The US National Hurricane Center announced today, Friday, that Hurricane "Helen" that hit the coast of the US state of Florida has turned into a fourth category hurricane, causing destructive winds reaching speeds of 215 kilometers per hour, and expectations of catastrophic flooding in the region. This hurricane is the strongest to hit the state in recent years. The center indicated that the hurricane reached land in the "Big Bend" area, northwest of Florida, last night, causing tropical storm conditions across most of the state's western coasts. The authorities have issued warnings of the need to take protective measures for residents, as sea levels are expected to rise to dangerous levels, reaching 6 meters, which poses a great danger to lives and property. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a press statement that "this storm is unlike anything we have seen in recent memory in this area," stressing the importance of residents being prepared to stay in safe places and not try to leave in the face of severe weather conditions. The National Hurricane Center explained that the hurricane extends 822 miles wide and 114 miles long, making it one of the largest hurricanes to hit the region in terms of size since 1988, as hurricane warnings extend 90 miles north of the Georgia-Florida line. Local authorities confirmed that the hurricane threat includes neighboring states such as Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia, which may witness flooding and heavy rains. For his part, Mike Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, warned that Hurricane "Helen" poses a catastrophic scenario that cannot be escaped, noting that the destructive waves and strong winds could lead to the destruction of homes and sweeping away cars, which increases the danger of the situation. He explained that preventive measures have become necessary to protect lives. The American authorities have called on tens of millions of citizens to take the warnings seriously and stay in safe places until the hurricane passes safely. Schools and public facilities have been closed in the affected areas, and a state of emergency has been declared throughout the state of Florida in anticipation of any developments. Source: National Iraqi News Agency