According to CNN’s report, the US National Hurricane Center announced that Idalia will hit the Florida coast with Category 3 intensity and cause a storm surge.
While it is reported that the National Guard is on standby in Florida and evacuations continue from 22 regions of the state, it has been announced that Tampa International Airport has suspended flights as of this morning.
It was stated that the “storm wave”, which can occur as strong winds push the ocean waters towards the shore, can cause the water level to rise up to 3.6 meters in some parts of northern Florida.
Deanne Criswell, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Department of Homeland Security, emphasized that FEMA search and rescue teams are on standby, ready to support the US Army Corps of Engineers power generation missions.
Alerting residents of the risk of flooding, Criswell called for evacuation orders to be followed.
Criswell added that the number one cause of death in such natural disasters is flooding caused by tidal surges or heavy rains.
It was stated that before Idalia landed, it could cause several tornadoes, and heavy rain could cause flash flooding today and tomorrow in parts of Florida’s west coast and south Georgia.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that Idalia, which is expected to make landfall in the state’s Tampa city, would be a “major hurricane”.
State of emergency declared in the state
US President Joe Biden approved the decision to declare a state of emergency for Florida due to the possible effects of the approaching Storm Idalia.
In a written statement from the White House yesterday, information was shared that Biden “approved the federal aid order to support state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions from Tropical Storm Idalia as of August 27”.