CRYSTAL RIVER, FL (352today.com/AP) — Florida residents boarded up businesses, loaded up on sandbags, and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it will hit as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Idalia is expected to start affecting Florida with hurricane-force winds as soon as late Tuesday and arrive on the coast by Wednesday. Hurricane warnings are in effect along the Gulf Coast, south from Sarasota County to Franklin County in the Big Bend area.
The Latest Forecast
At 11 p.m. EDT Monday, the NHC said Tropical Storm Idalia could become a hurricane at any time. Forecasters said it was lingering near western Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, the hurricane center said.
State of Emergency Expanded
Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the state of emergency from 33 to 46 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. “The property — we can rebuild someone’s home,” DeSantis said during a news conference Monday. “You can’t unring the bell, though, if somebody stays in harm’s way and does battle with Mother Nature.”
Evacuation Orders
Large parts of the western coast of Florida are at risk for storm surges and floods and many counties have issued voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders. DeSantis said the Florida Department of Transportation would waive tolls on highways in the Tampa area and the Big Bend starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday to help ease any burden on people in the path of the storm.
In Levy County, officials said residents of Cedar Key must be off the island by Tuesday evening because storm surges would make bridges impassable. “Once the storm surge comes in, help may not be available to reach you,” the county said in a public advisory.
Ready to Respond
Idalia’s winds will knock out power. The governor says 40,000 linemen are staging in Marion and Sumter Counties, ready to respond to restore power as soon as possible after the storm. DeSantis said the state also has 650 Starlink satellite internet units available to deploy to areas where the storm knocks out service.
The state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members, who have 2,400 high-water vehicles and 12 aircraft at their disposal for rescue and recovery efforts.
Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said they would close on Tuesday.
State Still Recovering
Idalia will be the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season. The state is still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which hit southwest Florida last September and was responsible for almost 150 deaths. The Category 5 hurricane damaged 52,000 structures, nearly 20,000 of which were destroyed or severely damaged.
After moving across our state, Idalia is forecast to blow through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.