{"id":2346498,"date":"2024-09-26T21:02:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T01:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hurricane-helene-surges-to-category-4-storm-hours-before-catastrophic-florida-landfall-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-26T21:03:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T01:03:18","slug":"hurricane-helene-surges-to-category-4-storm-hours-before-catastrophic-florida-landfall-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hurricane-helene-surges-to-category-4-storm-hours-before-catastrophic-florida-landfall-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Helene surges to Category 4 storm hours before \u2018catastrophic\u2019 Florida landfall &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhurricane-helene-surges-to-category-4-storm-hours-before-catastrophic-florida-landfall-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2346498&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Hurricane Helene has been \u2064upgraded to a Category 4 storm as it\u200b approaches the Florida coast, posing a significant threat of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-gives-special-shout-out-to-3-governors-who-helped-respond-to-hurricane-including-1-democrat\/\" title=\"DeSantis Gives Special Shout Out To 3 Governors Who Helped Respond To Hurricane, Including 1 Democrat\">catastrophic storm surge<\/a> and damaging winds. The National Hurricane Center reported wind speeds reaching 130 mph,\u200b capable of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rittenhouse-trial-prosecution-defense-debate-self-defense-in-opening-arguments\/\" title=\"Rittenhouse Trial: Prosecution, Defense Debate Self-Defense In Opening Arguments\">causing severe damage<\/a> to well-constructed homes \u200band\u200c uprooting \u2063trees. Officials emphasized that everyone along\u2063 the Florida \u200dBig Bend coast, particularly in areas like Tallahassee, is at risk and urged\u200c residents to evacuate,\u200d as failure to\u2062 do so could result in dire consequences.\u200b Local authorities warned of the potential\u2062 for historic damage and stressed the importance of safety, with a sheriff starkly advising residents to prepare for identification in case \u200cof\u2064 disaster.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hurricane Helene surges to Category 4 storm hours before &lsquo;catastrophic&rsquo; Florida landfall<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1770413\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hurricane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Hurricane<\/a> Helene has been upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane as it hurtles toward making <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3167236\/hurricane-helene-category-2-landfall-florida-big-bend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>landfall<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Florida<\/a> coast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A Category 4 hurricane is capable of 130 mph to 156 mph winds and can cause severe damage to well-framed homes. It can also snap or uproot most trees, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Update 6:20 PM EDT Thurs: Helene now an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane,&rdquo; a social media post from the National Hurricane Center <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NHC_Atlantic\/status\/1839430176993898669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a>. &ldquo;A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft currently investigating Helene recently found that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-england-areas-under-flood-watches-as-tropical-storm-elsa-continues-moving-northeast\/\" title=\"New England areas under flood watches as Tropical Storm Elsa continues moving northeast\">maximum sustained winds<\/a> have increased to 130 mph (215 km\/h).&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the day, the agency said &ldquo;EVERYONE along the Florida Big Bend coast&rdquo; is at risk of a possible &ldquo;catastrophic storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Helene?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Helene<\/a> continues to approach the coast, please do not get overly focused on short-term wobbles in its track, &#8220;false&#8221; eye locations, or on specific computer model simulations. <\/p>\n<p>EVERYONE along the Florida Big Bend coast is at risk of potentially catastrophic storm surge and&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LEFNk9UhXv\">pic.twitter.com\/LEFNk9UhXv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NHC_Atlantic\/status\/1839351899688235464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The storm is currently on track to affect Tallahassee, Florida, directly. Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida and contains one of the state&rsquo;s largest universities, Florida State University.<\/p>\n<p>Helene was upgraded from a Category 2 storm to a Category 4 in a matter of just several hours on Thursday, and some authorities believe the storm could be a &ldquo;historic&rdquo; threat. Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett warned that hundreds of residents who live in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tropical-storm-henri-makes-landfall-in-r-i-threat-of-flooding-across-southern-new-england\/\" title=\"Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall in R.I., threat of flooding across southern New England\">low-lying areas<\/a> on the coastline could die if they don&rsquo;t evacuate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re just bound and determined to stay and not get out of harm&rsquo;s way, go and take a black magic marker, write your name, your Social Security number, everything on your arm, and we can identify you. I don&rsquo;t like telling people that, but it is going on,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/weather\/live-blog\/hurricane-helene-live-updates-rcna172799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Padgett told<\/a> NBC News.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a death threat because you&rsquo;re looking at, they&rsquo;re calling for 18- or 20-foot storm surge,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve never had a storm surge like this in this county.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Taylor County is just southeast of Tallahassee on the Big Bend.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Hurricane Helene is going to make landfall this evening in the Big Bend, but dangerous conditions will be present throughout the rest of the state&mdash;even outside the forecast cone,&rdquo; Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovRonDeSantis\/status\/1839363636944404919\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>post<\/a> on X. &ldquo;To stay safe from hazards like debris, downed power lines, and standing water, do not try to do any work in the dark tonight. State and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3-injured-after-train-collides-with-dump-truck-in-pennsylvania\/\" title=\"3 Injured After Train Collides With Dump Truck In Pennsylvania\">local emergency management officials<\/a> are ready to assist seniors and others in need of help clearing debris after the storm passes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As of 7 p.m. Eastern, the Florida Department of Emergency Management posted on social media that the hurricane would &ldquo;make landfall as a major storm soon.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Some of those affected were previously advised to evacuate but have now been asked to shelter in place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1770413\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1770413\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hurricane Helene upgraded to Category 4, threatening Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2346499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hurricane-Helene.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[33348,41818,41774,33918,32173],"class_list":["post-2346498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-category-4","tag-florida-landfall","tag-hurricane-helene","tag-natural-disaster","tag-severe-weather"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hurricane-Helene.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2346498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2346499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2346498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2346498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2346498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}