Hurricane Helene Barrels Toward Florida With Fierce Winds, Storm Surge

Florida braced for the arrival of Hurricane Helene on Thursday, forecast to be a powerful Category 4 storm when it smashes into the state’s panhandle. Officials issued dire warnings, pleading with residents in coastal areas along the hurricane’s path to evacuate ahead of catastrophic winds and a potentially deadly storm surge, the wall of seawater pushed on land by hurricane-force winds, that could rise to 20 feet (6.1 meters) in some spots. “This is not a survivable event for those in coastal or low- lying areas,” said Jared Miller, the sheriff of Wakulla County, where Helene is forecast to make landfall. “Please heed the evacuation orders in place as time is running out to do so.”...