Officials have ordered all tourists to leave as well as all RVs. Mandatory evacuations also are in place for residents in Highland View, Wind Mark, St. Joe Beach, Beacon Hill to the county line and for the City of Port St. Joe for everyone from St. Joseph Bay to North Garrison Avenue and everyone from the bay to Garrison Avenue.

Hurricane Helene formed Wednesday morning as Tampa Bay officials issued more evacuation orders and urged residents to get ready as the window to prepare is shrinking. A stretch from Pasco County north along the Big Bend to Mexico Beach in the Panhandle is under a hurricane warning.

USA TODAY's power outage map showed more than 200,000 without power in Pinellas County and more than 900,000 statewide by 11:45 p.m. Thursday. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.