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... as hurricane approches Gulf Coast
The governments of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have declared state of emergency in their states as Hurricane Helene approaches the Gulf Coast.
This is against the backdrop of the report by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Thursday.
According to the report, Hurricane Helene is forecasted to continue its northward path through the Gulf of Mexico, set to impact Florida.
According to data from the NHC, the storm’s maximum sustained winds have risen to 85 mph (140 km/h).
Helene is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds before making landfall, leading to emergency declarations.
Following the emergency declaration, schools were closed and evacuation orders were maintained in certain areas of the state.
The presidential campaign has also been disrupted by the severe weather, which prompted Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance to cancel two scheduled events in Georgia for Thursday.
The NHC also issued a warning that the storm had the potential to result in urban flooding throughout the southeastern United States, and it is anticipated that the storm will deliver 4 to 8 inches (10-20 centimetres) of precipitation to the Cayman Islands and Cuba before hitting land.
Recall that on September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian struck near Cayo Costa, Florida, unleashed heavy rain and storm surges, marking it as one of the most powerful and deadly storms in Florida’s history.
