Senator Rick Scott made three stops Wednesday in the Panhandle and Big Bend areas in advance of Hurricane Helene’s arrival. Helene is due to make landfall Thursday night in or near Franklin County as a possible category 4 hurricane.

Several Franklin County evacuees didn’t think they’d have homes when they returned. “We were getting ready for a really catastrophic event and a terrible, terrible storm,” Franklin County Sheriff A.J.

Franklin County authorities say if you feel unsafe about Helene, now’s the time to leave. Once winds are sustained a 40 miles an hour, bridges will close. So if you live on St. George Island, you’ll be stuck and forced to shelter in place.

Franklin County enacted mandatory evacuations for the entire county, effective at noon Eastern time Wednesday. Hurricane Helene is projected to make landfall Thursday night along the Franklin County coastline.

Fla., joins 'The Faulkner Focus' after touring damage from Hurricane Helene to provide updates and discuss Vice President Kamala Harris' planned border visit.

As Hurricane Helene formed and barreled toward the Big Bend, it provided an opportunity for Rick Scott, Florida’s reelection-seeking U.S. senator. He demonstrated concern for the state’s residents, warned them to protect themselves — and got public attention with less than six weeks until Election Day.