Tropical Storm Helene formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 24, its projected path already showing it making landfall at the eastern end of the Florida panhandle. By the next day, it had gained enough energy to become a hurricane. That same day, Sept. 25, the House of Representatives voted on a budget bill that would fund the government for a few more months, out past the presidential election. It was a continuing resolution, meaning that agencies would continue to...