Helene, the most powerful hurricane to strike Apalachee Bay and one that threatened Tallahassee with a direct hit, made landfall late Thursday in Taylor County.

Assessing the damage of Hurricane Helene Morgan said on Friday that unlike recent storms, Helene brought record-setting storm surges to the county. He attributes that to the reason Taylor is experiencing massive flooding and structural damage.

‘Ask everyone to pray for us’: Taylor County residents evacuate before Hurricane Helene makes landfall in the Big Bend TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla. – Taylor County in the Florida Panhandle is under a mandatory evacuation as Hurricane Helene heads for landfall in the Big Bend.

Since late Tuesday, a mandatory evacuation has been in effect for the approximately 22,000 residents of Taylor County — but, for those who chose to stay behind, the Division of Emergency Management is asking them to make identifying their body easier after the storm — by writing their name on an arm or leg with a permanent marker.

AccuWeather's Ali Reid reported live from Tallahassee just after midnight on Sept. 27, capturing extremely windy conditions as Helene tore through Florida.

Hurricane Helene swallowed the Big Bend region with torrential rain, making landfall at 11 p.m. Thursday. The most powerful winds ever recorded in modern history whipped the city in a terrifying night for many who were waiting out the storm or too nervous to sleep.