WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) — Hurricane Idalia made its way into the Gulf of Mexico and reached the U.S. state of Florida on Wednesday, causing significant damage along its path.
Idalia, classified as a Category 3 storm, arrived in Florida today, marking the first major hurricane to hit Apalachee Bay since record-keeping began in 1851, according to the U.S. National Weather Service office in Tallahassee.
The officials in Florida have issued evacuation orders for 22 counties in the state, with mandatory evacuations on the coast of the Big Bend region. This is where the panhandle of Florida curves to meet the peninsula and where Idalia is expected to make landfall.
Following its impact on Florida’s Big Bend region, Idalia is currently battering Georgia.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Idalia has weakened to a tropical storm, according to the latest report from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). However, the risk of freshwater flooding, storm surge, and strong winds remains in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.
The agency confirmed that significant storm surge will affect the Gulf coast of Florida until Wednesday evening.
According to the forecast, destructive winds will accompany the movement of Idalia across southern Georgia and southern South Carolina within the hurricane warning area until Wednesday evening.
The storm has caused flooding in certain areas and has left over 300,000 customers without power in Florida and Georgia.
Some parts of Florida have experienced rainfall exceeding 5 inches.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency stated that the Joe Biden administration has deployed over 1,500 federal personnel and more than 540 urban search and rescue team members in the affected areas.
The U.S. Coast Guard is providing support for search and rescue operations, and three disaster survivor assistance teams have been dispatched in Florida.
Since Hurricane Idalia made landfall, more than 900 flights have been canceled, disrupting travel across the U.S. Southeast. Major airlines such as Delta, United, American, and Southwest have issued rebooking waivers for passengers traveling to and from cities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina between Monday and Thursday.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has advised travelers to check with airlines before heading to the airport, cautioning that the storm’s effects may extend beyond the immediate area where it made landfall.
Even after the storm subsides, power outages pose their own risks, as warned by the NHC. The agency urges residents to be cautious with generators and to never use them indoors or in garages to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
