Hurricane Idalia has hit the shores of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a very destructive Category 3 storm.
Idalia hit the mainland United States around 7. 45am on Wednesday, after getting stronger in the Gulf of Mexico for a few days.
The storm hit the Keaton Beach, Florida area, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous winds that can cause harm to people’s lives will happen when the center of Hurricane Idalia reaches the coast in the Big Bend area of Florida.
They also said there would be big waves and floods that could go up to 16 feet above the ground level.
Florida Governor Ron DeSant is said that if a storm surge reaches around 16 feet, it is highly unlikely that people will be able to survive. ‘You should be in a building with three floors because it is going to go up very, very high. ’
Idalia is moving slowly towards the north and is expected to bring strong rain and damaging winds to southern Georgia.
A Category 3 hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Scale, can maintain winds of 111 to 129 miles per hour.
Idalia grew stronger overnight, briefly reaching Category 4 status before being lowered once more at 7 o’clock in the morning.
The Big Bend area of the Gulf Coast, where storms often don’t get ashore, was directly impacted by the storm.
The National Weather Service station in Tallahassee stated Wednesday that no major hurricanes had ever passed across the Apalachee Bay in recorded history. “DO NOT attempt to compare this storm to others. Nobody has ever seen this.
Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida to heavy winds and rain.
Orders were given to leave in 22 counties in the area, which included everyone who lives in Cedar Key, an island by Levy County.
Simply put, Cedar Key Commissioner Sue Colson told residents to leave. ‘We shouldn’t talk about it. ‘
Cedar Key Fire Rescue said during the storm that the tide will keep rising until noon. Many of the roads near the city center are flooded. Right now, we are unable to go outside and see the extent of the problems. Please stay away from Cedar Key.
Later in the morning on Wednesday, they gave a serious warning to the small number of people who remained on the island: “There are exploding propane tanks scattered all over the island. ” Don’t drive and don’t go outside. “We are currently unable to reach them. ”
The photos and videos taken in the area that was directly hit by a disaster show that the power lines have fallen down, the streets are covered with water, and homes are underwater.
More than 200,000 people in Florida lost electricity, mainly in the Big Bend area.