Time is running out for Florida residents to prepare for the onslaught of Hurricane Idalia as the storm intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico into a major hurricane and makes landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast with life-threatening impacts.
Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference on Monday with other state leaders and said 46 counties are included in a state of emergency.
However, DeSantis stressed that even if a county is not included in the state of emergency, residents need to prepare for possible major impacts from Idalia.
Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected for Florida residents as early as Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
DeSantis said resources have been propositioned ahead of the storm, and more than 5,500 National Guard members are ready to respond in Florida. In addition, DeSantis said 650 Starlink internet dishes are ready to help with connectivity after the storm if needed.
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Utility crews have also been positioned to assist with power restoration efforts.
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President Joe Biden approved the state’s emergency declaration to the federal government on Monday morning. The state’s Emergency Operations Center is now operating at Level 1, which means a 24-hour operation until the storm threat passes.
Evacuations have already been ordered in 21 counties as of Monday night, and DeSantis is urging residents who are being told to evacuate to do so. Full evacuation orders are available here.
“Evacuation orders, I urge Floridians to heed the admonitions and heed the directives from your officials,” DeSantis said. “There are going to be evacuations issued in all these Gulf Coast counties in the A and B zones. All the barrier islands, places that are low-lying on the coast. You are going to be told to evacuate.”
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Already 38 school districts have also announced that they will remain closed for at least the next few days. Ten state colleges and six universities canceled classes, too.
Tampa International Airport is set to close at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday due to Idalia’s impending landfall, as additional flight disruptions are expected in and out of Florida. St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport will close at 3 p.m.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued an executive order on Monday declaring a state of emergency as a result of Tropical Storm Idalia, and the city of Jacksonville also declared a state of emergency that went into effect Monday morning.
Hurricane Idalia is expected to continue on a northward motion, which will bring the center of Idalia near or over western Cuba Monday night and over the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Tuesday.
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On that forecast track, Hurricane Idalia is forecast to increase in forward speed and then turn to the north-northeast over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and reach the Gulf Coast of Florida on Wednesday.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
Read more about the differences between these critical watches and warnings.
Areas of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas can expect to see between 4-8 inches of rain between Tuesday and Thursday. Locally higher amounts of up to 12 inches are also possible, primarily near where Hurricane Idalia makes landfall.
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The torrential rainfall may lead to life-threatening flash and urban flooding across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia from Tuesday into Wednesday and then spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch area by late Tuesday or Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Tuesday.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Dry Tortugas area starting later on Monday, then within the Tropical Storm Watch area along the Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday.