Advarsler, Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church

Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 25 at 11:11AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL HLSJAX This product covers Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia **HELENE BECOMES A HURRICANE** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Atkinson, Clinch, Coffee, Eastern Hamilton, Echols, Gilchrist, Northern Columbia, Southeastern Columbia, Southwestern Columbia, Suwannee, Western Alachua, Western Hamilton, and Western Marion - A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Jeff Davis - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Appling, Bacon, Baker, Bradford, Brantley, Central Marion, Coastal Camden, Coastal Duval, Coastal Flagler, Coastal Glynn, Coastal Nassau, Coastal St. Johns, Eastern Alachua, Eastern Clay, Eastern Marion, Eastern Putnam, Inland Camden, Inland Flagler, Inland Glynn, Inland Nassau, Inland St. Johns, Northeastern Charlton, Northern Ware, Pierce, South Central Duval, Southern Ware, Trout River, Union, Wayne, Western Charlton, Western Clay, Western Duval, and Western Putnam * STORM INFORMATION: - About 680 miles south-southwest of Jacksonville FL or about 710 miles south-southwest of Waycross GA - 21.6N 86.3W - Storm Intensity 80 mph - Movement North-northwest or 330 degrees at 10 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Hurricane Helene continues to organize off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and is expected to strengthen to a Major hurricane as it accelerates northward toward the Panhandle of Florida on Thursday. Helene will become very large as it rapidly gains strength and its impacts will extend far from the center. After making landfall Thursday evening along the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend, Helene will then track quickly north across southern Georgia Thursday night. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts around 8 inches, are expected across the I-75 corridor into inland southeast Georgia, with 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts further east. Flash flooding will be possible especially for areas along the I-75 corridor. Tropical storm winds are expected to reach north central Florida Thursday morning, then overspread much of the area during the day Thursday through Thursday night. Hurricane force winds will be possible along the I-75 corridor of northeast Florida and into western portions southeast Georgia Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. Storm surge inundation of 1 to 3 feet with isolated locations up to 4 feet is expected along the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia Atlantic coasts and in the St Johns river basin. There will be a potential for isolated tornadoes beginning tonight with an increasing threat of scattered tornadoes possible north of Interstate 10 Thursday afternoon and evening, especially across areas of southeast Georgia. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across across inland northeast FLorida and southeast Georgia mainly along and west of the I-75 corridor. Potential impacts in this area include: - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks. - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Large areas with power and communications outages. Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to significant impacts across the rest of northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across northeast FL and southeast GA, particularly along the I-75 corridor. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. * TORNADOES: Protect against a particularly dangerous tornado event having possible extensive impacts across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia, especially areas north of I-10. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of numerous tornadoes can greatly hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - Many places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of immense destruction, power loss, and communications failures. - Locations could realize roof and wall failures of sturdy buildings with some being leveled, structures upon weak foundations blown away, mobile homes obliterated, large trees twisted and snapped with forested trees uprooted, vehicles lifted off the ground and thrown, and small boats destroyed. Large and deadly projectiles can add to the toll. * SURGE: Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across coastal northeast Florida and southeast Georgia and within the St. Johns River Basin. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area. It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options. If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of strong winds or flooding. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville FL around 5 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.