FEMA administrator says Americans should heed Hurricane Helene warnings

A view shows the damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene in Puerto Juarez, Cancun, Mexico September 25, 2024. REUTERS/Paola Chiomante

(Reuters) - Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell on Thursday urged Americans in the path of Hurricane Helene not to underestimate the storm's impact, hours before it was expected to make landfall in Florida.

"Take the storm seriously. People in Hurricane Helena's path, you need to listen to your local officials if they tell you to evacuate," Criswell told reporters at the White House, adding that she plans to travel to the region on Friday to assess damage.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Katharine Jackson)