LAKE CITY, Fla. — People living in Lake City are not taking any chances before Hurricane Helene makes landfall.
Grocery store parking lots were packed Wednesday afternoon while people stocked up on food and supplies. The Walmart in Lake City ran out of bread by 2 p.m.
Doug Baker told First Coast News he wanted to be overprepared for the storm.
"We're getting water and dry goods, and any type of extra food we may need," Baker said. "We're lucky enough to have a generator. And we'll just play it out and see what happens."
Lake City residents were mostly concerned about power outages. Lisa Mobley said she stocked up on non-perishable items and is also preparing to wait out the storm with her family.
"We’re going to hunker down," Mobley said. "I told the family if anyone needs to come in, and we’ll just hunker down together and make the best of it."
There will be five emergency shelters opening in Columbia County starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday; the list includes the Winfield Community Center, Fort White High School Gym, Deep Creek Community Center, Richardson Community Center and Westside Elementary (special needs only).
Community members can also call the Citizens Information Center Hotline at (386)-719-7530 for all non-emergency calls.
Editor's note: Find more shelters that will be open in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia during Hurricane Helene here.
While the community prepares for the wind and rain, Baker said he is staying calm and ready to ride out the storm.
“It is what is, we just have to deal with it. We’re Floridians, so we’re pretty resilient," Baker said.