COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Columbia County was the only Northeast Florida county under a hurricane warning for Helene and it suffered the brunt of our local damage.
Even as the county was still recovering from Hurricane Debby last month, Hurricane Helene roared ashore in the Big Bend as a catastrophic Category 4 storm with hurricane-force winds extending dozens of miles from the center.
RELATED | Rescuers save and assist hundreds as Helene’s storm surge and rain create havoc | As Helene dissipates, Tropical Storm Joyce forms in the Atlantic
Our News4JAX crew spotted large chunks of a roof covering a roadway in downtown Lake City early Friday morning. The roof had ripped off an abandoned building, flying onto North Marion Avenue and damaging at least one vehicle on the road.
The damaged building is across from an old theater downtown, a couple of blocks from City Hall.
In other parts of the city, large trees fell onto roads and took power lines with them. One large tree took out a traffic signal on Grandview Street.
Lake City police said no injuries were reported but the street will be closed for a while until all the debris can be removed.
Our crew said debris and downed trees were a common sight as they were maneuvering carefully around the county.
Residents of one mobile home community also saw severe damage to their homes.
A tree smashed into the home of Crystal Andres and Jordan Martin at Cannok Creek Inc Mobile Home Community and destroyed their bathroom and back bedroom.
“Complete and utter shock,” Andres said.
The couple’s two cats were inside at the time but not hurt. Thankfully, Andres and Martin opted to stay in a hotel last night.
“We have each other. So I am good. My family is alive, my niece is alive, my brother is alive. There is nothing to worry about,” Martin said.
A few doors down, Cathy and her roommate were inside when a tree fell onto their unit. It could have been a worse outcome if they were in different rooms.
“It came down over him. When it did, from the impact, it busted the window and shot the glass all over him,” Cathy said. “It was like a bomb went off. All of a sudden, I heard — I thought it was a limit at first, but then I realized it was the whole tree.”
As of 4 a.m., Columbia County officials were asking residents to stay off the roads until the winds die down, saying deputies won’t be able to respond to help anyone until conditions improve.
Columbia County commissioners had warned residents to be ready for rain, strong winds and power outages.
US 441 at Sunnybrook Street was closed Friday morning because of debris.
County residents urged residents to only call 911 if they have a true emergency, so dispatchers don’t become overwhelmed.
VIDEO | U.S. Coast Guard airlifts man, dog to safety in daring rescue amid Hurricane Helene
For anything that is not an emergency or even if you just have a question, residents should call the Citizens Information Center at 386-719-7530, which will be open 24 hours a day moving forward.
Downed trees and power lines are making travel tough across the state and the damage worsens the further west in Florida you are.
The county has five shelters open:
- Deep Creek Community Center
- Winfield Community Center
- Westside Elementary School -- which will be for those with special needs and their caregivers only
- Fort White High School
- Richardson Community Center
There is also a pet shelter available, just for pets. The vacant building at the intersection of Leon and Franklin streets was converted into a pet shelter. Pets will need vaccination/shot records, food and owners are asked to bring their own kennels if possible.
MORE | Gov. DeSantis: 2 Florida deaths attributed to Hurricane Helene amid ‘historic storm surge’
The county got a shipment of 60 kennels to use at the shelter. Owners will NOT be allowed to stay with their pets.