Last Updated: 12:03 p.m.
As dawn broke over Florida and the Southeast today, 3.2 million people were without power in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm at 11:10 p.m. in Florida’s Big Bend area–10 miles west of Perry, in Taylor County–and as one of the most destructive storms on record for the area, with winds of 140 miles per hour and a storm surge of 10 to 20 feet.
Thursday afternoon, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office told residents in a Facebook post: “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.” The Sheriff’s Office also asked that all residents and evacuees “refrain from returning to the area until officially directed by the Emergency Operations Center.”
The storm’s effects had stretched over 200 miles, with severe winds even in Flagler County, where around 2 a.m. today 9,660 customers were without power, and 20,000 had been without power at the storm’s peak force locally, according to Jonathan Lord, the county’s emergency management director.
That figure had fallen to 3,300 by dawn. St. Johns County had over 24,000 customers without power at dawn. The two county’s school districts elected to remain closed today. Damage was very limited in Flagler.
“I think it’s three homes, trees fell into them, and then a bunch of trees down everywhere,” Lord said. “Those were mainly because of the ground being wet. For a very long period of time the last couple of weeks, the ground has been soaked, as very quite evident around the county. But other than that, it looks like we’re pretty good. I’m sure all of the cities, the county’s public crews are all just driving their routes to see if there’s any issues. But we’re not aware of any lingering issues at this point.”
There have been no reports of dune breaches in Flagler County, or of flooding in Flagler Beach or along the Intracoastal. “Now that doesn’t mean that some of those lower yards didn’t flood,” Lord said. “They just didn’t report it because they didn’t make it to the house, or it happened overnight and didn’t make it to the house. No one’s noticed yet.”
Coastal Engineer Administrator Ansley Wren-Key in an emailed statement said: “The water levels didn’t reach the dunes along any stretch of the coast. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as erosion.”
Flagler County Emergency Management will send help where it’s needed. “Obviously, as the sun rises in the western side of the state, the northern and western side of the state,” Lord said, “we’ll obviously see what needs are needed, and I know the county, and I’m sure our cities are, but the county for sure, will send whatever help is needed, whether it’s law enforcement or fire or [emergency management] or even public works. I know we’ve been on the receiving end, so we are always willing to go the other direction, too.”
The further north and west, the worse the power outages: 16,000 customers without power in Putnam this morning, 35,000 in Clay, 111,000 in Duval, while counties in and around the path of Helene are experiencing near complete blackouts–Dixie, Taylor, Levy, Gilchrist, Suwanee, Columbia, Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Lafayette. In all, 1.2 million customers were without power in Florida this morning, with nearly 1 million out in Georgia, 850,000 in South Carolina, 264,400 in North Carolina, and 13,800 in Virginia.
In many of the hardest-hit Florida counties, roads were blocked, preventing rescues, while reports of stranded residents who’d not evacuated dribbled in. “I’m worried about a lady called Miss Carol [in] Keaton Beach,” one resident wrote the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. “I guess she’s in the 55 plus community she stayed in her mobile home with three dogs and some cats. I took a snap thing of the picture of her when somebody was begging for help for her said she was on top of her trailer. I’m trying to find out if the lady is okay. Her partner or husband is in the hospital so she was home alone.”
“There was a senior couple that refused to leave on sea oaks. Perry. No words,” another resident wrote, making a reference to the area of Helene’s landfall. But activity was picking up even in the worst-struck zone: “We live ash street in front of the old hospital we have already seen about 12 cars driving by don’t know what they are doing driving around at this time of morning but I hope it’s just emergency for people,” Thomas Dykes reported. “So sad for our little town,” another Perry resident wrote of the town of 7,000.
At 5 a.m. today Helene had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved fast, at 30 miles per hour, just east of Macon, ga, with sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, just under hurricane strength. All Hurricane and Tropical Storm warnings have been discontinued along the Florida east coast south of the Flagler-Volusia county line, and along the Florida west coast south of the mouth of the Suwannee River. But storm surge warnings remained in effect as far south as Tampa Bay, where some residents saw their homes flooded.
“There’s going to be streets that are flooded and will continue to flood all up and down the west coast of Florida,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said late Thursday night. “So it’s hazardous conditions right now. Please, do not be going outside until things settle down.
“It was a harrowing night in Hillsborough County, ” Isabelle Taft reported for The New York Times, “where emergency responders received more than 300 911 calls between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., mainly about flooding in homes near Tampa Bay. They performed more than a dozen water rescues outside Tampa and had to help two families off the roofs of their houses.” Gulf County was reporting over eight inches of rain Thursday evening already, with more to come.
The extent of the damage will not be known until later Friday, with daylight and overflights. In Flagler County and Palm Coast, after a night of at-times severe winds, calmer conditions had returned this morning, with a forecast of mostly sunny, hot and humid conditions later in the day, with the heat index around 100. Winds will remain stronger than usual, around 15 to 22 mpg, with gusts of 33 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. A high surf advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday, and a rip current advisory remains in effect through Friday evening.
Dennis C Rathsam says
The city of P/C better have the crews out to pick up all these tree limbs. Im not paying to have this all removed! I’m putting out to the curb, if they don’t pick it up it will stay there! Much to much for the garbage man, who doesnt come for branches till Wed!
FlaPharmTech says
That’s your profound comment?! People died. There’s incredible need on our west coast and Big Bend. I hope you find humanity somehow.
Sherry says
So sorry Florida Pharm Tech. . . you are simply asking for too much from that particular person. Where as we on holiday in Europe are worried for family and friends. Sure hoping you and yours make it through OK. Hang in there!
Laurel says
Nah, nothing here really. It was surprisingly dry.
We are very familiar with Steinhatchee and Apalachicola, so it’s really sad to see the destruction there. There were actually houses floating away. Cedar Key on up through the Big Bend had a lot of damage, really bad. Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota had flooding.
Sherry says
Thanks so much for the update, Laurel! We have family in Panama City Beach, but they contacted me by email and they are OK. Whew! Hang in there All!
Laurel says
Actually, I’m not sure how, but Apalachicola escaped the damage. Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, Horseshoe Beach and Cedar Key were hit the hardest. Steinhatchee is devastated. Three hits in two years. Roy’s Restaurant is completely gone. I feel so sorry for the locals there.
Ban the gop says
You mean building a society that only cares of money wasn’t the best idea? Dennis is in the maga cult. Enough said.
Denali says
Wow, the guy who buys a vacant lot to illegally feed the deer demanding that the city (who has no obligation) pick up debris from a tropical breeze. Perhaps you should have trimmed your trees properly and you could have avoided being in this position?
CK says
It may not be advisable, and there are certain restrictions…but it is not illegal to feed the deer in Florida…Perhaps you should check the laws before making such a statement.
Denali says
I did check the 85 statutes regarding the feeding of wildlife in Florida and if you can make sense of them more power to you! Boiling down the 20 most pertinent feeding of deer is not allowed in a CWD zone and Flagler County is not in such an area. I will apologize for the legal error but not for saying that feeding wildlife in an urban setting is one of the dumbest things imaginable. Not only is it a hazard to the animal, it will also attract other animals who are not so ‘cute’ and could turn your backyard Scotty into tonight’s dinner.
Toto says
Hey Mr Rathsam, you need to go buy a Happy Meal. Sure sounds like you need one after picking up all those sticks.
Tom Oelsner says
How about showing a bit of compassion for others. You are b**ching about a few tree limbs. As l lay here in the hospital I’m sorry you have so little joy in your life.
Sally says
Once again as usual lost power thank God that is all. I just don’t like when FPL can’t even give an update on what’s going on.
Laurel says
FPL is really pretty good. They would usually text us.
I'll take care of it myself says
Download the FPL app.
Plus you can create an FPL account listing how you’d like notication of power loss at your address plus how long it’ll take until power back on.
YOU have to be proactive and make sure you’ve done what’s required for notifications.
Plus through the app you can also report power out at your address.
But maybe you enjoy bitching and complaining and prefer to be a victim waiting for everyone to cater to you.
You have to advocate for yourself because no one is coming to save you.
Joe says
Hey people move here they know they’re going to get destructive hurricanes. I don’t feel sorry for him either.
Laurel says
Man! There’s some cranky people out today!
JimboXYZ says
FCOL, settle down already, these comments remind me of the road rage drama incident story that hit the news earlier today.
https://flaglerlive.com/leight-road-rage/
Maybe get over yourselves, the debris will be removed eventually. Sorry the wind didn’t blow all of it out of your lives so that you wouldn’t have to be inconvenienced with even having to clean it up. Already have done mine & helped neighbors out and it was done before lunch. Can’t wait to see the next round of homeowner’s insurance premium increases ? Debris pickup is the last thing anyone will be complaining about. Wonder how bad the beach rebuild made it thru this level of indirect hit.
Greed over people says
Its America socialized losses and privatized gains. Go ahead file an insurance claim, get cancelled then pay 300%more for a lesser policy. Think of the shareholders today and how much less they may receive, that’s what’s really important here in the united corporations of america.
Chill out People says
Damn did every one drink angry juice or what? JFC smile and laugh, it’ll do you all a bit of good. And people I know wonder why IDGAF to interact with others. Mood killers. I always quote a scene from the movie Drowning Mona. “ Chief Wyatt Rash: My mother always used to say, “When life hands you potatoes, make potato salad.”
Mona Dearly: Yeah? Well life handed me a whole pile of shit. What am I supposed to do with that?!
Phil Dearly: Make shit salad?””
Make shit salad and chill. ✌🏼