DUNNELLON, Fla. – Depending on where you are in Central Florida, your impacts from Hurricane Helene may differ.
In Marion County, Dunnellon Police Chief Chris Scaglione said they’re preparing for wind damage including downed power lines and trees.
News 6 stopped by the Oak Bend Village neighborhood on Wednesday where people were bringing in their yard decorations and getting ready to head to the grocery store for their last-minute supplies.
Shelby Burnett and her husband manage the Oak Bend Village neighborhood and spent time on Wednesday making sure people’s homes were secure.
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“Mostly just making sure everybody’s got their awnings down so that they don’t blow around or break off,” Burnett said.
“Mainly picking up anything loose out in front of the houses so that stuff doesn’t blow into anybody’s windows or whatever.”
After getting home from a trip to St. Petersburg, Barbara Soutar and her husband rolled right into hurricane prep.
“We’re going to the store first and getting some groceries since we don’t have any right now,” said Soutar.
The Soutars said they plan to stay home, but if things get bad, they have a backup plan.
“My mother’s house is for sale, unfortunately, she passed away a year ago so if things get bad we can go over there and chill out for a while,” said Steven Soutar.
Dunnellon Police Chief Chris Scaglione said they’re out making sure people are prepared.
“They’re already starting to prepare,” Scaglione said. “Hit the gas pumps and sandbag locations, they’ve probably already filled 3,000 to 3,500 sandbags today.”
Scaglione said the biggest impact they’re focused on is the wind.
“We’re preparing for trees and electric lines to go down,” Scaglione said.
An emergency shelter has opened at West Port High School in Ocala which is about 30 minutes away from Dunnellon.
Meteorologist Jonathan Kegges provides the latest information about everything happening in the tropics.
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