"Helene stands toe-to-toe with any of the threats that Florida has faced over the past ten years or indeed really over hurricane history."

The Big Bend area buffers the coastline from Florida's capital city, Tallahassee, which is a little more than 20 miles from the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Helene is gaining strength and will rapidly intensify over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Landfall in the Florida Big Bend as a major Category 3 hurricane is expected late Thursday.