Florida’s Big Bend is bracing for its third hurricane in a year as Helene gains strength

Florida’s Big Bend region on the northern Gulf Coast is bracing for another hurricane, the third in 13 months.

Wind speeds for what could soon be Hurricane Helene are forecast to reach up to 115 mph, higher than Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm that made landfall in the area on Aug. 5 and approaching the winds of Hurricane Idalia, which hit the region. at the end of August 2023.

If there’s an advantage for insurers, it’s that the corner of the state is less populated than other parts of Florida, limiting claims to what could be a manageable number. Property insurers with the most residential policies in the area include Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and American Bankers Insurance Co. from Florida.

Both have several thousand policies in the low region, according to quarterly reporting data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

National Hurricane Center forecasts indicated that tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico could strengthen into Category 3 Helene and make landfall by Thursday afternoon, with Dixie, Levy and Citrus counties likely to feel the strongest winds and waves. storm.

“Due to the large projected size of this system, the effects of storm surge, wind and precipitation will extend far from the center, especially on the eastern side. Additionally, the fast forward speed as it crosses the coast will likely lead to greater inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States after landfall,” the NHC advisory warned.

The storm could likely mean more federal aid for Big Bend area residents, many of whom do not have flood insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced last week that after Hurricane Idalia, the National Flood Insurance Program paid out about $372 million for 5,200 damages from that storm.

Map graphic: National Meteorological Service

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Catastrophe Natural disasters Hurricane in Florida