Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett issued a grim warning to residents who chose to ignore evacuation orders and stay put during Hurricane Helene. He urged them to mark themselves with their personal information so officials can identify them in worst-case scenarios. Despite mandatory evacuation orders, Padgett estimated that half of the county’s 20,000 residents were choosing to stay. He warned of potential death threats from the expected storm surge and urged residents to stay put and hunker down. Padgett expressed concern over the unprecedented storm surge and tornado warnings that Helene is bringing, making it one of the biggest storms to hit the Gulf Coast with winds reaching up to 125 mph.
Padgett advised residents to seek shelters in other counties, as Taylor County is in the storm’s direct path and officials are worried about the safety of those in shelters within the county. Uber offered to transport residents to shelters outside the county. Despite the challenges, Padgett assured that power crews and food trucks are ready to assist once the storm passes. This will be the third major storm within a year for Taylor County, but Padgett expressed confidence that the community will endure and recover. He emphasized the importance of preparedness and resilience as they brace for the impact of Hurricane Helene.
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