Retired Miami Herald senior writer and lead hurricane writer Martin Merzer experienced and covered scores of hurricanes – and their aftermaths – during his four decades as a reporter. He now lives in Tallahassee. Some of these tips were originally published

Florida's Gulf Coast was bracing Monday for the possibility that Invest 97L, a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea, could intensify quickly.

Tallahassee and surrounding areas are on the edge of the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene later this week, which could make landfall as a Category 3 or higher on Thursday.