Residents are reprimanded by sheriff for disregarding evacuation order for Hurricane Helene

A Florida sheriff, Bob Gualtieri in Pinellas County, admonished residents for not heeding evacuation orders as Hurricane Helene approached, threatening an “unsurvivable” storm surge along the northwest coast. The storm was set to bring flooding rains and potentially high winds, with areas facing 5 to 8 feet of storm surge. Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately, warning of the dangerous conditions ahead. The National Weather Service described the storm surge along the panhandle as “catastrophic and unsurvivable.” Despite evacuation orders in many counties, some residents chose to stay, including in Steinhatchee and Saint Marks, due to various reasons such as trusting in divine protection or having no alternative plans. Local officials expressed frustration at residents who chose to stay, warning that first responders may not be able to reach them during the storm. The sheriff in Wakulla County emphasized that the storm could be unprecedented in its impact on the area, urging residents to evacuate for their own safety. Despite the warnings, some residents in vulnerable coastal areas decided to stay, bracing for the storm by tying their fishing boats together to ride out the rising tide.

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