Hurricane Helen hit the southeast coast of the United States and struck Florida.
The day before, state authorities asked residents to evacuate the most dangerous areas. And those who decided not to leave home at their own risk were asked to write personal information on their hands.
According to the NBC television channel, such an unusual request was made to local residents from the screens. Wayne Padgett – Sheriff of Taylor County in northern Florida.
A police officer warned that the district (where about 20,000 people live) would be at the epicenter of the approaching hurricane, which was assigned the most serious category: the fourth.
The sheriff complained about the indiscipline of his fellow citizens. He noted that despite the declared mandatory evacuation, almost half of the population decided, frivolously, to stay in their homes.
It was also stated that at the moment it is too late to try to leave. Along with this, residents were asked to write their name and Social Security number on their hand with a black marker so they could be quickly identified “in case of emergency.”
Let us remember that previously Tropical Storm Helen, which hit the United States, intensified until it became a hurricane. In this sense, an evacuation was announced along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
As reported EADailyEven before Hurricane Helen hit Florida, several areas of the state were flooded due to heavy rain. The number of homes left without electricity exceeded 750,000. At least 33 people are also known to have died. And most likely this figure is not final.