JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Northeast Florida started to feel the effects of powerful and wide Hurricane Helene on Thursday night as the Category 4 storm made its way closer to the Gulf Coast.
Neighborhoods in Duval County experienced power outages, downed trees and early signs of flooding as conditions started to deteriorate.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department shared a safety warning to urge drivers to stay off the roads with an image of a downed tree blocking a street.
Stay off the roads if you can…winds are gusty, trees are coming down already. pic.twitter.com/uAgb5zEdyw
— THEJFRD (@THEJFRD) September 26, 2024
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also blocked Mandarin Road from traffic because a strong wind gust caused a tree to fall and take down a live wire.
In Elkton, nearly 120 homes were without power early Thursday afternoon because a tree fell and clipped a feeder line with it, according to St. Johns County Emergency Management.
MORE: Widespread power outages expected during Helene; JEA urges residents to be safe, patient
St. Johns County was under a tornado warning until 6 p.m., but no tornados were reported.
Flooding in downtown Jacksonville turned roads and parking lots near the Maxwell House factory and the VyStar Memorial Area into a small lake.
A storm surge between 1-3 feet was expected in the St. Johns River as the storm blows through.
Jacksonville’s Riverside, which is prone to flooding, was swamped with an overflow of the St. Johns County River. Waters started to pour into Memorial Park and flood streets.
