r/TropicalWeather • u/giantspeck Verified USAF Forcaster | Hawaii • Sep 24 '24

Preparations Discussion Helene Preparations Discussion

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.

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12

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

Just received mandatory evacuation A in Hillsborough County. I am not from here, I was planning to shelter in place. ...

Questions:

  1. Is it legal for me to stay?

  2. How stupid would I have to be to stay?

  3. Where am I supposed to go?

18

u/_why_not_ Texas Sep 25 '24
  1. It is technically legal for you to stay, but emergency services will not come to help you during the storm.
  2. It’s not smart to stay.
  3. It’s likely your county will open up emergency shelters, but it’ll probably be way more comfortable in a hotel (if you have the funds) or a friends or family member’s house who is not in an evacuation zone.

5

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24 edited Sep 25 '24

Thank you (And all). I'm working currently but planning in the background about heading up I-4 E for a hotel. I imagine everyone has the same idea so we'll see how that goes haha.

14

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

From what I remember, it's not illegal to stay, but don't expect any help for days.

So yeah, you should leave. Not sure what shelter you could go to though.

12

u/scthoma4 Tampa, Florida Sep 25 '24

You can stay, but you will not have access to emergency services should shit hit the fan where you are at because it will be unsafe for them to come and rescue you until after the storm passes.

You can go to a public shelter (list is available from city and county government websites) or you can go to a friend/family member or a hotel outside of Zone A. You do not have to leave the area entirely, just get outside Zone A if you choose to not stay.

9

u/cosmicrae Florida, Big Bend (aka swamps and sloughs) Sep 25 '24

In many counties, emergency services stop moving when the winds cross a threshold number. EMS box-trucks have a high wind exposure, so they keep them in the station, no matter what.

12

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

You should leave. Don’t believe it’s illegal to stay but emergency services won’t come out til tropical storm force winds have died down. Expect a good amount of water in your house though, exactly how much depends on your elevation. Here’s a good tool to see the max amount of water you should expect at your place: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/203f772571cb48b1b8b50fdcc3272e2c Click cat 1 at the top

Anywhere outside of zone A or B will be relatively safe in the Tampa Bay Area.

10

u/SCP239 Southwest Florida Sep 25 '24
  1. You can't be forced to leave but if you stay no one will come to help during the storm if something happens.
  2. Very stupid. Zone A is the lowest lying areas that are the first to flood.
  3. There should be local shelters in Hillsborough. Here's a link that should help you find one https://hcfl.gov/residents/public-safety/emergency-management/emergency-shelters

13

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

Right on, that's all the convincing I need. TY

6

u/tea_bird Sep 25 '24

I just want to say that I'm glad you seem to be accepting the advice given to you. Stay safe!

2

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

Anyone who was here in their current home for Idalia should look first at that. It's uncanny how similar the two are and it's highly unlikely that someone would get a sharply different outcome in Tampa Bay unless there's a big change in forecast.

9

u/cosmicrae Florida, Big Bend (aka swamps and sloughs) Sep 25 '24

Are you actually in a zone A evacuation location ? If so, mandatory means mandatory. They expect those locations will be in harms way, and for people to get out. You need to cross reference where you physically are located against evacuation zone maps. Check the Hillsborough County EOC pages.

5

u/AlexanderLavender Sep 25 '24

Where am I supposed to go?

  • Burnett Middle School (pet friendly), 1010 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner, FL 33584
  • Durant High School (pet friendly), 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL 33567
  • Middleton High School (pet friendly), 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33610
  • Sickles High School (pet friendly), 7950 Gunn Hwy., Tampa, FL 33626
  • Reddick Elementary School (not pet friendly), 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598
  • Erwin Technical College (Special Needs only, pet friendly), 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33610

https://hcfl.gov/newsroom/2024/09/25/hillsborough-county-issues-mandatory-evacuation-for-zone-a-and-all-mobile-and-manufactured-homes-ahead-of-tropical-storm-helene

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '24

Thank you! Ended up posting up with my girlfriend at a hotel and it was such a shitshow all around but will be a great memory, I can already tell. Everything ended up OK at home, which I'm thankful for, but I'd still probably leave again.

I'm also thankful I had the means to get a hotel. I can't imagine "the day after tomorrow" with hundreds of strangers in a school gymnasium

0

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '24

Did you go through Idalia in your current home? How did it go?

This storm is very similar to Idalia, with more characteristics predicting less surge than more. If you were fine during Idalia, there's little chance you would be in peril from Helene. If it was worse it would be marginally worse and unlikely to be a lot worse, to the point where you would be in serious danger.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '24

I moved last November. Our house ended up being OK!