MANILA, Philippines — As Hurricane Helene makes its way to Florida, the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC advised Filipino residents in the state to prepare for the storm.

"Filipino communities along the path of Hurricane Helene are advised to undertake all necessary preparations and heed the warnings of local officials as it strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (169 kph)," the embassy said in a Facebook post on Friday (Philippine time).

Motorists brave a flooded street due to storm surge and high winds of Hurricane Helene near the 'Southernmost Point' buoy in Key West, Florida, USA, September 26, 2024. EPA-EFE/SCOTT HALLERAN

"Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall in Florida this evening as a Category 4 hurricane," it added.

Filipinos in Florida are also asked to monitor updates from the US National Hurricane Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

They can also contact the embassy through (+1) 202-368-2767 or 202-769-8049.

"The safety of Filipino nationals is the Embassy's priority. We are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Florida, and the Filipino and Filipino-American communities in these areas," the embassy said.

There are over 97,000 Filipinos living in Florida.