Before Hurricane Idalia makes its way towards the state, Florida rushes to make final preparations
Tropical Storms, Floods, and Hurricanes in Florida: First Day of the 2016 Florida Hurricane Event & First Results from the National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center expects Idalia to cross the island nation on Monday. The island of Pinar del Ro was under a warning of a hurricanes and the island of Isla de la Juventud was under a tropical storm warning.
Some parts of Cuba could see between 4 and 10 inches of rain, which could lead to flash flooding and slides.
A number of Florida school districts had already announced closures on Tuesday, and the state’s Department of Health was working to ensure residents could fill their prescriptions early.
DeSantis warned residents to prepare for power problems during his press conference and said some counties along the Gulf Coast would be under an order to evacuate.
“If you are in the low-lying areas along the coast, you are going to be told to evacuate, and you can relocate as little as 30 miles inland,” he added.
The White House stated that Vice President Biden had approved an emergency declaration for Florida.
This is going to be a big storm. This is going to be a powerful storm and it will impact the state of Florida in many different ways.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has put 46 counties under a state of emergency and announced a raft of other storm preparedness measures, including the mobilization of 1,100 Florida National Guard personnel.
The Eye of Idalia, a Major Hurricane, and its Role in the Florida Panhandle: Warnings for Flood Hazards and Hurricane-Force Winds
A chief concern with Idalia is storm surge, which occurs when a storm’s strong winds push seawater above normal levels and onto coastal land. Tampa Bay could see 4 7 to seven feet of storm surge from Idalia, according to forecasters.
“The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet.
The state of Florida is urging residents to finish their storm preparations on Tuesday before Idalia makes landfall on Wednesday.
Near where the storm makes landfall in Florida, as much as a foot of rain is expected, with other parts of the state as well as Georgia and the Carolinas experiencing lower totals. Tornadoes in those states are also possible.
The National Weather Service said the area could see life-threatening winds, with the possibility of structural damage to buildings and even the complete destruction of mobile homes.
Forecasters think that the eye of Idalia will help chart a course towards Florida’s Big Bend. According to forecasters, no major hurricanes have tracked into the region’s Apalachee Bay since 1851.
DeSantis said evacuees don’t necessarily need to travel long distances — people can go tens of miles inland to a shelter, hotel or the home of family or friends to escape storm surge conditions near the coast.
The emergency management chief in Florida told people that they should bring their favorite toys or snacks with them if they are forced to evacuate.
Florida has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Idalia which is expected to hit the state on Wednesday. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also declared a state of emergency in 46 of its 67 counties. Idalia, with winds of up to 155 kilometres per hour, is one of the most powerful hurricanes to make landfall in US in over a decade.