(Reuters) – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell on Thursday advised residents in the path of Hurricane Helene to take the storm’s potential impact seriously, just hours before its anticipated landfall in Florida.
In a statement at the White House, Criswell emphasized the importance of heeding local officials’ evacuation instructions. “Take the storm seriously. People in Hurricane Helene’s path, you need to listen to your local officials if they tell you to evacuate,” she stated. Criswell also mentioned her plans to travel to the affected region on Friday to evaluate the damage.