Helene leaves Union County with downed trees, no power

A downed tree east of Worthington Springs on County Road 18.

A felled tree damaged a carport at Lake Butler’s First Baptist Church.

Winds took down an awning and conduit at Lake Butler Elementary School.

One uprooted tree took out the sign at Lake Butler Hospital.

A tree took down power lines and forced traffic into a yard on Northwest 45th Court in Providence

A snapped tree branch obstructed the sidewalk in front of Lake Butler Hospital.

A crew works to remove a downed tree on State Road 100 that took down power lines.

Ten people sought refuge at the Union County High School shelter. Staffing the facility were (l-r from top left) Christie Whitehead, Superintendent Mike Ripplinger, School Resource Officer Robert Fipps, and Stephanie Sellers.

BY DAN HILDEBRAN

[email protected]

Gov. Ron DeSantis said that Union County, with 86% of residents losing power during Hurricane Helene, was one of the hardest-hit areas with power outages, following only those in the direct path of the storm, like Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Taylor, Madison, and Columbia counties.

The state’s chief executive said 99% of residents in the counties in the direct path of the storm were without power.

Wind damage was visible the day following the storm at the Lake Butler Hospital’s sign, Lake Butler Elementary School, and the city’s First Baptist Church.

Ten people sought refuge at the Union County High School hurricane shelter.

Union County Sheriff’s Captain Lyn Williams said crews worked throughout Thursday night and Friday clearing roads from downed trees.