Power companies staged in Tampa Bay area ahead of Helene impacts

By Wednesday afternoon, power company staging areas, including parking lots at the Tropicana Field, will be full of hundreds of power company trucks from across the country.

Mandatory evacuation order issued for coastal areas of Hernando County

Hernando County emergency managers announced a mandatory evacuation order starting Wednesday morning for families living in coastal areas.

TS Helene: Manatee County storm prep update
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Manatee County officials provided an update on storm preps ahead of Tropical Storm Helene.

Tropical Storm Helene: Pinellas County providing update on storm prep
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Pinellas County Emergency Management provided an update on storm prep ahead of Tropical Storm Helene. Pinellas County issued a mandatory evacuation for long term health care facilities in Zone A.

Tropical Storm Helene: Hernando County storm prep update
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Hernando County Emergency Management provided an update on storm preparations. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for areas west of US-19 beginning on Wednesday morning.

TS Helene: Tampa Mayor provides update
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Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and other city leaders held a press conference on Tuesday morning to discuss storm preps ahead of what is expected to become Hurricane Helene. A hurricane watch and a storm surge watch are in effect for portions of the Tampa Bay area.