Residents asked to have their names written on their bodies to help police identify them after Helene

PERRY, Fla. – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in Big Bend, Florida, is asking residents who have chosen to ignore mandatory evacuation warnings for Hurricane Helene to write their name and other identifying information on their arms or legs with permanent markers to make identification easier Should you become a victim?

According to the National Hurricane Center, Taylor County is under a hurricane and storm surge warning with a storm surge of up to 20 feet. These storm surge levels would be historic and what the NWS in Tallahassee called “catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable.”

A mandatory statewide evacuation order was issued for Taylor County on Tuesday.

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“If you or someone you know has chosen not to evacuate, PLEASE write your name, birthday and important information in permanent marker on your arm or leg so you can be identified and your family notified,” officials said in a statement.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office has asked those staying behind or their relatives to email them a list of people who will be staying there, including whether their address is inland or coastal, their address and the number of people who will stay there.

Example of storm surge impacts in Fort Myers when Hurricane Ian struck in 2022.

(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)

Officials have also asked residents, guests and those who were evacuated not to return to Taylor County until they receive an official statement from the emergency operations center. Officials expect many roads to be impassable and dangerous conditions such as fallen trees and downed power lines.

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Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, possibly as a Category 4 hurricane.