Florida Panhandle residents should begin hurricane prep now as Hurricane Helene expected

Florida Panhandle residents should be getting their hurricane preparations in order as what could eventually become Hurricane Helene is expected to rapidly intensify over the next few days.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Invest 97L, a broad area of low pressure, as it has gradually become better organized over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

The system is expected to become a tropical depression within the next day or two as it moves across the Caribbean and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Invest 97L spaghetti models: See latest spaghetti models, radar images of Invest 97L. What impact is expected in Florida?

AccuWeather predicts that the system will make Landfall Thursday along the Florida Panhandle, near the Big Bend, as Hurricane Helene.

Here's the latest on Invest 97L.

What's happening with Invest 97L now?

The National Hurricane Center has categorized Invest 97L as a broad area of low pressure that is located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

Environmental conditions in the area make it likely that the system will continue development, becoming a tropical depression within the next day or two.

Tropical depression or tropical storm? Tropical weather definitions everyone should know

Regardless of the system's development, it's expected to cause heavy downpours over portions of Central America over the next several days.

Invest 97L is forecast to move northward across the eastern Gulf of Mexico afterward.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: high, 80 percent.

• Formation chance through 7 days: high, 90 percent.

Will Invest 97L hit Florida as Hurricane Helene?

All signs are currently pointing to yes.

AccuWeather's latest update stressed that residents along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend need to begin their hurricane preparations now rather than later.

"Everyone along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region needs to be prepared for hurricane impacts," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, adding that the setup has the potential to become the strongest hurricane landfall in the U.S. so far this season.

Current Invest 97L spaghetti models show several potential paths that run north-northeast, with the center of the storm passing almost directly over Tallahassee.

Invest 97L spaghetti models

Invest 97L could make landfall as a Category 3 Hurricane Helene

DaSilva expects that Invest 97L could rapidly intensify to a Category 2 hurricane based on current data, but says that is likely to change to a Category 3 hurricane later today.

DaSilva stressed that residents should prepare for a very strong hurricane now.

"There is limited time to prepare for this storm. Prepare for a possible Category 4 storm. It's following a similar track to Michael and we don't want people to be caught off guard. If you're told to evacuate out of coastal areas, do so. Most deaths are water related, from flooding and storm surge."

How Florida residents can prepare for a possible hurricane

Your hurricane kit is one of the most important aspects of storm prep. Why have a kit? Waiting until a hurricane is heading in your direction is a surefire way to forget something crucial, run out of time before you can get everything together or leave you in a position where you’re scavenging empty aisles at your local grocery store.

Preparing ahead of time allows you to procure all the items on your list. It also allows you to check your list twice too, ensuring you won’t miss anything.

Here are the absolute basics:

• Non-perishable food (enough to last at least three days)

• Water (enough to last at least three days)

• First-aid kit (include any prescription medication you may need)

• Personal hygiene items and sanitation items

• Flashlights (have extra batteries on hand)

• Battery-operated radio (again, have extra batteries)

• Waterproof container with cash and important documents

• Manual can opener

• Lighter or matches

• Books, magazines, games for recreation

• Special needs items: pet supplies and baby supplies, if applicable

• Cooler and ice packs

• A plan for evacuation and what to do if family members are separated

Check up on your generator today

If you have a gas generator that has been neglected, now is the time to pull it out and ensure it runs properly. Gas left in gas-powered engines for long periods will go stale and could prevent them from running.

Now is a great time to swap the oil and throw a little gas inside your generator to ensure it runs. If it’s been a while and still cranks, leave it running for a bit. You can add a fuel stabilizer to help increase the lifespan of the gas, but it’s best only to add a little.

For regular maintenance, make sure you crank your generator and let it run or a bit at least once a month. Doing this every time you mow your lawn is an easy way to keep up with the process. It can also be helpful to pick up an extra bit of oil and a spark plug, too, on the off chance that it goes out during a hurricane.

Prep your yard

Trim up any overgrown bushes and keep your eyes peeled for fallen tree branches or other yard debris that could be dangerous if picked up by storm-force winds. Doing a little bit each weekend can ensure that your yard is tidy by the time hurricane season begins.

Put together or review your family emergency plan

Does your family know where you would go if you had to evacuate? If not, now is a great time to put together a family emergency plan, which helps ensure everyone is on the same page and doesn’t put anyone in a situation where they are having to make a guess in a dangerous situation.

Family emergency plans involve collecting crucial information and sharing it with everyone in your family so they all have access to it, formulating evacuation plans and more. If you’ve never written one, here are some ideas to get you started.

Collect important paperwork: Grabbing your home insurance documents isn’t the only thing you should gather. You’ll want to grab living wills, birth certificates, Social Security cards, important health-related documents and more.

Gather important contact information: Put together a contact list that you can send to all of your family that includes things like your family doctor, pharmacist, counselor and veterinarians. Also include phone numbers to local resources like the poison control center, animal poison control helpline and the disaster distress helpline so no one has to go looking if things take a turn for the worst

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Invest 97L likely to become strong Hurricane Helene. What to know