The surge could be 15 to 20 feet higher than normal tide levels, flooding dozens of communities along the Gulf Coast.

Helene roared ashore Florida's Big Bend region as one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, with officials fearing the hurricane would leave a trail of deaths and widespread destruction as it moved inland.

Helene rapidly intensified into a hurricane Wednesday as it plows toward a Florida landfall as the strongest hurricane to hit the US in over a year. The storm will also grow into a massive, sprawling monster as it continues to intensify,