LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – While Arkansas is experiencing the remnants of Helene, some Arkansans experienced the brunt of the storm firsthand.
The wind and rain of Hurricane Helene hit Florida Thursday night where Ryan Rucker visited his family earlier this week.
“Even in the room sometimes it sounded like someone was banging on the window because it was blowing so hard with it,” Rucker said. “You had to like brace yourself. If you weren’t paying attention it could’ve knocked you over, definitely.”
PHOTOS: Helene brings flooding, damage as storm barrels ahead
He ended up helping his mother get her out of her home and into a hotel room as the hurricane got closer to land, hoping her home and belongings would still be there the next day.
“We tried to get everything up on the couches and beds,” Rucker said.
When preparing for the storm, flooding was a main concern. Thankfully he said they haven’t seen too much of that where they are, but with damage like trees down and debris everywhere, they’ve only been able to get about five miles away from their hotel.