Thousands of residents began evacuating the beaches of Florida, in the southeast, today USAawaiting the arrival of Hurricane Helen.

Tropical Storm Helen strengthened to a hurricane today as it heads toward the southeastern United States, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The hurricane is expected to strengthen further and could cause severe problems, “with strong winds and torrential rain across much of Florida and the southeastern US,” the NHC said.

OR Helen may have strengthened to a Category 3 or even 4 hurricane (on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale) by the time it reaches Florida Thursday night, local authorities said. The state’s governor, Ron DeSandis, declared a state of emergency in nearly every county and mobilized the National Guard and thousands of other workers in case search and rescue operations or power were restored.

Ten counties issued mandatory, partial evacuation orders while two asked all residents to leave.

THE Ron DeSandis he said at least 12 care facilities, from hospitals to nursing homes, had already begun evacuation and more would follow.

Close to Tampalong lines of cars have formed while residents are handed out sandbags to protect their property.

Helene

“We’re used to it,” said Lorraine Major, a 44-year-old educator who was born and raised in Floridareferring to the storms and hurricanes that hit the State every year. “But in recent years hurricanes have gotten really violent,” he commented.

If the forecasts prove true, Helen will be the first such powerful hurricane to hit the US in a year. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has been relatively mild this year.