"You have these 140 mph winds hitting here in north Florida, this is going to extend," said Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). "You're gonna have hurricane-force winds that are gonna extend across a couple counties to the east and west."

The storm prompted a rare extreme wind warning with forecasters calling it "exceptionally dangerous and life-threatening."

In Fort Myers Beach, marine deputies waded through floodwaters and used boats to rescue people. And in Tampa, roads turned into rivers.

There are also reports of electrical transformers exploding. More than a million homes and businesses are without power.

"This storm is raging," said one local resident. "I have got flooding so bad you cannot even imagine."

Near St. Petersburg, the lobby of a hotel is completely underwater. And the storm turned deadly after a sign fell onto the vehicle of a car on Interstate 4, killing the driver. Two other deaths were reported in Georgia.

Homes and businesses were boarded up as the storm approached with many residents heeding mandatory evacuation orders.

"This one here's got me a little bit more nervous than the others," said Kenneth Griswold. "I mean, for the extent of how wide and vast it is. I mean, it's not a little small storm like the others we've had here recently."

Some decided to ride out the storm.

"It's the worst storm I've ever been in my whole life," said Michael Bobbitt of Cedar Key. "And right now, it feels like the whole island is coming apart. The storm surge is closing in on three sides. Several of our streets are impassible. There are trees down everywhere. The wind sounds like a freight train outside right now."

Those who defied mandatory evacuation orders were asked to write their name, birth date and other information on their arms or legs so they can be identified.

Faced with potentially serious damage and life-threatening conditions, residents have been frustrated with having to deal with yet another hurricane.

"It's like a bad dream over and over," said northwest Florida resident Philip Lambert. "As soon as you get cleaned up from one storm, six months later you get hit again, or eight months later you get hit again."

Last summer Hurricane Idalia brought about nine feet of storm surge in the same region where Helene hit, leaving most homes under water. Forecasters had warned this storm could deliver catastrophic storm surge of some twenty feet.

CBN's Operation Blessing arrived ahead of the storm in Mariana, Florida.

"We are looking at anywhere between five and twenty foot of storm surge. Just to give you an idea - 20 foot of storm surge looks like a 2-story house completely submerged under water," said Steffany Horton, Operation Blessing Deployment Manager.

Operation Blessing was already in place to meet the physical and spiritual of needs of those impacted by Helene.

"We have actually brought our mobile kitchen with us so that as soon as the storm passes we can start evaluating the area and seeing if there's a need that arises for feeding operations," Horton told CBN News.

Operation Blessing is also prepared with other essential supplies such as chainsaws, shovels, and coolers to assist residents with cleanup and recovery after the storm.

"Just meeting them where they're at just like Jesus would ask us to do. So, we are very committed to be able to do that with others and to show and spread not only the light and the Gospel but the love that we have deep in our hearts," said Horton. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Charlene Aaron serves as a general assignment reporter, news anchor, co-host of The 700 Club, co-host of 700 Club Interactive, and co-host of The Prayerlink on the CBN News Channel.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Joe Rogan: 'I'm Fascinated by the Story of Jesus Christ' [Video]

Politicians Called It a 'Chemtrail Conspiracy.' The CIA's Own Files Just Proved Them Wrong

Scotland's Parliament Votes against Assisted Suicide in Pro-Life Victory

Weird: Iraq-Born Man Released from Jail after Bringing Gun, Wearing Tactical Gear, to Texas Elementary School

Iran's Islamic Regime Shows That It Is Truly Evil and Must Be Stopped

Amid War and Persecution, Iran's Christian Community Quietly Grows

Joe Kent Resigns as NCTC Director Citing Opposition to War; Then Trump Posts This Screenshot of Kent's Old Tweet

Senate Opens Debate on SAVE America Act

'Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment': Charges Dropped Against Teen Who Tragically Ran Over Teacher

Ecuador's Daniel Noboa Cracks Down on Crime, and We're All Better Off For It

More Than 300 Iranians Apprehended by Border Patrol Under Trump; Center Square Exclusive

Thousands of Texans Call on Congress to Stop Big Bend Border Wall Construction

Therapist Exposes the 'Pathological' Mentality Behind the Transgender Mutilation Pipeline

Mamdani Appoints 'Transgender' Attorney to Lead New York City's New Office of LGBT Affairs

President Trump Formally Names VP Vance Chair of Fraud Task Force; With California, New York among States in the Crosshairs

2 Iranian Women's Soccer Players Who Defected, Ditch Their Hijabs, Practice with Australian Club after Being Granted Asylum

Over 1,000 Expected at Today's 6th Annual California March for Life

Most Voters Support Bans on Transgender Athletes in Female Sports

Monthly Personal Savings Rate in January Highest Since July, Helped by Lower Taxes

US Senate to Hold Marathon Debate on GOP Voter ID Bill