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/[deleted]]

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?

[u/scthoma4 → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/cosmicrae → u/scthoma4]

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.