Florida is no stranger to tropical storms or hurricanes. Floridians are now bracing for the latest tropical storm heading toward the west coast. Tropical Storm Idalia is currently 80 miles south of the western tip of Cuba. It is expected to become a major hurricane later today or tonight and could possibly reach up to a category 3 with winds of 115 miles per hour. The wind speed is currently at 65 miles per hour and strengthening and is moving at 8 miles per hour.
The path is presently making a path up the Gulf of Mexico, along the west coast of the state. Although the exact path can still change course, at this moment the center looks to be impacting the northern west coast. Areas affected could include a stretch from Tampa northward through the Big Bend region, and also into parts of the Panhandle. Storm surges could reach up to 11 feet and flooding is a leading concern. On Saturday, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency, which now includes 46 counties along the Gulf Coast. DeSantis has the National Guard, search and storm crews in place, as well as power company linesmen.
The White House released the following statement: “President Biden spoke to Governor DeSantis this morning. He told him that he quickly approved the Emergency Declaration for Florida as they prepare for Hurricane Idalia. FEMA has pre-deployed personnel and assets, including multiple Incident Management Assistance Teams, in preparation for response efforts. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center has also been activated to support any requests for federal assistance. President Biden said Florida will have his full support as they prepare for Idalia and its aftermath. President Biden also expressed his commitment to ongoing support for the people of Jacksonville following the horrific shooting on Saturday.” Evacuation orders have already been issued for Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Many zone A areas are being ordered to begin evacuating, along with residents in low lying areas, mobile/manufactured or RV homes, and areas prone to flooding. Evacuation zones B and C are recommended to evacuate, but not yet ordered to do so. More counties will most likely be named as the hurricane’s path becomes clearer.
By-FZ
