The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend. “You may have two houses on a 5-mile (8-kilometer) road so it’s going to take some time,” Guthries said. State officials, 5,500 National Guardsman and rescue crews were in search-and-recovery mode, inspecting bridges, clearing toppled trees and looking for anyone in distress.īecause of the remoteness of the Big Bend area, search teams may need more time to complete their work compared with past hurricanes in more urban areas, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Police officers blocked traffic into the coastal community of more than 500 residents known for fishing and foresting industries. Less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of where Idalia made landfall, businesses, boat docks and homes in Steinhatchee, Florida, were swallowed up by water surging in from Deadman’s Bay. Some counties implemented curfews to keep residents off roads. Storm surge could rise as high as 16 feet (4.9 meters) in some places. Heavy rains partially flooded Interstate 275 in Tampa and wind toppled power lines onto the northbound side of Interstate 75 just south of Valdosta, Georgia. In Perry, the wind blew out store windows, tore siding off buildings and overturned a gas station canopy. Rushing water covered streets near the coast, unmoored small boats and nearly a half-million customers in Florida and Georgia lost power. That doesn’t mean that it didn’t do major damage. Unlike last year’s Hurricane Ian, which hit the heavily populated Fort Myers area, leaving 149 dead in the state, Idalia blew into a very lightly inhabited area known as Florida’s “nature coast,” one of the state’s most rural regions that lies far from crowded metropolises or busy tourist areas and features millions of acres of undeveloped land. But as of midday Wednesday, there were no confirmed deaths in Florida, although fatal traffic accidents in two counties may end up being storm-related, Florida Gov. ![]() It had weakened to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (113 kph) by late Wednesday afternoon.Īs the eye moved inland, high winds shredded signs, blew off roofs, sent sheet metal flying and snapped tall trees. as a high-end Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph (205 kph). … Everything was spinning.”Īfter coming ashore, Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. But as Idalia’s eye passed over about 8:30 a.m., a loud whistling noise pierced the air and the high winds ripped the building’s roof off, sending debris down on her pregnant daughter, who was lying in bed. Thomas fled with her family and some friends to a motel, thinking it would be safer than riding out the storm at home. “All hell broke loose,” said Belond Thomas of Perry, a mill town located just inland from the Big Bend region where Idalia came ashore. (AP) - Hurricane Idalia tore into Florida at the speed of a fast-moving train Wednesday, splitting trees in half, ripping roofs off hotels and turning small cars into boats before sweeping into Georgia as a still-powerful storm that flooded roadways and sent residents running for higher ground. ![]() ![]() Black Financial Health Open dropdown menu.
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