COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — There is a State of Emergency issued in Columbia County as Tropical Storm Helene nears.
Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan said to expect 50-70 mph winds and there's a 10-20% of receiving strong tropical storm force winds. There will be three and seven inches of rain depending on the track, he said.
Columbia County is under a Hurricane Watch.
Landfall is expected in the Wakulla area in the Gulf Coast but officials are watching a potential shift east.
Impacts could be felt 200 miles wide, Morgan said. Columbia will open it's Citizen Information Center 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Wednesday, and reopen 6 a.m. Thursday morning on a 24/7 schedule. The CIC can be reached at 386-719-7530.
"This is a big storm. Even though the cone shows what it shows, it will felt well outside of that cone of error," Morgan said.
The county will conduct a damage assessment Friday morning.
The following shelters will be open 7 a.m. Thursday:
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy
Winnfield Community Center & Recreation Area
Deep Creek Community Center
Fort White High School
Westside Elementary is the special needs center
