Hurricane Idalia is coming to Florida: evacuation and state of emergency declared in the state

Hurricane Idalia moves towards Florida with strong winds and life-threatening storm surge, reports CNN.

Photo: IStock

Hurricane Idalia is expected to intensify significantly as it moves towards Florida. Officials have already asked people to evacuate and have closed schools and a major airport. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Gulf Coast on August 30.

The National Hurricane Center reported on Aug. 29 that strong winds and life-threatening storm surge will push the hurricane to Category 3, putting millions under a storm warning.

What to expect

The National Guard is on duty around the clock and evacuations are underway as the hurricane could wreak havoc on parts of Florida's Gulf Coast. It is expected to make landfall well north of Tampa, in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida. But a small route shift can put a vulnerable community at greater risk.

Before landfall, Idalia could produce several tornadoes on Aug. 29 along Florida's west-central coast, and as far north as Big Bend by the evening.

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A storm surge - when storm winds push the ocean ashore - could cause water to rise as much as 3,6 meters in parts of northern Florida, and the winds would bring large and dangerous waves, the hurricane center has warned.

Heavy rain could cause flash flooding from August 29 to 30 in parts of Florida's west coast, as well as southern Georgia and parts of eastern Carolina. From 29 to 31 August, 10 to 20 cm of rain can fall in these places, which will flood the streets.

"This is going to be a massive hurricane," Governor Ron DeSantis said at an August 28 news conference.

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The storm hit early on August 29, with maximum winds of 120 km/h, about 590 km southwest of Tampa, the center of the hurricane reported at 5 am.

Taken measures

As the storm approaches Florida, preparations for a possible catastrophe could be seen throughout the state.

• Airports are closing: Tampa International Airport will suspend all commercial operations starting August 29. It will remain closed until damages are assessed later this week, airport officials said. The St. Pete Clearwater International Airport terminal building will close on August 29 in the afternoon.
• Evacuations in at least 10 counties: Hillsborough, Franklin, Taylor, Levy, Citrus, Manatee, Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.
• Schools are closing: 32 school districts have announced closures, as well as colleges and universities, including Florida State University, the University of Florida and Florida A&M University.
• State of Emergency Declared: DeSantis extended the state of emergency to 28 of Florida's 46 counties on the morning of August 67. Several local jurisdictions have also declared a state of emergency.
• Florida National Guard activated: More than 5000 members of the National Guard were deployed to help respond to the hurricane.
• US Navy ships begin to leave: Navy ships have begun leaving Florida ahead of landfall in Idalia, the Navy reported on Aug. 28.
• Power outages expected: DeSantis advised residents to prepare for being left without power. “If you are in the path of a hurricane, you should expect a power outage, so please be prepared for this,” the governor told residents on August 27.
• Hospital Shutdown: Patients will be transferred from at least three hospitals: HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital, HCA Florida Trinity West Hospital, and HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital.

"We want everyone to take this hurricane seriously," Barbara Tripp, chief of the Tampa Fire and Rescue Department, said during a press conference. She added that residents should also remove debris from the area and keep an eye out for neighbors who may need help.

“Once the wind speed reaches certain miles per hour, the Tampa Fire and Rescue Department will not be able to respond,” Tripp warned.

Storm amplification

The storm will intensify rapidly as it passes through the Gulf of Mexico. It will reach some of the warmest waters on the planet before it makes landfall in Florida. If it does, it will join a growing list of devastating hurricanes that have leveled coastal Florida and claimed lives.

The National Hurricane Center warned on August 28 that Idalia is passing through the Gulf of Mexico and there is a risk that it too will become a devastating hurricane.

This summer, water temperatures around southern Florida rose to 37,7C in some areas, and temperatures in the Persian Gulf as a whole were record high, with more than enough heat to support the storm's rapid intensification.

Storm surge will be 'life-threatening'

Deadly storm surge up to 3,6 m is possible in Florida's Big Bend. This danger will only be exacerbated by waves caused by gale-force winds of more than 160 km per hour. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, storm surge accounts for almost half of all hurricane-related deaths and is responsible for the majority of hurricane-related evacuations.

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Cedar Key could be cut off by a strong storm surge, according to National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rome.

“I’m especially concerned about Cedar Key,” Rome said during the briefing. “It is vital that you take this very seriously and if you are told to evacuate, listen immediately.” In such conditions, the entire island could be completely cut off." Evacuation orders along the coast are in effect due to predicted storm surge, Rome emphasized.

However, it is not only coastal areas that may be affected by flooding. Inland areas that receive evacuees could face dangerous flooding and heavy rains. Heavy rain hazards could also occur up to 160 miles (XNUMX km) from the center of the storm, Andrew Kruszkiewicz, senior scientist at Columbia University's School of Climate, has warned.

“This is something we are seeing more and more often and it has to do with climate change. Because we're seeing wetter tropical cyclones and wetter hurricanes,” he said. “Therefore, we need to pay more attention to the risks associated with intense rainfall, especially in areas far from the coastline.”

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