Florida residents prepared for a heavy blow from Hurricane Helene as the Category 4 storm churned northward Thursday, prompting warnings of pounding rain and a storm surge that could create “unsurvivable conditions” in some areas.

Hurricane Helene, a massive, destructive Category 4 hurricane causing catastrophic storm surge, made landfall about 11:10 p.m. Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend, the National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Helene has brought life-threatening storm surge to Florida. Video shows drivers trying to cross the Tampa Bay bridge before it was closed. Ocean water appears to almost overtake the entire bridge.