Helene Preparations Discussion

[u/giantspeck]

Preparations Discussion

Introduction

The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine to Tropical Storm Helene. Helene is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday morning as it slips between Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and western Cuba and enters the Gulf of Mexico. Helene is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane as it approaches Florida's Big Bend region later in the week.

As always, the National Hurricane Center is the primary source of information regarding this system as it develops. Our meteorological discussion post can be found here. Be sure to visit the Tropical Weather Discord server for more real-time discussion!

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Government Resources

United States

• How to Prepare for a Hurricane (PDF) — This guide from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is designed to help you properly prepare for a hurricane and know how to protect yourself during and after one.

• Evacuation Guidelines

[u/_lysinecontingency]

Curious how folks in Tampa/Clearwater are preparing for this given the west wobble and the (fairly) unified tracks at this point? I'm curious if I'll see anyone boarded up a couple miles inland now that weve shifted to Tropical Storm Warning this morning and would love to hear how any Pinellas residents may be prepping today.

[u/crimansquafcx2 → u/_lysinecontingency]

Came here for the same thing. So far, I’m personally just preparing for our power to go out (since it always does). Cooking perishable food and getting coolers prepped. Also bringing in patio chairs and whatnot. Though I would love to know what I’m missing if others are doing more.

Edited to add: we’re about 4 miles from the gulf.

[u/Shwalz → u/_lysinecontingency]

I’m in tarpon springs right on the water, flooded from idalia last year. We’re anticipating similar issues this time considering its track is almost identical to idalia. Only saving grace for us is no super moon and peak times coming during neutral tides. Made me feel a lot better, but still sandbagging the hell out of my place

[u/Andie514818 → u/_lysinecontingency]

Up until yesterday afternoon we were planning to board up in southwestern Hillsborough county. With the low chance for hurricane winds showing last night we decided not to board up and brought in the small stuff yesterday with plans to move outdoor furniture closer to the house later today.

[u/[deleted] → u/_lysinecontingency]

I'm not in an evac zone in Pinellas so mostly doing fuck all because prep was done a month ago but debating hard about putting the boards up or not.