Hurricane Helene triggered urgent warnings as it moved toward the United States in September 2024.
Forecasters warned that parts of Florida’s Big Bend coast could face a dangerous storm surge, with water rising to life-threatening levels. Officials urged residents in risk areas to finish preparations and follow evacuation orders before conditions became unsafe.
Helene strengthened quickly before landfall and brought powerful winds, heavy rain, flooding, and widespread damage. Experts also warned that the storm’s large size made it especially dangerous, even far from where it came ashore.
The hurricane later became one of the most destructive storms in recent U.S. history. Its impact reached beyond Florida, causing serious flooding, wind damage, power outages, and deadly conditions across several states.
The storm showed why hurricane warnings should be taken seriously.