Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 26 in Florida, prompting first responders in Pasco and Hillsborough counties to receive several calls for service overnight.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office reported around 6 a.m. Sept. 27 that it had rescued about 200 people from flood waters with Pasco County Fire Rescue, the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies. The sheriff’s office had received more than 20 water rescue calls on Sept. 26 and that number ballooned to more than 100 by 3:41 a.m. Sept. 27.
Hillsborough County deputies were also busy. The sheriff’s office posted videos to Facebook of a deputy rescuing a teenage girl that tried driving through a flooded Racetrack Road as well as a 97-year-old lady that needed to be evacuated from her home.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said late night Sept. 26 that the state had personnel standing by for search and rescue operations, road clearing, power restoration and disaster supplies.
DeSantis reported one traffic fatality from the storm, resulting from a sign falling onto Interstate 4 in Tampa.
It wasn’t clear the total impact of the hurricane by the Laker-Lutz News’ print deadline on Sept. 27.
“This is a big storm,” DeSantis said Sept. 26. “It’s a powerful Category 4 storm but it’s also just very large. Impacts are being felt, have been felt and will continue to be felt far and wide. When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we’re going to be waking up to a state where very likely there’s been additional loss of life and certainly there’s going to be loss of property. You’re going to have people who are going to lose their homes because of this storm. Please keep those folks in mind – keep them in your prayers.”
Pasco and Hillsborough counties issued mandatory evacuations Sept. 25 for residents in Evacuation Zone A as well as anyone living in manufactured and mobile homes.
Each county used schools as emergency shelters to take in families.
As the storm passed, DeSantis and other state emergency personnel encouraged residents to continue to hunker down overnight.
“Do not do dangerous things after the disaster,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “If you need help, we’ll send you the help. If you need help, your local county emergency management agency will send you the help.”
