Hurricane Idalia is on a course towards southeastern Georgia following its impact on Florida's Gulf Coast. The storm brought life-threatening storm surges to the area.. Two deaths have been reported while the storm has left hundreds of thousands without electricity.
Per the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane has de-escalated to a category 1 storm, with peak continuous winds of 90 miles per hour.
In the morning, Idalia reached land as a devastating category 3 storm, hitting Keaton Beach on the Big Bend Coast. This location is situated less than 90 miles southeast of Tallahassee, the state capital.
Over 280,000 people in Florida were experiencing power outages as of the early afternoon, as reported by PowerOutage.US.
As reported by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, the river gauge in the quaint town of Steinhatchee along the coast of Big Bend experienced a rapid surge from 1 foot to 8 feet within a span of an hour. The National Weather Service further states that perilous storm surges will persist throughout the afternoon.
In Florida, more than half of the state's counties, specifically 30 out of 67, have issued evacuation orders of varying degrees. The advisory from the state's emergency management agency is for people who choose to remain in their houses.
Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, advised during a morning press conference not to underestimate the severity of the storm and to refrain from taking actions that could endanger oneself.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey in a statement said that the expectation was that Idalia would be the most significant storm ever to impact the state's capital. Mayor Dailey's message emphasized staying at home to ensure personal safety.
DeSantis stated that rescue operations would commence once the winds have subsided. He mentioned that the state has readied eight urban search and rescue squads, comprising over 5,000 National Guard personnel. Additionally, he noted the readiness of the Coast Guard to provide assistance if needed.
