Stay safe today

Helene is gone from Tampa Bay but potential hazards may remain.

Here are some tips on how to stay safe as you venture back outside today, with guidance from the National Weather Service.

• If you evacuated, don't go back home until you're told it's safe.
• When driving, avoid flooded roads and watch for unsafe conditions, like downed power lines, trees or debris, which can puncture tires.
• If you're at home, give your house's exterior a careful survey, looking for loose cables, damage and leaks.
• Don't stay in a home with a gas smell, standing floodwater or fire damage.
• If your power is out, use flashlights and not candles.

And then there's the big one: Do not, under any circumstances, run a portable generator inside your house or garage.

• Per NWS, "Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death after storms in areas dealing with power outages."