- PRAYER ALERT: Mandatory Evacuations Issued in FL Ahead of Hurricane Idalia
National Hurricane Center warns of “life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds.”
UPDATE: 2 PM, August 30
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida early Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. It lessened to Category 1 by the time it reached Georgia. Both Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced states of emergency ahead of the storm.
Over 330,000 are without power in Florida and Georgia as power lines have been downed by sustained winds that reached up to 125 miles per hour, per the National Hurricane Center. The storm surge rose to 12 to 16 feet and is estimated to have reached up to 200 miles of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Tolls were waived for evacuation routes from the affected areas. Shelters have been opened and roughly 5,500 National Guard troops were activated. Around 30,000 line workers gathered in Florida ahead of time, ready to make repairs after the storm passed.
The storm system is forecast to downgrade to a tropical storm by the time it reaches the Carolinas on Wednesday evening.
President Joe Biden said he spoke with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and “provided him with everything that he possibly needs.”
UPDATE: 10 AM, August 29
Tropical Storm Idalia became a hurricane in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for forty-nine counties. Forecasters anticipate the storm system will reach the Gulf Coast of Florida early Wednesday. Officials in several counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders ahead of the storm.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has expanded and updated its warnings regarding “life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds“ for portions of Florida. NHC officials stated, “Areas of flash flooding and urban flooding… are expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia Tuesday into Wednesday.“
The Florida National Guard is mobilizing 1,100 personnel along with 2,400 high-wheel vehicles and 12 aircraft. Utility company linemen are at the ready to reconnect those who lose power.
- For Director Michael Brennan as he oversees the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and its forecasting.
- For Governor DeSantis and other Florida state and local officials as they seek to prepare the residents for the possible hurricane.
- For residents as they prepare either to evacuate or shelter in place.
Sources: NBC News, CBN, CNN , National Hurricane Center
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