Pinellas County Deputies and work crews are cleaning up the barrier islands. Photos shared by PCSO show the sand and debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This is Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores.

A raging river of Gulf of Mexico water ripped through the heart of Madeira Beach just minutes after deputies blocked access to Pinellas County’s barrier islands at

They’re predicting three to six inches of rain, 60 mph winds and think the higher surge and higher tides will stick around for 24 to 36 hours. Cathie Perkins, the director of Pinellas County Emergency Management, said if you flooded during Idalia or Eta, you’re probably going to flood again during Helene.

Long before its landfall late Thursday, Hurricane Helene and its intense wind and rain were already threatening millions of people in four states.

Helene roared ashore Florida's Big Bend region as one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, with officials fearing the hurricane would leave a trail of deaths and widespread destruction as it moved inland.

"A lot of people when they’re leaving the island are hugging each other and crying, saying ‘I hope we have a home to go back to.'" Florida’s governor has been warning about Hurricane Helene for the last couple of days,

By Rich McKay, Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Hay (Reuters) -Driving rain flooded roadways and closed down airports in Florida as an intensifying Hurricane Helene marched toward the state's Panhandle region,

Record-setting storm surge and damage from high winds have caused significant damage across Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Tampa Bay northward.

Destructive winds, flooding rains, and a life-threatening storm surge are ongoing as major Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Helene strengthened into a Category 4 storm hours ahead of its expected landfall on Florida’s northwest coast Thursday night.