Hurricane Helene Community Brief 

For Friday, September 27

Our community was very fortunate to have narrowly escaped the full brunt of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall about 30 miles to our southeast as a Category 4 hurricane.
 
Weather Update
Everyone in Leon County is breathing easier today.
 
Our community yet again dodged a huge weather bullet. We ​did not experience widespread, significant impacts that our neighbors to the east have seen. Hurricane Helene’s made landfall near Perry, FL at approximately 11 p.m. last night. At its peak in Leon County, Hurricane Helene brought sustained winds of 40 mph, with wind gusts up to 67 mph, and approximately six inches of rain.
 
All that said, Helene may be done with us, but hurricane season is not. We are turning our focus to disturbances in the Atlantic now and will continue to monitor them closely.

Continue to review your emergency plans and keep your disaster supply kit stocked. Visit LeonReady.com for tips and resources for preparing you and your family this hurricane season.

For up-to-the minute critical updates, visit the County’s Emergency Information Portal at LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
 

Important Updates
  
Leon County Damage Assessment Form

Leon County Emergency Management is seeking assistance from the public to document damage within Tallahassee and Leon County resulting from Hurricane Helene.

This information will be used to assist in collecting consolidated impact information and will be provided to other State and Federal agencies as they assess the damage. Complete the Property Damage Assessment Form.

2-1-1 Big Bend

As our community strides towards recovery following Hurricane Helene, the 2-1-1 Big Bend helpline can connect you to disaster relief resources, including food, transportation, mental health resources, individual/family support services, and more. Call takers will assist you through referral and case tracking. Call 2-1-1 or 850-617-6333.

County Expands Hours of Rural Waste Centers
 
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Leon County is extending the hours of operation at its Rural Waste Service Centers to support all County citizens with yard debris and waste collection free-of-charge during ongoing disaster recovery efforts.
 
Starting Saturday, September 28, the County’s Rural Waste Service Centers will expand its hours to the following until further notice:

• Saturday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Woodville, 549 Henry Jones Road
• Fort Braden, 2485 East Joe Thomas Road
• Miccosukee, 13051 Miccosukee Road

 Residents can also visit the County’s Solid Waste Facility, 7550 Apalachee Pkwy., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Additionally, Waste Pro residential waste collection will resume as scheduled starting Monday, September 30, for unincorporated County customers. For more information, visit the WastePro website at WasteProUSA.com/Leon-County.


Shelters

For shelters open throughout the state of Florida, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management's Shelter Status webpage. One host shelter is available in Leon County:

• Al Lawson Center, 1800 Wahnish Way (not pet accessible)

Stay Informed
 
To stay informed about Leon County's preparedness efforts, use the following resources:

• LeonReady.com – The Leon Ready website is a hub of resources to help you, your family, and your neighborhood prepare for disasters. There are a variety of resources available, like the County’s Disaster Survival Guide, a full list of disaster supplies for your disaster bucket, and so much more, to increase your readiness. 

• Download the Leon County Citizens Connect Mobile App – The Citizens Connect mobile app puts timely emergency notifications at your fingertips through push notifications on your smartphone or other device. Be the first to know about shelter locations, road closures and service changes by downloading the application on the Apple and Google Play stores. 

• Visit the Leon County Emergency Information Portal – Hosting the same information as the Citizens Connect app, the Emergency Information Portal can be accessed on a desktop or a mobile browser by visiting www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei. 

• Additionally, iHeartRadio will also provide updates on the following stations: WFLA-FM 100.7, WFLF-FM 94.5, WTNT 94.9, KISS-FM 107.1, X-FM101.5, and The Beat-FM 105.3. 

• Additionally, iHeartRadio will also provide updates on the following stations: WFLA-FM 100.7, WFLF-FM 94.5, WTNT 94.9, KISS-FM 107.1, X-FM101.5, and The Beat-FM 105.3. Listen to 88.9 WFSU-FM – Citizens can tune in to 88.9 FM for the most up-to-date information from local public safety officials. Featuring to-the-minute reporting, WFSU, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee remain committed to getting information out on the radio as soon as possible. 

• Call 2-1-1 Big Bend – If you need community information, services and support any day of the year, Big Bend 2-1-1 is reachable by dialing either 2-1-1 or (850) 617-6333. 

• Call (850) 606-3700 with questions – Leon County Emergency Management staff is available to answer questions about how you should prepare, act and recover. 

• For updates on City of Tallahassee Utilities and other City services, visit Talgov.com. 

• Insurance Helpline – The Florida Department of Financial Services offers a toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline to assist Florida's insurance consumers. Insurance Specialists are available to answer questions or concerns regarding insurance coverage and advocate on a consumer's behalf to resolve a dispute with an insurance company. To receive assistance, call 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) toll-free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Price Gouging – During a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell or lease certain commodities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price. To report price gouging, call 1-866-966-7226. 

• If you are looking for gas, use GasBuddy.com to report fuel prices and availability.