South Florida first responders head to Big Bend area as Helene takes aim at Florida

MIAMI – South Florida first responders are heading north to the Big Bend area Wednesday as Tropical Storm Helene heads toward Florida.

The City of Miami Fire Rescue’s USAR Task Force (FL-TF2) consists of officers from several different agencies in the county.

Officials say they will go to areas that are at risk of being severely impacted by Helene, which is expected to hit northwest Florida as a major hurricane.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is forecast to be “near hurricane strength” when it passes near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday, and to “intensify and grow in size” as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall was forecast for the southeastern U.S. starting Wednesday, with a “life-threatening storm surge” along the entire west coast of Florida, according to the center.

Helene is expected to become a major hurricane — a Category 3 or higher — on Thursday, the day it’s set to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast, according to the hurricane center.

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