The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in Florida issued a warning to residents who chose not to evacuate before Hurricane Helene hit the coast, advising them to write their name, birthday, and important information on their body in permanent marker for identification in case of death. The warning, posted on Facebook hours before the storm arrived, highlighted the potential peril of staying during a powerful hurricane. The sheriff’s office also requested residents to email them with their details and the number of people and pets at their location.
The county has faced several hurricanes in recent years, including Category 3 Hurricane Idalia and Category 1 Hurricane Debby. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, was predicted to bring a storm surge of up to 20 feet.
Gene Taylor, a former official during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, advised those staying behind to have life jackets and an ax on hand in case they need to escape through the roof. Rescues from rooftops were necessary after Katrina and other severe flooding events. The warning from the sheriff’s office emphasized the seriousness of ignoring evacuation orders during a potentially deadly storm surge.
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