Local Officials Urge Hernando’s Coastal Residents to Evacuate Now

With 8 to 12 feet of storm surge predicted for coastal areas of Hernando County, area officials are urging residents to get out now.

Mandatory evacuations in zones A, B and C (areas west of US 19, low-lying areas and manufactured homes) began at 8 a.m. this morning. 

In Wednesday evening’s Emergency Operation Center update on Hurricane Helene,  Commissioner Brian Hawkins emphasized that the forecast of 8-12 feet of storm surge is “the most significant forecast that we’ve come up against and it could continue to go up.”

“I know you guys have seen me out in the beaches, in the coastal communities during the last couple of storms in the last couple of years, this is not one of those storms. This is going to be significant catastrophic damage because of the water, because of the surge and you need to have a plan and you need to get out now.”

“We’re talking about single-story homes that could be completely covered with water if the predictions are true.”

David DeCarlo, EOC director added,  “Twelve feet of storm surge will put water on US 19.”

The public shelter at West Hernando Middle School (14325 Ken Austin Parkway) is open, but space is limited. For those who bring their pets, the Emergency Director urges people to bring all necessary supplies. Citizens are advised to take shelter with family or friends if possible.

Hernando County can expect 8-12 feet of storm surge as Helene passes through the Gulf of Mexico along our coastline.  The storm surge will begin to come in tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon, depending on the size, strength and speed of the storm.

Sandbag locations will be open tomorrow, weather permitting, starting at 8 am. Sandbags are available at various locations around the county, including Linda Pedersen Park, Anderson Snow Park, Ridge Manor Community Center, and Spring Lake Methodist Church.

David Lambert, general manager of Withlacoochee River Electric, said that there are crews in the area from outside the state of Florida now stationed in Hernando County and throughout their five-county service area to respond to this storm. He said that if you are evacuating, make sure to turn off the breakers in your home beforehand. He added safety reminders to stay away from downed power lines and to not run generators inside the home.

You can report an outage to Withlacoochee Electric here: https://withlacoochee.smarthub.coop/ui/#/login

Duke Energy has assembled 8000 workers and crews from their midwest operations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. They are staging at at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, The Villages and Suwannee Valley Farmer’s Market.

Duke urges residents to follow these safety rules:

• Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.

• If rising water threatens your home or business – or if you evacuate due to flooding – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.

• Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or damp surface.

• Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy at 800.228.8485 or contact your local emergency services department or agency.

• If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.

• Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Do not drive over – and do not stand near – downed power lines. Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.

To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485 or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips. 

Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier said that Fire and EMS services are currently operational and they are handling routine emergencies. They are adding staff tonight and into tomorrow morning to prepare for additional emergency calls throughout the county. He cautioned that if weather conditions get to bad, they will not be able to make it out into certain areas.

Tampa General Hospital is continuing to monitor and prepare for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Helene.  The status of TGH North operations is as follows:

• Emergency Departments at TGH Brooksville and TGH Spring Hill will remain open through the storm to support emergency response efforts. The TGH Crystal River Emergency Center will also remain open to respond to medical emergencies. 
• All TGH North locations are stocked with a surplus of food, water and medical essentials to support continued operations through the storm. Back-up generators and additional fuel supplies will ensure services are uninterrupted in the event of power outages. 
• TGH Brooksville and TGH Spring Hill have taken precautions to defend against severe weather while continuing to support the community through the storm. 
• Given forecasted conditions along Citrus County’s coast, we are working to discharge patients who can safely go home from TGH Crystal River, while transferring patients in need of continued care to other locations in the region.
• Physician clinics will be closed on Thursday 9/26. 

HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital will be open with visitor restrictions after 1 pm on Thursday, Sept. 26. They will resume regular hospital operations on Friday, Sept. 27.

The following Publix locations will be closed on Thursday:

• #457 (4365 Commercial Way, Spring Hill)
• #1198 (9595 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee)
• #1871 (1400 Pinehurst Dr, Spring Hill)

For storm-related questions, call 352-754-4083.  Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies.