By Friday, much of Tallahassee looked untouched by Helene's fury. Residents walked trails and sidewalks, breathing in fresh air like any other day. Others sunbathed poolside or jumped in their cars to survey damage. Some neighborhoods showed minor signs of impact, such as downed basketball hoops and tree limbs.

Some South Florida​ parents are breathing a sigh of relief after their kids decided to ride out Hurricane Helene​ in Tallahassee.

Residents of Florida’s capital prepared to evacuate their homes and stocked up on sandbags, food and supplies Wednesday as Hurricane Helene sped toward the Gulf Coast as what the city's mayor said could be the “strongest hurricane in recorded history ever to hit” the Tallahassee area.

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene has narrowed, which can indicate more certainty in its track for Tallahassee, Florida. If Helene were to make landfall in Tallahassee, it would represent the first major hurricane there in over a century.

Hurricane Helene swallowed the Big Bend region with torrential rain, making landfall at 11 p.m. Thursday. The most powerful winds ever recorded in modern history whipped the city in a terrifying night for many who were waiting out the storm or too nervous to sleep.