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Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in parts of Mexico on Wednesday, setting a course for Florida and the Southeast U.S. as a powerful storm capable of causing widespread destruction. The looming threat has residents seeking higher ground, shuttering schools, and prompting states of emergency across the region.

Veronica Robleto, who leads the Rural Women's Health Project, voiced fears that evacuation alerts might not reach the most vulnerable individuals, especially immigrants in north-central Florida. "Most of the counties are not putting out information in any other language besides English," she told The Associated Press. The Gainesville-based nonprofit has been tirelessly translating emergency messages into Spanish and disseminating them via social media and mass texts. Additionally, they are monitoring county websites to determine if shelters will require identification, which some residents lack. "I am concerned that just out of fear and uncertainty and lack of information that a lot of folks will just end up staying home because they don't know where to go for help," Robleto added.

Suwannee County's agricultural workers, facing a mandatory evacuation order, are of particular concern to Robleto. These workers have already endured significant hardship from Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Idalia. Beyond translating communications, the organization is preparing next week's relief activities, which will include distributing food and mold remediation kits.

In Georgia, numerous school systems, including large metro Atlanta districts, have canceled in-person classes for Thursday and Friday. Gwinnett County, the state's largest, has announced a virtual learning day for Thursday and a complete closure on Friday. The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech have also canceled classes in anticipation of the storm.

Georgia officials have advised residents to brace for Helene's swift impact, with all 159 counties expected to experience the storm's effects. State meteorologist Will Lanxton warned of extensive power outages due to high winds. James Stallings, head of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, anticipated significant disruptions, including delays and cancellations at Atlanta’s airport. "I think we're going to see some significant power outages, probably nothing like we've seen, because it's 159 counties wide," Stallings stated.

Preparations in Georgia are underway, with a logistics center in Macon stockpiling essential supplies such as generators, water, food, sandbags, and tarps. The state has also activated 250 National Guard soldiers for rapid response, alongside state game wardens, foresters, and Department of Correction teams to assist in emergency operations and swift-water rescues.

The last two games of a crucial series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, initially set for Wednesday and Thursday, have been postponed due to heavy rain and the impending storm. These games are rescheduled for a doubleheader on Monday.

In Florida's Wakulla County, all residents are under a mandatory evacuation order as the county braces for life-threatening storm surge. But some residents, like Shelby Hill and her family, are choosing to stay, preparing comfort food and stocking up on necessities. "You can feel the energy. Everybody's moving," Hill remarked. "You can tell everybody's actually really nervous and wants to be prepared."