The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a Hurricane Warning late Tuesday afternoon for Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to intensify into hurricane strength on Wednesday.

According to the NHC, Helene is projected to grow in size over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and will bring potential life-threatening storm surge along the west coast of the Florida Big Bend and Florida Peninsula.

The NHC has advised residents in the Florida Big Bend area to make preparations to protect life and property by Thursday, when the storm is projected to hit.

Potential rainfall is forecasted to be four to eight inches with some isolated areas receiving a total of 12 inches over the Southeastern U.S.

School closures have been announced throughout the North Florida area along with sandbagging locations in Alachua and Columbia counties and in Dixie, Levy and Gilchrist counties.

Alachua County released the Alachua County Ready website with resources to prepare for the storm. For Gainesville area storm alerts, sign up for email phone and text notifications at www.alertgnv.org.

UF/IFAS has a resource page on how to prepare for storms that includes tips on how to prepare for a disaster, taking care of your home, health and pets, what to do with you livestock and agriculture and how to prepare your trees and landscape.

The items that the city of Gainesville recommended to prepare for the upcoming hurricane include:

• Refill needed prescriptions. All health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities must comply with the state statute which allows for early prescription refills as the Governor issued an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency.

• Review your family emergency plan and stock your emergency preparedness kit, including flashlight batteries and nonperishable foods for family and your pets. Visit ready.gov for more information.
• Now is the time to bring inside any loose objects in your yard (lawn furniture, political signs, outdoor decorations, hanging plants, etc.) so they do not become projectiles in strong winds.