Hurricane Helene threatens southeastern US; states declare emergencies

Hurricane Helene intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning and is expected to continue strengthening as it heads toward Florida. The storm is projected to make landfall late Thursday on Florida’s Gulf Coast, potentially reaching Category 3 status by then. This could make it the strongest hurricane in a year.

“This is a life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

Hurricane Helene is expected to impact not only Florida but also much of the Southeast. Officials are urging residents to prepare for the storm's arrival. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Additionally, Florida’s west coast and Georgia’s Coffee County are under a hurricane warning.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 61 counties, with evacuations ordered across the state's coastline. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for all 159 counties in his state. Meanwhile, flood watches cover 32 million people and tornado watches cover 12 million people across Florida, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Local officials stress the importance of heeding evacuation orders promptly. Homeowners should prepare an evacuation plan that includes updating home insurance policies, stocking up on emergency supplies like water and nonperishable food items, packing essential items in a "go bag," creating a binder with important documents such as birth certificates and insurance information, documenting their home's condition before leaving, shutting off utilities, moving cars to higher ground, and locking their homes.

Financial preparedness for natural disasters is also crucial. According to Bankrate’s 2024 Extreme Weather Survey, over one-quarter of U.S. homeowners feel financially unprepared for extreme weather costs. However, nearly half of American homes face at least one type of severe or extreme climate risk according to Realtor.com®'s Housing and Climate Risk Report.

Experts recommend several steps to financially prepare:

1. Protect your home from hurricanes by installing hurricane shutters or metal grates.

2. Prevent flooding by ensuring proper drainage around your home.

3. Review your existing insurance coverage; additional policies may be needed for earthquakes or flooding.

4. Know your deductibles; special deductibles might apply for hurricane-related wind damage.

5. Create a home inventory list with photos stored off-site or electronically for easier insurance claims processing.

Steve Leasure from Rainbow Restoration emphasizes that protective measures can prevent costly repairs later on: “They can help prevent breakages to windows and doors that can lead to high cost in repair damages.” Disaster preparedness expert Peter Duncanson adds that proper drainage around homes can mitigate water damage risks: “It helps stop water from seeping into the home.”

Cassie Sheets from Insurify notes that understanding deductible amounts is crucial: “A separate hurricane deductible or ‘named storm deductible’ might be required.”

As Hurricane Helene approaches landfall, these preparatory steps are essential in safeguarding lives and property against its potential impacts.