Idalia becomes hurricane, heads towards Florida.

Hold on tight, Florida! Idalia ⁤has transformed into a powerful hurricane with winds reaching 75 mph, and it’s headed your way, according to the National Hurricane Center.

This storm⁣ is no joke. It’s ‍projected to become a Category 3 hurricane before it slams into The Sunshine State on Wednesday.

The ⁢preparations are in full swing. Over 5,500 Florida National Guardsmen have been activated, 20,000 linemen from various states are en route ⁤or ⁤on ‌standby, search-and-rescue teams are ready,‌ and evacuations are underway in‍ 15 Gulf Coast counties.

The Navy has dispatched ships, schools and universities in 38 districts have canceled classes, and airports, businesses, and homes are being fortified and closed.

But the real test lies ahead for the 600,000‍ Floridians anxiously monitoring a storm that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. In less than 36 hours, this “nasty” Category 3 hurricane is predicted to make⁢ landfall somewhere between Tampa and Tallahassee.

“It’s definitely coming. It’s going to be a ​major hurricane. It is going ​to impact the state of Florida, so please take the proper precautions,” urged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a​ 6 p.m.​ update at the state’s Emergency Operations ⁢Center (EOC) in Tallahassee.

According to Kevin Guthrie, ⁤Director of the Florida Division of Emergency‌ Management, the latest update from ‌the National⁤ Hurricane Center places Tropical Storm Idalia about 35 miles southwest of Cuba’s western ⁣tip. It boasts maximum sustained winds of around 70 mph, extending 150 miles from its core.

The eye of the ⁣storm is expected to pass over Cuba tonight and then gain Category 3 hurricane strength throughout Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Forecasters predict‌ it will crash ashore along Florida’s Gulf coast, ⁣specifically the ​Big ⁢Bend region.

Gov. DeSantis​ highlighted a slight westward shift in the storm’s projected​ landfall, now targeting Taylor and Dixie counties instead of Levy County.

“That is a⁣ slight deviation ⁢from what had been earlier today,” he said. “Look,⁢ these things can change.”

Don’t Underestimate the Storm Surge

Both Gov. DeSantis and Director Guthrie emphasized that communities along the⁢ Gulf Coast, from Tampa to the Panhandle, should not underestimate the potential impact of the storm surge, even if they are not directly in the storm’s path or “cone of uncertainty.”

Although the updated projection shows a slight westward ‍wobble, Mr. Guthrie warned that storm surge remains a significant⁣ threat to coastal areas. In fact,⁢ the latest models indicate an increase in forecasted storm surges, ranging from‌ 4 to 7 feet in⁣ some areas, 8 to 10 feet in others, and even higher in certain locations.

“We are going to see portions of the Gulf Coast that will experience a 12-foot storm surge,” he cautioned. “We also expect heavy rainfall, with 4 to 8 inches predicted and up to ‍12 inches‌ in ​some⁢ areas, leading to flooding in north-central Florida’s Suwannee River Valley.”

Mr. Guthrie further advised that isolated tornadoes and locally damaging wind gusts are likely to sweep across the Florida peninsula by midday on August​ 29. He urged those ⁤in low-lying Gulf coastal areas to head east to avoid the storm surge ⁣but warned that they would still face the storm’s fury on the‌ “dirty side” of the hurricane.

“If you’re moving inland, you’re going to be on the right front portion of that hurricane—that’s what they call the ‘dirty side’ of the storm,” Mr. Guthrie ⁤explained. “You’re going to experience problems again. You’re going to experience​ power outages, so please be prepared for those power outages.”

During the 6⁢ p.m. update, Gov. DeSantis, who has temporarily suspended ⁤his presidential campaign to lead‌ the state’s emergency response, declared ⁤states of emergency in 46 out of Florida’s 67 ‌counties. He also closed toll​ booths on state turnpikes in central ⁢and ‍north Florida. President ‍Joe Biden later declared a federal ‍state of emergency for ⁢the same 46-county area.

Evacuation orders have been issued for‌ low-lying areas in Baker, Citrus, Franklin, Fernando, ​Hillsborough, Jefferson, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota,⁤ Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties. Shelters have been opened in 13 coastal counties, with more set to open tomorrow.

“That’s a place you can go. You can be safe there, or go to a friend’s house, a family’s house. You can ‍go to hotels ⁤and do that. But you do not need to get on the road ⁣and try ⁤to drive hundreds of miles to get out of any impacts of the storm. That will not be ‌advisable and it’s not necessary. You don’t need to leave ⁢the state. You ‌don’t need to drive hundreds of miles. You don’t have to try to outrun the storm,” ⁣advised Gov. DeSantis.

Time Is of the Essence

Gov. DeSantis stressed‍ the urgency‍ of the situation for those in the⁢ storm’s projected path.

“Clearly, you have time‍ today and, probably, for the better part of tomorrow” to finish preparations or evacuate to higher‍ ground, he said. However, he warned that time ⁤is running out with each passing ⁣minute. “You are going to start seeing some impacts with winds and some nasty weather Tuesday night, and of course,⁤ we’re expecting a landfall to happen sometime ​on Wednesday.”

The governor has activated the full 5,500 National Guardsmen available, who have​ access to various assets on the ground⁣ and in the air. They ​have also deployed⁤ 247 Starlink internet devices, with ‌an additional 529 ready for ⁢deployment in impacted areas.

“The Florida Chamber of Commerce is coordinating resources and having regular calls with private sector partners to ensure preparedness. Many of our companies have dealt with hurricanes⁢ before, so ‌they’re ⁣ready,” Gov. ⁣DeSantis⁢ added.

More than 20,000 linemen are prepared⁢ to respond as part of mutual aid agreements, with more on the ​way. The governor acknowledged that power outages are inevitable, stating, “I⁤ would prepare to be without power. This thing comes in as a Category 3, it’s going to knock over trees, it’s going to knock⁢ over power lines. It’s going to cause an interruption in service. So just be prepared for that.”

Memories ‌Of Michael, Ian

The stage is set, or soon will be, for Idalia’s arrival. “Obviously, we understand how important it is by staging as many people as ‌we do” to respond after the storm, said Gov. DeSantis. ⁣However, he cautioned that power outages are ‌likely for those in the‍ storm’s path.

“I have no doubt those folks will get to work immediately once the storm has passed⁣ and do a great job restoring [power], but there is‍ not likely ⁢a situation where you’re not going to lose power at all if you are in the path of this storm,” he concluded.

The governor also assured that the state has stockpiled over 400,000 gallons of fuel ​and is ready to⁤ deploy additional assets, especially for Gulf ‌Coast gas stations.