As a potentially catastrophic Hurricane Helene churned its way north, residents of the state’s capital hit the few remaining stores and restaurants still open Thursday — or took solace in their decision to get out before the storm struck.

Ahead of Hurricane Helene's arrival, last-minute preparations were taking place in Tallahassee, where some gas stations had started to run out of gas.

With forecasters warning that Helene’s hurricane-force winds were hours from what is expected to be an unprecedented battering of Tallahassee, residents' emotions ran a gamut – from fear of trees, to concerns about running out of ice, to a nonchalance about their neighbors' concerns.