The Taylor County sheriff in Florida issued a warning to residents who are choosing to ignore evacuation orders and stay home during Hurricane Helene. The Category 4 storm is expected to make landfall with winds up to 125 mph and storm surges up to 20 feet. Despite mandatory evacuation orders, Sheriff Wayne Padgett estimates that half of the county’s population is choosing to stay put. He encouraged those residents to mark themselves with their information in case of emergency identification needs. Padgett emphasized the danger of the storm, particularly for those in low-lying areas.
With agencies from the state offering assistance, Padgett expressed concern for the safety of those who chose to stay and recommended residents head to shelters in other counties for better protection. The county did not open shelters due to the storm’s direct path, but Uber offered to transport residents to safer locations. Padgett assured that power crews and food trucks are prepared for the aftermath of the storm, and urged residents to hang on during this challenging time.
This marks the third major storm within a year for Taylor County, but Padgett remains optimistic that the community will endure and recover. The sheriff stressed the importance of safety during this dangerous storm and urged residents to take precautions and seek shelter outside of the county’s direct path.
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