County Urges Preparedness in Face of Powerful Weather System
Leon County Government has been in close coordination with the National Weather Service and our local first responder agencies to monitor Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, soon be Tropical Storm Helene.
While there is much uncertainty in the track and intensity of the storm, early forecasts are calling for a major (Category 3 or greater) hurricane at landfall that will bring severe and destructive wind and driving rain to the entire Florida Panhandle. While Leon County's impacts have yet to crystalize, in certain ways this storm resembles Hurricane Michael from 2018.
Leon County is actively preparing across every work area and essential function. For up-to-the minute critical emergency information, visit the County’s Emergency Information Portal at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
Weather Update:
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle late Wednesday night into Thursday as Hurricane Helene. The storm will bring heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and coastal flooding across the Florida Peninsula this week, with a potential for prolonged impacts if it slows near the Southeast coast.
For Leon County, the forecast predicts up to 7 inches of rain, tropical-storm-force winds to hurricane force winds, and localized flooding. The most likely arrival of storm impacts in Leon County would be late Wednesday through Thursday. As the storm slows, prolonged heavy rain could lead to flash flooding and cause river levels to rise.
Again, as of right now, the biggest threat is hurricane winds that can homes and infrastructure and threaten lives. While our community is no stranger to storms, Helene will pose significant risks to our County. Please take care and stay informed.
Sandbag Locations:
Leon County sandbags are available at the following locations:
- Leon County’s Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road
- Apalachee Regional Park (Solid Waste Management Facility), 7550 Apalachee Parkway
- Fred George Park, 3043 Capital Circle NW
- Intersection of Oak Ridge Road and Ranchero Road
- Fort Braden Community Park, 15000 Blountstown Hwy
Leon County will staff these sites from dawn to dusk to assist residents in quickly filling sandbags. Sand, bags, and ties will be available for public use. Residents are asked to limit their sandbags to 15 per household to ensure availability for others.
Stay Informed:
Leon County has several critical resources to help residents stay informed and prepared:
- Visit LeonReady.com for disaster resilience resources, including the 2024-25 Disaster Survival Guide.
- Sign up for Leon Alerts to receive time-sensitive emergency messages related to severe weather, evacuations, and other incidents.
- Download the Citizens Connect App for emergency news and alerts, available in the Apple or Google Play stores.
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