The region has endured two other hurricanes recently, but many more people appeared to be evacuating this time, leaving their small coastal towns eerily empty.

VERIFIEDs Big Bend area late Thursday night but was rapidly weakening as it raced inland early Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. Helene was bringing a life-threatening storm surge, strong winds and heavy rain,

The winds might have died down as Hurricane Helene dwindles, but dangerous storm surge and flooding rivers in Florida are still a concern.

CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warned that the enormous system could create a “nightmare” storm surge and bring dangerous winds and rain across much of the southeastern U.S. There were at least three storm-related deaths.

Helene is expected to be a major hurricane — meaning a Category 3 or higher — when it makes landfall on Florida's northwestern coast Thursday evening.

Hurricane Milton has not yet made landfall in Florida, but the effects of this latest storm are expected to devastate the region.

Hurricane Milton is weakening slightly but remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surge

Ahead of Hurricane Milton, we drove through barrier islands and coastal areas that were hit hard by the storm surge of Hurricane Helene two weeks ago. People once again secured their property against hurricane winds.

In Hillsborough County, Fla., debris from Hurricane Helene remains largely uncollected as crews continue cleanup efforts, said Kim Byer, assistant administrator of Public Works. Despite their efforts since Helene's landfall,

Milton has strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane as Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years