The victims of vile abuse. And antisemitism racism, and so forth. Unfortunately, history tells us when theres a rise in tensions in the middle east, theres a rise in anti semitism. Those of us that Arent Jewish and hes provide allyship to our jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors say no to and he sums view can be a supporter of israel existing, but be critical of the policies of netanyahu. You can be supportive of your jewish friends and colleagues, neighbors. But be critical of the policies of the idf. I think what we dont want to see is jewish friends, colleagues, and Neighbors House been scared to go about their business and its really important we understand. Yes, of course. Im critical of some of the policies of netanyahu what the idf are doing. Its heartbreaking their hostages still being kept in gaza. But actually, the idea of Cant Carry on if criminally killing people in gaza, there is no excuse. Fan simonson mayor, its great to have you. Thanks for coming in. Your time. Pleasure. Thank you new hour of cnn, new central starts right now. This is cnn Breaking News im John Berman in tallahassee, florida are tracking Hurricane Helene is to cnn. Special live coverage is starting to get soggy. Here. The outer bands passing through an the Breaking News is this, the national Hurricane Center just issued if 8 00 alert, helene is now a category two storm. It has strained it has sustained winds of 100 miles per hour even higher gusts than that it is intensifying as it moves towards florida this morning, one of the biggest concerns along the florida coast, particularly the big Bend Area, is Storm Surge. It could reach up to 20 feet. The national Weather Service says that is unsurvivable, not just the Storm Surge. It thatll be an issue here. The storm is moving quickly, which means it will bring Hurricane Force winds up past tallahassee, indigenous georgia, 85 Million people are under watches and warnings this morning. A Tornado Watch issued for 17 Million people in florida that includes tampa, miami, fort myers, and orlando. There was a whole lot going on as this Storm Pushes in. Lets get right to cnn Meteorologist Allison Chinchar with the very latest. And this 8 00 am update, allison, what can you tell us yeah. So lets look at the new numbers. So yes. So the sustained winds are now 100 miles per hour . That is gusting to 115 forward movement still the same at 12 miles per hour, but that is also expected to increase as we go through the Day Today. And you mentioned one of the newer things weve had and issued is this Tornado Watch valid until 8 00 pm eastern time tonight . And that includes most of the big cities here, tampa, fort myers, miami, even orlando. And were likely to see more of these areas added on to it because weve had tornado warnings, weve got several active right now in florida, but also one up a North And South or up in south carolina. So its very likely believe we will see that Tornado Watch expand into portions of georgia and the carolinas as we go through the day and more of those outer bands begin to spread into some of these states. The storm is expected to strengthen even more reaching major Hurricane Status once we get a little bit later into the Day Today before making Landfall Tonight near the big Bend Region that point, it should be moving at forward speed of about 25 miles per hour or even faster. Thats important because that means it can move pretty far inland before weakening back down to a tropical storm, impacting a lot of areas that are more than 100 miles away from the coast with Hurricane Strength winds. Now, another component of this is going to be the flooding because were talking a tremendous amount of rain for a lot of these areas. They had a recent cold Front Move through the ground is already saturated, which means that threshold for flooding automatically is a little bit different than it would be on dry ground. Most of these areas youre talking widespread four to eight inches of rain. Some areas not out of the question, john, to pick up ten or even 12 inches total yeah. And again, The Rain is just beginning where i am allison expecting maybe ten inches by the time its done, its going to be a very, very wet 24 hours here in Tallahassee Cnn is up and down the coast where the storm will have an impact. Memorable. Gonzalez is in steinhatchee, florida, first lets go to Carlos Suarez in gulfport, not far from tampa, and carlos, youre already starting to see some of that Water Push in right, john. Good morning. So we are in gulfport. That is in Pinellas County and we are in a an area of gulfport that is under 18 mandatory evacuation. And youre taking a look at the reason why you can see just how much flooding were already experiencing well ahead of the storm. And to give you a sense of just how close the bay is, my photographer might be able to push in. Youre going to Take A Look at kind of where that woman is walking there. That is a beat each Volleyball Court and you can already see where the bay has started to come in to that part of where we are right now. Its not going to take a whole lot more for that water to go ahead and cross over onto the street that we are this part of Pinellas County the Golf Poor part of Pinellas County is known to flood. We have been here covering two other hurricanes the past two years and this is pretty much how its always looked and were talking about the fact that neither of those two hurricanes really had a direct hit. Now, over in Hillsborough County, just to the east of us, that is home to tampa. There is also a mandatory Evacuation Order that went into effect yesterday. Folks that live around the bay, were told to go ahead and seek higher ground. Of course, this storm is to the west of us it is expected to continue on the path that its on. This part of the Tampa Bay Area is expected to get some pretty nasty weather, some tropical storms tropical Storm Force winds but most of it is going to remain offshore. That said john, all of this flooding is before the five to eight feet of Storm Surge that were expected to see throughout the day. John wow thats some garlic. You said you wanted to show us how close the bay is your kind of in the bay already. And it could get even worse as the real Storm Surge pushes in over the next several hours there, carlos, stay safe. Lets go to maryville gonzalez, who is in steen hatchie, Far North of where carlos is and i know Storm Surge is the major concern. Where you are measurable remains a concern in that sense of urgency is only intensifying as the Rain Follow that were seeing right now Hurricane Helene, just moments ago, we know turning into a category two, so it is getting stronger and stronger as it nears an inches accords us, as you can see why i this is such a big concern of The Rainfall, the flooding, the Storm Surge, as you just mentioned, Take A Look behind me. I think the last time we spoke the Water Level of the scene, Hatchie River was a little bit lower, but it is increasing. It is rising with every drop of Rain Drop that we see falling why is this worrisome . Because there are a lot of homes, right off the riverbank. There are businesses. We are actually standing on the dock of a of a motel and we know that this stock could be underwater in just a matter of hours now, also right behind me, you see that there are some votes a doctor as well. Theyve been there all morning long, but we do expect that this catastrophic damage will impact all of the property and the homes so that you see behind me mandatory evacuations, of course, are underway for those specific reasons, right. Mel gonzalez in steen hatchie, right in that Big Band era, big Bend Area where the storm could make landfall thank you very much also, in the direct path of the storm Franklin County, right. In the panhandle, again, part of that big Bend Area with me now is County Commissioner ricky jones. Commissioner. Thank you so much for being with us. And as we were looking at the map before, maybe we can show it again you are right in the path of where this storm could make landfall. What are your biggest concerns right now good morning, john. Thank you saw her biggest concerns are what we started doing on tuesday and thats getting people evacuated from this area because we are such a low Line County really, its about the Health And Safety of our residents and visitors the Storm Surge, how dangerous could that be . Feet like theyre saying, its going to change the landscape in Franklin County. I can assure you that it is not going to be a good thing. One of the things that the Weather Center says is that that much Storm Surge would be unsurvivable what are your concerns for the people who may not have listened to the warnings youve been giving . Theres always that theres always those that dont listen or those who just either dont want to leave i really hope that we can have a conversation after the storms over, but its its just one of those things growing up here. And the pinnacle, florida, its not a matter of if its a matter of when were gonna get a storm, are we just done our best to prepare yeah. Look, youre the Smart One right now. Youre sitting inside. Im out in The Rain as these bands start to push through and theyre saturating the ground and then you add to that wind speeds of 100 to what could be 120, 130 miles per hour. And these giant trees and i know youve got them in Franklin County there, here in the county also, these giant trees are real threat, not just the people, but to power. How long do you worry that you could be without power there . Well, during hurricane michael, that was a significant amount of time. But i will say Duke Energy got everything up and running up very quickly here in Franklin County and throughout the area that actually stage from Apalachicola Airport they turned up place into a small city. And thats the place they used to base out of during their response. There. And its open to them again. So if need be, we have at least provided a place for them to do their work and we are confident that they can help us get up as quickly as possible commissioner, i want to give you one chance to speak to people who might be listening right now in Franklin County, whats important most important message you want to send to them at the start of what could be a very challenging 24 Hour Period . So ill say this. I do mean if you just stay for a local station in that interview, i told him and i had intended to ride this out because we were looking to two maybe three as of last night, my family and ive made the arrangements were leaving here soon after this interview, we will not be staying. Yes, there are still those that are first responders or Sheriffs Department all those people are still hearing in place those essential individuals however please leave just please do it. Its not worth it. Just get out. Itll either be here when you get back or it wont. But dont leave yourself in Harms Way here when you get back or wont. Ricky jones, commissioner Franklin County, you and your family, please stay safe. Let us know how we can help. Thank u for your time. And kate, again, these outer bands coming through right now 200,000 people live in tallahassee. Theyve never seen winds like what are forecast here, kate, over the next 24 hours its really picking up john uses Ip Up for jacket. Im starting to get concerned just about you as im watching you, this, as it starting to come in and you need to adjust the entire milove it gets sticky though the problem is you keep The Rain out, but the humidity in. So pick your poison kate, theres no right way to do it. I concur dr. And im just glad im just proud of you to be there for us. Okay. Well get right back to john. Hes watching it all as this continues to develop in this massive storm is gaining speed, gaining strength and making his please dont be stupid and cnn has it covered with a team in that Business Or CnnSpecial Event, the Vice President ial debate, tuesday at now on cnn my moderate to severe crohns symptoms kept me out of the picture with Sky Rizzi feel significant Symptom Relief at four weeks many people were in remission at 12 weeks, one year. And even at two years, theories, allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them may occur. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, how Vaccine Or Plan to Liver Problems may occur in Crohns Disease or uc as your gastroenterologist about Sky Reserves 10,000 by next month i or i we wont know unless we try right how long have we waited for something like this will have to alert suppliers, coordinate shipments already alerted already coordinated, every supplier sees changes as they happen since when can we just scale up mid cycle . Since we brought in vdo . People who know know vdo welcome to the now way to network they switched to junipers. Ai needed Network And Everything simpler. So they can take their game to a whole new level because now their network is selfconfiguring itself, detecting and selfhealing. They even have a virtual assistant. They marvelous, so they can simply ask the network, whats the Wifi Today . Thats the way to network at work with Real Ai. Letting you rise above it all Thursday Night football on prime is giants Thursday Night football is cool. Its got in the forest bracing this anywhere street Thursday Night football brought missing out on the things you love because of asthma get back to better breathing with the sanra, an ad complete meant for Eosinophilic Asthma that is taken once every eight weeks to senora is not for some Breathing Problems or other us him feel that conditions allergic reactions may occur, dont stop your Asthma Treatments without talking with your doctor, tell your doctor if your asthma worsens, headache and Sore Throat may occur. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection, step back out there with his nra. Ask your doctor its ripe for you is it possible to be more capable and more practical be able to perform here . Make a state in making this out, and kamala as well as what lies ahead how do we get there get exceptional offers at your www. Particlemen. Com because see is believed this Election Stay with cnn with more reporters on the ground and the best political team in the business, follow the candidates follow the voters follow the facts follow. Cnn brea