PERRY, FLA – Hurricane Idalia struck Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread destruction along a broad section of the Gulf Coast. The storm submerged homes and vehicles, transformed streets into waterways, displaced small boats, and toppled power lines before moving into Georgia.
At least 375,000 customers in both Florida and Georgia lost power as rising water inundated coastal streets. As the eye of the hurricane moved inland, powerful winds destroyed signs, sent sheet metal airborne, and snapped tall trees.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in the sparsely populated Big Bend region, where Florida’s Panhandle meets the peninsula. The hurricane officially landed near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. as a high-end Category 3 hurricane, boasting maximum sustained winds of nearly 125 mph (205 km/h). As of midday Wednesday, there were no confirmed storm-related fatalities in Florida, though reports of fatal traffic accidents in two counties may ultimately be linked to the storm, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
One accident involved a 59-year-old man who lost control of his pickup truck in heavy rain near Gainesville. In another incident, a 40-year-old man lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into a tree in Dade City, north of Tampa.
State officials, backed by 5,500 National Guardsmen and rescue teams, have initiated search-and-recovery operations. They are inspecting bridges, clearing fallen trees, and seeking anyone in distress in one of Florida’s most rural regions. Due to the remote nature of some areas, the search teams may require more time to complete their work compared to past hurricanes in more urban settings, noted Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
On Cedar Key island, debris and fallen trees blocked roads, and propane tanks exploded. Some residents, like RJ Wright, stayed behind to assist elderly neighbors. Wright sought shelter in a motel with friends and encountered chest-high floodwaters outside when it was safe to venture out. Despite the chaos, he acknowledged that it could have been worse for the island, which did not take a direct hit.
The hurricane retained its strength as it entered Georgia, with top winds reaching 90 mph (150 km/h), after soaking Florida, primarily east of Tallahassee. Forecasters anticipated the hurricane would hit the Carolinas overnight as a tropical storm.
While some models suggested Idalia could loop back toward land, the National Hurricane Center predicted it would move further into the Atlantic over the weekend.
The town of Perry witnessed shattered store windows, torn building siding, and an overturned gas station canopy due to the powerful winds. Flooding was observed on Interstate 275 in Tampa, and downed power lines closed northbound Interstate 75 just south of Valdosta, Georgia.
Approximately 200 miles south of the hurricane’s landfall, St. Armands Circle in the Sarasota area saw submerged roads surrounding its upscale shops and restaurants. Residents were amazed by the flooding that turned Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard into a river, with some spotting a paddleboarder navigating the inundated street.
In Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, power outages occurred well before the storm’s center arrived, though the city avoided a direct hit. A large oak tree near the governor’s mansion split in half, covering the yard with debris.
Storm surge in certain areas could rise as high as 16 feet (4.9 meters). To keep residents off the roads, some counties implemented curfews.
Diane Flowers and her husband heeded warnings and left their Wakulla County, Florida, home after their son, a firefighter/EMT in Franklin County along the Gulf Coast, advised them to evacuate. They quickly packed essential items and found a room in Dothan, Alabama, as motels along the route were filled.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record had ever traversed the bay adjoining the Big Bend. The state, still grappling with lingering damage from Hurricane Ian the previous year, braced for potentially catastrophic outcomes.
Idalia reached Category 2 status on Tuesday and escalated to Category 3 on Wednesday before briefly reaching Category 4 hurricane status. It then weakened slightly.
More than 30,000 utility workers in Florida prepared to make repairs swiftly after the hurricane’s passage. Airports in the region, including Tampa International Airport, planned to resume commercial operations either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.
In Valdosta, Georgia, Idalia’s fierce winds uprooted trees and sent rain flying sideways, leading to property damage but no confirmed injuries, according to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Brandon Long, owner of Bull River Marina on Wilmington Island east of Savannah, secured about 20 sailboats and motor yachts ahead of the storm. He expressed concern about the storm surge coinciding with an elevated tide, which could pose a significant risk to marinas.
Meanwhile, Bermuda faced threats from Hurricane Franklin, a Category 2 storm. Officials in Bermuda warned that Idalia could impact the island as a tropical storm early next week.
President Joe Biden contacted Governor DeSantis to offer federal support for dealing with any Idalia-related destruction. The governor indicated that the state’s current needs were being met, according to Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).