Hurricane Idalia Hits the Florida Coast
In the morning hours, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida amidst the precautionary measures taken prior to its arrival on the shores of the United States.
The impact occurred around 7:45 local time, according to data from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft from the Air Force Reserve.
Meanwhile, sea levels in the area are rapidly rising, as reported by the NHC in a special bulletin.
In Cedar Key, further south than Keaton Beach, a tide measuring buoy from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded a water level surge of 5.9 feet (1.7 meters).
The hurricane is currently moving in a north-northeast direction at 18 miles per hour (30 km/h).
On the other hand, wind data collected by the Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that Idalia was a Category 3 hurricane upon making landfall.
About two hours before landfall, its winds were at 130 miles per hour (225 km/h), placing it at Category 4 intensity.
Police urged people to remain at home after rescuing an individual in the Twin City area as Idalia approaches the Florida coast. The National Hurricane Center issued a tornado warning and announced the potential for catastrophic storm surges and destructive winds in Florida.
“There will be storm surge all along the Big Bend that will have a very significant and impactful effect on that region, whether or not the hurricane’s walls directly hit it,” warned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Republican governor urged residents in evacuation zones, especially those in low-lying or coastal areas, to seek shelter. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepositioned resources to respond to Idalia’s immediate impacts.
This includes “multiple incident management assistance teams, urban search and rescue teams, our disaster survivor assistance teams” that “are ready to move into the hardest-hit areas immediately after the storm passes,” stated the official.
The official also added that FEMA “has warehouses stocked with commodities like food, water, blankets, and medical supplies that are ready to swiftly move to the affected area at the state’s request.”
An afternoon report is expected regarding the damages and potential victims from Hurricane Idalia.
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