DeSantis urges residents to brace for Hurricane Idalia, an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm.
Florida Braces for Hurricane Idalia’s Landfall
As the sun rose on Aug. 30, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a grave warning to Floridians in the Big Bend Region of the state’s Gulf Coast. Hurricane Idalia was approaching, and a 16-foot storm surge was expected within the hour.
Gov. DeSantis expressed concern for those who had ignored evacuation orders in Cedar Key, estimating that they would need to seek refuge on the third floor of a building to survive the rising waters. He assured the public that rescue efforts would commence as soon as the storm had passed.
“Wherever you are, hunker down, and don’t take anything for granted here,” Mr. DeSantis said from the podium. “This is a very, very powerful storm.”
By the end of the day on Aug. 29, mandatory evacuation orders had been issued for 49 out of Florida’s 67 counties. Hurricane Idalia had intensified to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm before making landfall.
As of 5 a.m. on Aug. 30, Idalia had sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph). The National Hurricane Center reported that hurricane-force winds extended 25 miles outside the storm’s center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching 175 miles out.
Even while still offshore, Hurricane Idalia caused significant damage along Florida’s eastern Gulf Coast. The Tampa Bay area and Tarpon Springs experienced intense wind, rain, and rising floodwater. Tornadoes were also reported in inland areas.
“We currently have 54,000 households without power throughout the State of Florida,” Gov. DeSantis stated. “However, over 100,000 households have already had their power restored through the hard work of dedicated teams working through the night. Restoration efforts are ongoing.”
“As soon as it’s safe to do so, search-and-rescue efforts will begin. People are working tirelessly to restore normalcy and provide assistance wherever it’s safe to go,” he added.
A tornado watch was issued until 6 a.m. ET for 3.7 million people in the western peninsula of Florida.
The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee warned that some areas may be uninhabitable for several weeks or months due to uprooted trees, debris, and wind damage.
‘Unprecedented Event’
The National Weather Service Tallahassee office described Idalia as an “unprecedented event” for this part of Florida.
“To put this system into historical context, there are NO major hurricanes in the historical dataset going back to 1851 that have tracked into Apalachee Bay. None. Don’t mess around with this one,” they warned.
Governor Ron DeSantis, also a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, repeatedly urged residents under evacuation orders to take immediate action before Hurricane Idalia’s landfall.
“You still have a couple of hours to pack up and get on the road before conditions deteriorate. But by late tonight, you will need to hunker down and stay in place,” the governor wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “If you choose to stay, first responders will not be able to reach you until after the storm has passed,” he added.
Shelters are open in high-risk counties, and the Florida Highway Patrol has over 300 members on standby to assist with equipment, resources, and response teams in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Governor DeSantis announced that the Florida National Guard has been fully activated, with 3,700 guardsmen currently positioned across the state for preparedness and response efforts. An additional 1,800 guardsmen are en route ahead of the storm’s arrival.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden assured Gov. DeSantis of his support and stated that his administration is providing all necessary resources.
“We’re worried about the surge, the ocean surge. We don’t know exactly—hour to hour, we’re watching this,” the President told reporters late Tuesday. “But I told the governor and the mayor of the region that’s likely to be hit first that we’re there as long as it takes, and we’ll make sure they have everything they need,” he added.
Hurricane Idalia Intensifies
Florida is not the only state at risk. The National Weather Service stated that Hurricane Idalia is expected to move northward and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida.
After landfall, Idalia is forecast to…
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