Franklin County Mandatory Evacuation

WKGC Storm Center – According to Franklin County Emergency Management, in response to the projected trajectory and intensity of Tropical Storm Helene, Franklin County will implement a mandatory evacuation for the entire county, effective at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Helene is anticipated to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, with hazardous winds reaching 115 MPH, a storm surge of 5–10 feet, and rainfall accumulation of up to 12 inches. All decisions related to the storm must be made Wednesday Morning for Franklin County according to officials.

Residents are advised not to shelter in place and officials are asking all to please evacuate until the storm has passed the area. Officials in Franklin County won’t residents to be aware that if wind speeds reach sustained levels of 40 MPH, emergency medical services (EMS) will be unable to respond due to safety concerns regarding ambulance dispatch in high winds.

To assist residents in preparing for potential flooding, sandbag distribution locations will be available on

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Please note that Franklin County government will no longer provide pre-filled sandbags; however, empty bags and sand will be available at each site.

Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels. The sandbag distribution locations are as follows:
– The Old State Yard: 1090 Bluff Rd, Apalachicola, FL
– Vrooman Park: 30 6th St, Eastpoint, FL
– Old Courthouse Annex: 1647 HWY 98, Carrabelle, FL
– SGI Firehouse: 324 E Pine Ave, St. George Island, FL

Franklin County Schools and Franklin County Government Offices will be closed from Wednesday September 25 to Friday September 27, 2024.

Given the rapidly changing situation regarding this storm, Franklin County Officials encourage residents to sign up for Alert Franklin and monitor local news outlets, such as WKGC.