Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett issued a grim warning to residents choosing to ignore evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Helene’s expected Category 4 landfall on Thursday night. Despite mandatory evacuations, as much as half of the county’s 20,000 residents are opting to stay put. Padgett advised these residents to mark themselves with their personal information in case of worst-case scenarios. He warned that those in low-lying areas face a death threat from the anticipated 18-20 foot storm surge, which the county has never experienced before. While most residents who stayed behind are in less threatening locations, Padgett expressed concern over the potential impact of Helene’s 125 mph winds and tornado warnings within the storm zone.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Padgett recommended that residents seek shelters in other counties, as Taylor County did not open a shelter due to being in the storm’s direct path. Uber has offered to transport residents to shelters outside the county. Despite facing the third major storm in the past year, Padgett assured that officials are prepared with power crews, food trucks, and assistance from state agencies. He emphasized that residents must stay safe and be patient as they navigate through the storm. Padgett urged residents to hang on and stay resilient as they endure the impact of Hurricane Helene.
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