Hurricane Helene has eased to a Category 1 storm, but still poses a huge threat across 12 states. NBC News' Jay Gray reports from Tallahassee, Florida, where residents dodged a direct hit.

Residents of the state’s capital stayed home Thursday, made last minute storm preparations or took solace in their decision to leave before the hurricane is scheduled to hit.

With forecasters warning that Helene’s hurricane-force winds were hours from what is expected to be an unprecedented battering of Tallahassee, residents' emotions ran a gamut – from fear of trees, to concerns about running out of ice, to a nonchalance about their neighbors' concerns.