Hurricane Helene’s monster size means much of the state felt the impacts of the storm as it spun through the Florida Big Bend area and into the South.
We saw flooding in counties along the Gulf Coast, roads and bridges closed, and beach areas devastated.
Take a look at these videos and photos from around the state and beyond. The video in the player above is from Taylor County and the city of Perry, where our News 6 crew was stationed Thursday as the storm made landfall.
FRIDAY
CEDAR KEY
The Florida National Guard was deployed to Cedar Key to clear debris Friday morning. Much of the area is flooded.
CRYSTAL RIVER
Several people had to be rescued because of flooding in Crystal River in Citrus County Friday.
Family means nobody gets left behind. @FLGuard members help evacuate Crystal River families who cannot drive to shelters due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. pic.twitter.com/FhYCbsM8b1
— National Guard (@USNationalGuard) September 27, 2024
HERNANDO COUNTY
Devastating pictures from the Hernando County coast, just north of Tampa Bay.
CLEARWATER
Access to Clearwater Beach is suspended as crews work to clean up the area, and video like the one below is why. Crews also had to conduct high-water rescues because of flooding.
Somewhere under all that sand, 6 feet deep in places, is South Gulfview Boulevard. All of the beach streets are in need of a massive cleanup before the island can be reopened to the public. Please be patient. #clearwaterbeach #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/G7RGBuEBZU
— Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) September 27, 2024
We teamed up with @clearwaterfire personnel last night and this morning on several high-water rescue calls on #clearwaterbeach and elsewhere in #clearwater pic.twitter.com/YuUVNoJtp3
— Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) September 27, 2024
ST. PETE BEACH AND PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH
Scenes from St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-grille Beach. #PinellasHelene pic.twitter.com/JktHYrXdKa
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) September 27, 2024
THURSDAY
TAYLOR COUNTY
News 6′s Erik Sandoval and Megan Neeley have been in Perry in Taylor County, where Helene is expected to make landfall shortly. Winds are gusting, transformers are blowing, and they are starting to see debris. This is a report from earlier this evening.
OCALA
Wind gusts are getting stronger in Marion County, particularly in Ocala, where News 6′s Mike DeForest filed this report Thursday night.
FROM SPACE
NASA posted video of Helene from the International Space Station, the best perspective for the storm’s massive size.
The International Space Station flew over Hurricane Helene at 2:25 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, as it approached the Gulf Coast of Florida packing winds in excess of 120 miles an hour. pic.twitter.com/J1iU0Iztpx
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 26, 2024
INSIDE HELENE
Hurricane Hunters flew into Helene Thursday to get the latest data from the storm. Here’s what it looks like inside.
Join us in the flight station to see what it's like flying into a hurricane!
— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 26, 2024
This morning @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" flew a critical mission into Hurricane #Helene ahead of its landfall later today. Data collected will help improve intensity forecasts and support… pic.twitter.com/WSVnCSZH4X
A NOAA satellite catches the lightning and clouds inside Helene’s eyewall.
UPDATE: @NOAA's #GOES16🛰️ caught the bubbling clouds and #lightning around #Hurricane #Helene's eyewall this afternoon. Stay up to date with the latest: https://t.co/TZdqlrDfGr pic.twitter.com/oN0DT6qWrV
— NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) September 26, 2024
FLORIDA KEYS
People were still trying to get pictures from the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. early Thursday.
NAPLES
Storm surge caused flooding in the city of Naples.
LEE COUNTY
Flooding has been a concern for the Matlacha Bridge in Lee County all day.
SARASOTA
Flooding is occurring around Sarasota, and all bridges to the barrier islands are shut down.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐲 (𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐫.) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃!!
— Sarasota Police Department (@SarasotaPD) September 26, 2024
All bridge access to the barrier islands in @CityofSarasota are now 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃! pic.twitter.com/EhGNY66CNg
Avoid Midnight Pass at Stickney Point roads. Fast moving water has overwashed the barrier island onto the roadway. Hurricane Helene will continue to cause conditions to deteriorate. Several feet of storm surge are forecasted. Turn around, don't drown! #HurricaneHelene #SRQCounty pic.twitter.com/LUvWxDrRVd
— Sarasota County Government (@SRQCountyGov) September 26, 2024
1:15 p.m., Sept. 26 conditions at Indian Mound Park. A reminder that coastal areas are already experiencing flooding and conditions are expected to continue to deteriorate due to Hurricane Helene. Turn around, don't drown.#HurricaneHelene #SRQCountyParks pic.twitter.com/cKKDWFCgCN
— Sarasota County Government (@SRQCountyGov) September 26, 2024
TAMPA BAY
The Howard Frankland Bridge and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa and St. Pete are closed because of high winds and waves. You can see the waves washing over the Howard Frankland in these videos.
The Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge are both CLOSED due to high winds and storm surge. Motorists should stay off the highways. #Helene pic.twitter.com/OAM2aMUPEP
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) September 26, 2024
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH
Video from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office gives us a good look at the storm surge that is causing flooding up and down the coast.
Here’s a look at the Gulf from the 3rd Avenue Beach Access in Indian Rocks Beach. #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/6VRltMBNxx
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) September 26, 2024
Water beginning to come over walls off the beach in Indian Shores. Also, as the sheriff said earlier…someone is gonna “win a stupid prize…” #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/jLISw266dt
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) September 26, 2024
ST. PETE BEACH
Flooding in the St. Petersburg area is the primary concern and photos from law enforcement show flooding around Pinellas County.
Deputies are currently assessing areas expected to be hit hardest by Hurricane Helene, Evacuation Zone A. We strongly urge all in Zone A to evacuate immediately. The storm's peak impact isn't here yet, but we are already seeing concerning conditions.
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) September 26, 2024
📷 - St. Pete Beach pic.twitter.com/hdNQzOMCC1
More views of flooding and we're only just beginning to get the effects of the storm. See current conditions in the US area, Bayou Grande, and 62nd Ave NE /Foch St NE. Don't attempt to drive through high water pic.twitter.com/ZipQ4WnYgV
— St. Pete Police (@StPetePD) September 26, 2024
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