Wild video shows a Florida man paddling a canoe around his flooded living room after Hurricane Helene's devastating landfall Thursday night. CNN reported.
Matt Heller of Tampa Bay was considering using a canoe as an “escape plan” if the hurricane got particularly bad, but he found himself paddling around his flooded home when the rising waters “came out of nowhere and seeped through cracks in his walls.” . Heller can be seen on home security footage rowing the boat around the living room, which miraculously still has electricity.
“Suddenly the storm came and [the waters] “It goes up and up,” Heller recalled. “It came out of nowhere, probably rose from zero to about five feet in an hour and a half.”
Heller, founder of automotive and train horn company HornBlasters, said Helene was progressing “really slowly” at first, but the situation quickly became serious. “Kanik was my escape plan, if things get too messy we can get out,” he told the outlet. “I didn't think I'd need this in my living room… I was just walking around, surprised the power stayed on for so long,” he added.
@mattfromhornblasters.com Helen from Hornblasters.com Tampa Florida Hurricane Matt Heller flooded his home
♬ The Storm is Coming – Once Upon a Time Monsters
Although Tampa Bay wasn't hit as hard as other Florida communities, the wind and storm from the hurricane pushed large amounts of water toward the home. “There was an inch of water here or there, but nothing like this,” he said. “This is absolutely the biggest flood we've ever had,” he marveled.
Hurricane Helene made landfall around 11 p.m. on September 26 as a Category 4 storm. On Friday morning, the storm was downgraded to a Category 2 as it moved into Georgia. 3 people have died so far due to the hurricane.
@mattfromhornblasters.com #LIVEhighlights #TikTokLIVE tells how #LIVE started. @HornBlasters Matt Heller tampa hurricane helen flood
♬ original audio – Matthew Heller