Jeff Houck, vice president of marketing for the 1905 Family of Restaurants that includes Columbia Restaurant and Cha Cah Coconuts, said via email to the Herald-Tribune that they are "still assessing the damage,

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Helene was moving toward the northwest near 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. This general motion is expected later Tuesday and Tuesday night, followed by a faster northward turn to north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

As Helene strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane, officials are advising residents to heed all evacuation orders.