located about 75 miles northwest of Cedar Key, Florida, and 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee.

The hurricane's outer bands had already started affecting Florida’s west coast by Thursday morning, bringing heavy rains and flooding to many areas. In the Big Bend region, Gulf waters spilled over barriers, causing roadways to flood. St. Petersburg saw record storm surges, while Tampa—on the backside of the storm—was expected to see conditions improve as Helene moved further inland.

The Storm's Path

After making landfall, Helene was expected to move inland over Georgia, bringing the potential for significant flooding in the Southeast. Forecasts predicted as much as 10-20 inches of rain in the southern Appalachian Mountains, while Atlanta could see around six inches of rain. Winds in Atlanta were expected to reach tropical storm force early Friday morning, but should start to die down by mid-morning.

As the storm continues inland, states further north will also need to be prepared for heavy rains, flooding, and potential damage. While Florida will likely see the most severe impact, Helene’s path will bring hazardous conditions to parts of Georgia and the Carolinas as well.

Warnings From Officials

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued urgent warnings to residents in high-risk areas, urging them to move to higher ground immediately. “Every minute that goes by brings us closer to having conditions that are going to be simply too dangerous to navigate," DeSantis cautioned.

At the federal level, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanne Criswell, stressed the importance of heeding storm surge warnings. She reminded people that storm surge is the number one cause of death in hurricanes, and shared that most of the 150 people who died during Hurricane Ian in 2022 lost their lives due to drowning.

Criswell emphasized that people don’t need to travel far to avoid the worst impacts of a storm surge. “Remember that you may only need to go 10 or 15 miles inland to get away from the threat of the storm surge itself," she said. "Please don’t underestimate what the impacts could possibly be."

A Reminder of Hurricane Ian’s Deadly Legacy

Officials were quick to draw comparisons to Hurricane Ian, which devastated Florida in 2022. Many of those who died during Ian’s onslaught were victims of storm surge and flooding, leading authorities to take a more aggressive approach in warning people about the dangers this time around.

FEMA and local officials have been working to ensure that residents in Helene’s path are fully aware of the risks, especially in vulnerable coastal areas. While evacuation orders had been issued for days leading up to the storm’s arrival, some residents chose to stay behind, despite the warnings.

The Importance of Staying Safe

As Hurricane Helene continues to push inland, Florida residents are urged to stay indoors and avoid venturing out into dangerous conditions. While winds may calm temporarily, particularly if the eye of the storm passes overhead, conditions will worsen again once the other side of the storm arrives.

For those who have already evacuated or sought higher ground, the next few hours and days will be critical in determining when it's safe to return home. As always, the safety of residents and first responders remains the top priority, and officials will continue to monitor the storm and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Conclusion

Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Florida’s Big Bend has already proven to be a major disaster, bringing high winds, storm surges, and flooding to much of the state. With hundreds of thousands of people without power and conditions still worsening, residents are reminded to stay safe, follow evacuation orders, and take the storm’s risks seriously. Helene's impact will likely be felt for days to come, both in Florida and beyond as the storm moves through the Southeast.