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Columbia County declares State of Emergency as Helene nears

Officials said during an emergency meeting they expect 50-70 mph winds and three-to-seven inches of rain.
Credit: Columbia County
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter, left, speaks at an emergency meeting in Columbia County Wednesday morning.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — There is a State of Emergency issued in Columbia County as Hurricane 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 Community Center

Winfield Community Center & Recreation Area

Deep Creek Community Center

Fort White High School

Westside Elementary is the special needs center

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