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The storm is now a dangerous Category 3 as it approaches Florida

Florida State University students living off campus took shelter in their school this morning ahead of Hurricane Helene's expected landfall later today as a destructive Category 3 or 4 storm.

FSU opened an off-campus student shelter this morning at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, where as the rain began to fall, students streamed in with backpacks, white trash bags full of belongings, suitcases and pillows.

“I wanted to stay in my apartment, but as soon as it became Category 4, I decided to come here,” Pranav Sahani, a senior living in an apartment in the area, told NBC News. “I’ve been in hurricanes in Florida before, but not a Category 4 hurricane.”

He brought a full backpack, a blanket, food and “a bunch of video games,” he said.

Sahani, 26, said as the storm intensified throughout the day, he felt he was safer in the school hostel than at home.

“I trust this building more than my apartment,” he said.

Sophomores Maya Malouin and Nitya Katwala feared a power outage in their apartment and sought shelter on campus after their roommates also left before the storm.

“There will be security here, police. It feels safer,” Malouin, 19, said.

James Wass, a junior, said he decided to leave his apartment after seeing that the storm could reach Category 3 or 4 and his parents were very worried about his safety.

“I don’t want them to worry about me,” he said.

Wass considered heading to Gainesville, but decided to move to campus instead.

He said he had seen major storms during his time at FSU, but “not a hurricane like this.”

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said the city is making preparations to ensure the safety of everyone, including the large number of students at Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College.

“We have a student body of about 70,000” and work with those institutions, Dailey said. “Yesterday they closed the university campuses. We encouraged students to go home for safety reasons. For the students who will be staying, we have set up great accommodations where they can also go to stay safe.”

Dailey said he contacted both the governor's office and the White House before the storm.

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