County fire rescue official said Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 8, or FL USAR Task Force 8, made up of Marion County, Gainesville and Ocala Fire Rescue officials, left Thursday morning for Jacksonville to assist others with Hurricane Helene's expected damage.

Hurricane Helene is closing in on Florida with landfall expected in the Big Bend area Thursday. As of 10 p.m., Helene is moving toward the north-northeast at 24 mph. A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend in a few hours.

Several homes in the Ocala area reported damage from fallen trees. One homeowner said he and friends were gathered together when they heard a loud noise and discovered a large tree had slammed into his home.